By Staff
WASHINGTON, DC - In recognition of American Red Cross Month, Congressman Fred Upton (R-St. Joseph) reminds the residents of Southwest Michigan of the importance of disaster preparedness.
The Red Cross, with local chapters in Berrien County and Kalamazoo, plays a critical role in local neighborhoods across the country.
The American Red Cross, founded by Clara Barton in 1881, allows citizens to mobilize to help their neighbors-across the street, across the country and across the world-during times of emergency.
In response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma, the Red Cross mobilized more than 233,000 workers, mostly volunteers, to the gulf coast region for the largest humanitarian response to a domestic natural disaster in American Red Cross history. Along with the hurricanes, last year the Red Cross responded to nearly 73,000 local disasters. Most of them were home fires but also included tornadoes, wildfires, floods, mudslides and earthquakes, making 2005 one of the most demanding years in Red Cross history.
To donate blood, volunteer and to become a part of the Red Cross' rich history, contact your local chapter in Southwest Michigan.