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Links to National Red Cross
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Regional Contact Information
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American Red Cross
of West Michigan
1050 Fuller Avenue NE
Grand Rapids, MI 49503
Cheryl Bremer
Chief Executive Officer
To email general inquiries about
American Red Cross of West Michigan, click here.
Phone: (616) 456-8661
(800) 482-2411
Fax: (616) 235-2355
Hours:
8:30 AM - 5:00 PM
Monday - Friday
Between the hours of 5:00 PM
and 8:30 AM and on weekends and holidays, callers will be connected to our night answering service.
Visit the National Red Cross web site,
click here.
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2011 Red Cross Annual Report
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There are many ways you can stay connected to the work of the American Red Cross! Join the conversation!
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Red Cross Prepares for Spring DisastersEarly season tornadoes in 2012 after active spring in 2011
Spring can be one of the busiest seasons for the American Red Cross, with severe weather causing tornadoes and floods that affecting communities across the country.
Last spring, in a span of only three months, the Red Cross launched 46 large-scale disaster relief operations in 31 states. And weather experts are predicting 2012 to be another busy year for storms.
Tornado season has traditionally begun in April and extended throughout the month of June. But in 2012, the Red Cross has already responded to tornadoes in January, February and March. March brought particularly brutal storms with approximately 80 tornadoes affecting communities from the Midwest to the Gulf on a single day, March 2.
In the immediate aftermath of these storms, the Red Cross has opened shelters, distributed food and provided comfort and care for those affected. As of March 14, the Red Cross has opened 33 shelters, providing more than 1,000 overnight stays, and has served more than 92,500 meals and snacks to those affected by severe storms. It seems tornado season is arriving early.
In a recent Reuters article, climatologist Kevin Trenberth of the National Center for Atmospheric Research said the fact is that tornado season will begin as early as February.
Not only do scientists expect tornado season to start earlier, but the number of days when conditions are ripe for tornadoes to form will likely increase, according to atmospheric scientist Robert Trapp of Purdue University. Trapp and his colleagues also predicted that the Gulf of Mexico and Atlantic Coast, regions that do not typically experience tornadoes, will have an increase in days with tornado-making weather conditions.
Already this year, the Red Cross has responded to tornadoes in southeastern Michigan, an area that is not normally associated with tornadoes. With more days likely to produce tornado conditions and more areas likely to be affected, the Red Cross is helping communities across the country prepare for and respond to these disasters.
Last spring, the Red Cross also responded to major flooding and widespread wildfires. Thankfully, for the first time in four years, there is no high risk of major flooding this spring according to NOAA’s annual Spring Outlook.
“We’re not forecasting a repeat of recent historic and prolonged flooding in the central and northern U.S., and that is a relief,” said Laura Furgione, deputy director, NOAA’s National Weather Service. “The severity of any flooding this year will be driven by rainfall more so than the melting of the current snowpack.” Still, spring rainfall can lead to flooding at any time and the Red Cross urges everyone to be prepared.
Forecasters say drought conditions will likely persist across much of the southern U.S. and expand in the Southwest through spring which could result in an active wildfire season.
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The American Red Cross of West Michigan. |
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Meijer Provides $350,000 Gift
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Meijer Provides $350,000 Gift to
American Red Cross
Meijer has generously donated $350,000 to support local Red Cross efforts that will benefit the life-saving work of all Red Cross chapters located within the Meijer footprint of Michigan, Ohio, Indiana, Illinois and Kentucky.
The American Red Cross is powered by volunteers and guided by its mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors. Partnerships with other local emergency agencies, nonprofits, and committed financial partners like Meijer provide the crucial support that makes it possible for the Red Cross to deliver its services at no cost to the public.
Meijer understands how important it is to support the community where its customers and team members work and live. Each year, Meijer donates more than 6 percent of its net profits back to the community and just recently, Meijer donated nearly $6,000 to the American Red Cross to purchase bottled water for the tornado disaster relief in Scio Township near Ann Arbor. In 2008, when 29 counties in Indiana were invaded by floodwaters, the American Red Cross opened 19 shelters and provided assistance for almost 4,000 displaced residents. In response, Meijer not only provided financial assistance to the Red Cross but also provided meals to the 900 volunteers.
“The American Red Cross is grateful for this generous gift,” said Cheryl Bremer, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of West Michigan, “We are deeply thankful to Meijer and its team members for their invaluable work in the community as a dedicated friend, partner and community leader.”
Thank you to Meijer for their unwavering support of the life-saving work of the American Red Cross!
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