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Growing need taps Red Cross resources By Amber Fossen Ashland Daily Tidings Ashland resident Perry Prince, serving the American Red Cross since 1997, has seen many disasters. Every year, typhoons, hurricanes, floods, fires, tornadoes and other disasters occur. More than 175,000 Red Cross volunteers like Prince responded to 64,000 disaster incidents last year alone. With tropical storms touching down almost daily, Red Cross officials say disaster funds and blood supplies are dwindling. According to Marj Jameson, executive director of the Rogue Valley Chapter, disaster relief funds are significantly low. "Since last July, we've spent $85 million responding to various disasters around the U.S. but we've only received $26 million in contributions," Jameson said of the national agency's finances. "As of June 30, $1.5 million was in the disaster relief fund and that's really low. It's the lowest we've been in 11 years." Jameson said without volunteers, Red Cross services would be hindered. "If we didn't have the number of volunteers that we have, there would be no way we could provide the level of disaster response that we do," she said. Prince, a disaster mental health officer for the Red Cross, said he decided to volunteer for the Red Cross after a friend encouraged him to lend aid to victims of the 1997 Ashland flood. Since then, Prince has been to 15 different disasters - including 911 - helping people cope with loss. "Most people who are affected by disaster suffer certain symptoms," he said, adding many people suffer stress and can't concentrate, eat or sleep. He compared disaster victims to victims of genocide, noting the personal loss of history is devastating. "The history of themselves is gone," he said. "The people are just out there and they're isolated and alone because they don't have this personal sense of history." When a disaster occurs, local Red Cross chapters are the first to respond, setting up headquarters and securing shelters and food for the community. If the local chapter needs back up support, volunteers from around the nation are called to duty after an initial 48-hour period. According to Prince, understanding the culture of the affected community is essential to providing quality care. Disaster victims may have language barriers or their age may require additional care. By understanding the community, Prince is able to effectively direct care. He said, most often, the job is about listening. "This might be the first time the client's been able to tell or vent what's happened to them and their home," he said, adding volunteers work up to 14-hour days to ensure that all victims receive attention. Prince also watches out for his fellow volunteers. "It's pretty easy to catch the emotional temperament of our clients after seeing one after the other," he said. Prince recently returned from New Orleans, where Tropical Storm Bill's wind and rain resulted in flooding and one death. As disasters continue, Red Cross officials are taking inventory. According to Melissa Long, public affairs associate for the American Red Cross Pacific Northwest Region, all independent blood banks put out a national plea July 7 for blood donations. A local appeal followed July 14 after critical blood types dropped to a less than one day supply. "It definitely boosted our blood supply but right now, we're lingering around a 2 to 3 day supply and we'd like to see it around a 5 to 7 day supply," Long said. Long said blood donations always drop during the summertime as people concentrate on other activities. She also said school is not in session and student donors make up 15 percent of the blood supply. "Historically speaking, it is a roller coaster for us through the summer," she said, later adding "All of those (disasters) don't take summer vacation so there's always a need." HOW TO HELP RED CROSS: o A blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at First Baptist Church of Ashland at 2004 Siskiyou Boulevard. For more information or to schedule an appointment call Red Cross Blood Services at 773-3813. o An additional blood drive will be held from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Wednesday, August 13 at Church of the Nazarene Ashland at 1760 East Main. o For more information on the American Red Cross, donations or how to volunteer call 1-800-GIVELIFE or log on to nwblood.redcross.org or [email protected] LINKS: DAILY TIDINGS: Main | News | Sports | Obituaries | Opinion | Columnists | AP News | Subscribe | Archives | Weather | Classifieds | Contact Us | Privacy REVELS: Main | Calendar | Dining | Movies | T.V. OTHER: Road Cams Copyright 2003 Ashland Daily Tidings 541.482.3456. 1661 Siskiyou Blvd., Ashland, OR 97520. Ottaway Newspapers, Inc. - Advertisers -