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Red Cross begins casework; 3,000 called for assistance
The American Red Cross started with their casework yesterday at their chapter office on Airport Road.
Today they will start talking to residents affected by Typhoon Soudelor at 8am and ARC said they will be open every day until they are able to talk to all affected.
“Everybody is meeting with a caseworker. They’re explaining to us what their needs are, what their losses were due to the disaster and based on that information, we’re assisting them,” Mary Anderson, ARC service delivery site manager, said.
ARC has a list of more than 3,000 individuals who have called the chapter looking for assistance and they are calling those with greatest need to do one-on-one casework.
They will supply client assistance cards with some money for fuel, phone, and laundry as well as tarps, water, buckets, hygiene supplies, food and other supplies.
Dozens of people went to the ARC office yesterday as early as 7am but Anderson said they will not be able to process everyone who went there yesterday. Although that is the case, Anderson assures them that they will be processed and given assistance.
“Some people are afraid that we’re going to run out of money, run out of stuff, we’re not.
We’re going to be here…as long as we need to be here,” Anderson said.
She added that some more staff will be added to the five caseworkers that they have yesterday so that they will be able to process more cases in a day.
According to ARC’s operations director Denise Everhart, they have two goals in addressing the needs of Saipan.
“If we can find out what they need and help them get back home, that’s our No. 1 goal. Our No. 2 goal, for us the Red Cross is to give them resources,” Everhart said.
While residents needing assistance must come to ARC personally on Airport Road for the casework, those who cannot due to limiting factors may call the ARC at 234-3459. ARC said they will work with FEMA and CNMI to accommodate those individuals on a case-by-case basis.
