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ARC marks 40th year in the CNMI
A total of 76,000 families from all over the nation received assistance from the American Red Cross last year.
Last year, the Red Cross responded to back-to-back hurricanes in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands and to almost 50,000 home fires and provided casework assistance to help 76,000 families recover.
These feats were recognized Thursday, with Gov. Ralph DLG Torres declaring at the Office of the Governor conference room March as American Red Cross Month.
Red Cross NMI Chapter executive director John Hirsh said that 2018 is a special year for the group since it marks the 40th anniversary of the NMI Chapter.
“It’s our 135th year nationally,” Hirsh said, adding that the NMI Chapter has been on island since 1978.
According to Hirsh, Red Cross is active in all kinds of outreach in schools and the community on being prepared for the next storm. “It’s not a matter of if, it’s a matter of when,” he said, adding that the geographical location of the CNMI makes it prone to typhoons, earthquakes, and tsunamis.
“…We have had earthquakes in the region almost on a daily basis,” he said. “We need to get people to understand that there is always a potential for a big earthquake here.”
