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Show RED GROSS CHAPTERS STRENGTHEN FORCES FOR DISASTER RELIEF Launch National Campaign to Perfect Preparedness Plans In Every Community. A nation-wide campaign to strengthen strength-en plans for preparedness against disaster dis-aster and tor emergency relief bas been launched by the American Red Cross through Us Chapters. The program pro-gram Is Intended, to perfect disaster preparedness committees In the ten thousand communities reached by Red Cross Chapters and their branches. When carried out, through committees commit-tees of men and women in the communities. com-munities. It will Insure that should a disaster come, an organization for emergency relief, Including every modern method science has perfected such as the radio, the airplane, the motor car and watercraft ean be mobilized to bring assistance, with the promptitude applied by the Red Cross In recent major disasters, such as the West Indies hurricane and the Mississippi Valley flood. These enlarged and strengthened plans for disaster relief are set forth In the revised Red Cross manual, "When Disaster Strikes." which has I placed in the hands of every Red Cross chairman throughout the nation. The plan to encourage adoption of these added disaster preparedness methods was begun at this time because be-cause Red Cross records covering 48 years . of disaster relief show that the period of the greatest number of disasters, large and small, ranges from the early Spring through the early Fall. The Record of 43 Year A historical summary . of Red Cross disaster relief since 1882, shows that the society was active In giving relief re-lief In 938 domestic disasters and its expenditures In those relief operations were $49,694,000. The three groups of calamities appearing most frequently frequent-ly were: cyclones, tornadoes, hurricanes hurri-canes and other storms, 231; Ores, 131; floods, 123. During this period, the Red Cross also has given assistance to distressed peoples of other countries In 1S3 disasters. dis-asters. Total expenditures tor relief at home and throughout the world. In 48 years, amount to (77.354,000. In the four most recent major disasters, dis-asters, among the greatest which have ever visited the American continent. con-tinent. Red Cross expenditures for relief re-lief totalled $29,188,908. Only In the vent of targe disasters such' as the Florida hurricane of 1926, the Mississippi Mis-sissippi Valley flood of 1927, the New Eugland flood of the same Fall, and the West Indies hurricane of 1928, does the Red Cross seek contributions from the general public for relief work; and frequently these are not ample, as In the four disasters listed, the Red Cross donated $1,338,201 from Us own treasury to aid In the work. In the event of smaller disasters, disas-ters, the cost of the relief Is met i largely from Red Cross resources. No Community Immune No community is Immune to great disasters of one type or another, the manual shows. . One preparedness measure that can be adopted Is a sur-vav sur-vav of the surrounding country, with the assistance of engineers and other experts to determine the type of disaster dis-aster to which the section Is subject. Hazards resulting from the presence of rivers and lakes, subject to overflow, over-flow, ot mines, munition factories, and other Industries wherein dangers from explosion and Ores may exist, are singled out tor consideration. Extension of existing disaster organizations or-ganizations tn communities, and or ganlxatlon ot men and women, trained tn publlo health and community service, ser-vice, wiU result in tba saving of Uvea and the prevention of extensive suffer Ing; through privation, epldemlo and other misfortune, should emergency arise through disaster. These organ lzatlon plans, outlined In the manual, are similar to those now existing In most Red Cross Chapters, only atrengthened In some particulars. They contemplate disaster preparedness prepared-ness and relief committees, under which function sub-committees on food, clothing, shelter, medical aid, registration ot disaster sufferers and Information service, transportation and communication and finance. Co-ordination of all of the societies, organized groups and institutions In the locality la urged, so that all effort tor emergency relief will be directed without conflict. Trained In advance, these committees can swing into action, ac-tion, and provide an orderly and systematic sys-tematic relief organisation. The following are expenditures made by the American National Red Cross for relief In the tour most recent major disasters: Florida hurricane, I 1926 $4,477,170.07 Mississippi Valley flood, 1927 17,498,902.16 New England flood, 1927 1,299.773.93 West Indies hurricane, hurri-cane, 1928 6,913.062-47 ' $29,188,908.63 |