Red Cross starts handing out grants and items to evacuees

The American Red Cross-CNMI Chapter yesterday began distributing cash grants and relief items to those whose houses sustained damage due to the onslaught of Supertyphoon Chaba.

“The process has begun,” said Red Cross executive director John Hirsh.

Hirsh said cash grants were being given to those who sustained major damage on their houses. The grant amount varies from a “couple hundred dollars” to a thousand, depending on the extent of damage.

For those whose houses sustained minor damage, Hirsh said the Red Cross has been giving them futons and cleanup kits.

The Red Cross added, however, that the Federal Emergency Management Agency would be the primary source of financial aid by those whose houses were totally destroyed by the supertyphoon.

The Red Cross has also been providing meals to hundreds of displaced residents housed in government shelters. The food is prepared by Reyes Catering and are paid for by the American Red Cross, at a cost of approximately $10,000-$15,000 per day, depending on the number of shelter residents, which varies daily. As of yesterday morning, it has distributed a total of 16,424 meals so far.

Hirsh disclosed that its fundraising campaign to support relief operations for Chaba victims yesterday reached a total of $71,000.

He said Rota firm Seabridge donated $5,000 to the Red Cross. Another Rota company contributed $1,000.

Before these, the Bank of Hawaii and Tan Holdings Corp. gave $25,000 each to the Red Cross. Aqua Resort Club also donated in $3,000, plus blankets that could be used by evacuees. Red Cross volunteers have also been soliciting support from individuals and motorists.

The Red Cross aims to raise some $1.5 million to support its relief operations, which were expected to cost over a million dollars.

The North County Times in San Diego, California, also reported that a Red Cross volunteer from Pacific Beach is now headed to Saipan to help in relief efforts.

Marie-Clair Brien left from Lindbergh Field on Hawaiian Airlines Sunday morning, the paper said.

Brien was described as an experienced disaster volunteer, one of only two internationally qualified volunteers in San Diego, according to Gayle Falkenthal of the American Red Cross.

Quoting Falkenthal, it said there is little water in the area where the volunteers are working, making the assignment a “hardship deployment.”

Brien assisted in relief efforts last year after the Colima earthquake in Mexico. She will supervise caseworkers, Falkenthal said.