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Explosion Rocks Small Community. American Red Cross Volunteers Respond
May 7, 2008
Meridian, MS - On Thursday morning, November 1, 2007 the area surrounding the Carmichael Community in Clarke County was shaken--literally. Following an explosion due to a gas leak in the Dixie Pipeline, five homes were destroyed resulting in two deaths and four injured. The Key Chapter fo the American Red Cross in Meridian was contacted immediately to assist in providing water and snacks to the emergency crews dealing with the devastation and providing shelter and meals to the displaced and disheartened folks of that small community.
In an emergency such as this, the Red Cross Chapters of Mississippi stand together. Learning there was a need for an additional Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and crew members, Executive Director Janice Vannatta immediately drew on the South Central Mississippi Chapter's DSHR members to help supply that need.
First on the road, Janice Vannatta, Executive Director and Allison Applewhite, Disaster Response Coordinator were on their way to assist in any way they were asked. These were quickly followed by the two ERV teams: David and Ann Loveless and Mike and Sue Jordan.
These folks were joined on Saturday by advanced caseworkers Joye Green and Priscilla Daniel to assist Key Chapter's Client Caseworkers in providing financial assistance to the affected families.
One Red Cross. All a part of the Red Cross Family. From localized disasters such as house fires, pipeline explosions and flooding to major catastrophic events like the wildfires in California, it's great to know that we have the ability to help our neighbors in time of trouble. And it's great to know that other disaster volunteers will do the same for us when needed.
For more information on becoming an American Red Cross Disaster Volunteer, please contact Robbie Little or Gerald Britt. You may also begin the process by completing the volunteer application.
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