American Red Cross of Northern New York 203 North Hamilton St.

Watertown, NY 13601 (315) 782-4410

www.redcross.org/nny

Contact: Matt Michael Communications Officer (315) 234-2220 matt.michael@redcross.org

American Red Cross Shelter Remains Open in Carthage

WATERTOWN, N.Y. (April 17, 2014) The American Red Cross shelter that opened Wednesday night at American Legion Post 789 in Carthage (Jefferson County) will remain open Thursday night for residents who had to evacuate their homes because of flooding along the Black River. As of late afternoon Thursday, the shelter at 415 West St. in Carthage had three residents and the Red Cross is prepared for more if needed. Red Cross volunteers will provide each shelter resident with a cot, blanket, food and personal hygiene items. About 15 homes along the Black River were impacted by the flooding. The shelter will remain open until all of the residents are able to return safely to their homes. In addition to the shelter in Carthage, American Red Cross volunteers from throughout the Central New York Region are assisting flood victims in Northern New York in other ways: In Jefferson County, the Red Cross will distribute clean-up kits that include a broom, mop, bleach, bucket, gloves, trash bags and other cleaning supplies to homeowners impacted by the floods. The Red Cross will announce distribution sites and hours as soon as that information is finalized. Working with its community partners, the Red Cross has received several cases and pallets of bottled water and gallon jugs of water from Pepsi, P&C, Price Chopper and Walmart for distribution to flood victims in Lowville (Lewis County). The Lewis County Emergency Management office will coordinate the distribution of the donated water. Red Cross disaster assessment volunteers will visit the areas impacted by the floods to determine the damage to the homes. Once that is completed, Red Cross casework volunteers will assist the residents with their short-term clean-up needs and long-term recovery. -more-

RED CROSS PAGE 2 Getting help into the hands of residents as quickly as possible is the priority of the Red Cross in times of disaster, said Jane Gendron, Community Executive of the American Red Cross of Northern New York. From our experience with floods and other disasters, direct distribution of relief items along with our outreach visits will speed up the recovery efforts for the affected residents in Northern New York. How To Help As a non-profit organization, the American Red Cross relies on the dedication of volunteers and the generosity of donors to continue its lifesaving work. To make a donation to the local Red Cross to help the flood victims, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, call your local chapter, or send a check to your local chapter. About the American Red Cross: The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/nny.