American Red Cross aids nearly 400 in Southeast Missouri area | Events

(KFVS) - The Southern Missouri Region of the American Red Cross says they helped nearly 400 individuals across many of the counties in its 40-county service area from the end of December through January.

The Red Cross says there were three fatalities as a result of house fires with more than 80 incidents of fire and storm damage in January alone. Red Cross provided assistance with funeral costs in the three deaths. At least 16 different families of six or more were helped including one family of 11 in the household.

According to the Red Cross, individuals had insurance on their property in only about 30 percent of the cases.

The people affected were provided a place to stay, money for clothes, food and medicine. Along with providing casework for the residents in a quick and efficient time frame, Red Cross volunteers will continue to provide support to these families going forward, by doing follow up work to ensure all needs are met and the individuals have a clear path to recovery from this personal disaster.

Residents are urged to be Red Cross ready:

• If a fire occurs in your home, GET OUT, STAY OUT and CALL for help.
• Install smoke alarms on every level of your home, inside bedrooms and outside sleeping areas.
• Test them every month and replace the batteries at least once a year.
• Talk with household members about a fire escape plan and practice the plan twice a year.

Sixty-five percent of home fire deaths occur in structures with no working smoke alarms. On a national average, Red Cross workers help a family affected by a home fire or other disaster 190 times a day.

If someone would like to support the Red Cross mission and help those in need, they can visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to the local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

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