By Daily Press staff
One year after Hurricane Katrina hit the Gulf Coast, lessons from the disaster have prompted Santa Monica’s Red Cross chapter to make several improvements to better prepare the city to come to the aid of others affected by disaster.
The number of volunteers trained for the American Red Cross’ Disaster Services Human Resources pool who could be deployed on a national disaster call has increased from 18 to 163 in the past year. Of those 163 trained volunteers, 93 were sent to the South to work in food service, shelter management, logistics, family service, public relations and other activities. The Santa Monica chapter also offered a series of classes in basic Red Cross disaster relief, certifying 1,300 people in the weeks after Katrina.
The city serviced 256 families, providing assistance and temporary housing. Many of the families and individuals have moved back to the South or relocated in the Southern California area. The Santa Monica Red Cross disbursed more than $100,000 in direct financial aid and paid services to displaced persons.
City residents also contributed $1.3 million through the American Red Cross Web site and phone lines.
For more information on disaster relief and other Red Cross activities, call the Santa Monica Red Cross during business hours, Monday through Friday at (310) 394-3773 or go online at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.
Originally published in the Santa Monica Daily Press print edition on August 30, 2006. Read the original PDF.