Show SPEED RELIEF TO FLOOD VICTIMS advance organization of rescue agencies cuts death toll in nations record tragedy b of human suffering suf fering tn 4 az t 4 aa U tg oil ma F 04 the rampaging ohio river sweeping to the highest flood stage in all history forced the larger part of the population of the city of louisville ky shown above to evacuate their homes agencies are doing bercic work inset typical of the homeless are this mother and child 17 of evansville ind hard hit by floods by WILLIAM C UTLEY us is the dreadful spectacle of the worst flood BEFORE B america has ever known drunk from the eff effects acts of un seasonal rains and midwinter mid winter thaws streams once peaceful an and d useful have broken all bounds spilling careening over once fertile farm lands ravishing whole towns and cities leaving in their wake despair and destruction before the rampant monsters cit eizens by the hundreds of thousands flipe flee their homes stripped of any but a few personal belongings their lives work and savings often cruelly obliterated overnight mothers are separated from their children wives from their husbands thousands even less fortunate have been marooned praying that rescue will arrive before it is too late millions more sit in fearful waiting hoping against hope that the raging terror will be quieted before it can reach them on the crest of the churning waters ride the four horsemen of death famine pestilence and war yes even war for martial law exists in the face of the invading a enemy and where the disaster is at its worst there are orders to shoot to kill those who break the rules with transportation stricken utilities crippled and supplies ahr shrunken aken thousands are hungry and thirsty ersty typhoid meningitis and pneumonia p cumo threaten the health of entire cities relief work speeds considering the magnitude of the catastrophe the death list is surprisingly i small this is due almost entirely to the speed and efficiency with which the rescue and relief agencies work always one of the first and foremost of these cheze agencies in a disaster inthe red cross its chairman admiral cary T grayson has estimated that probably a million or more inore persons will have been cared for by the red cross alone in the present disaster the volunteer membership of plus junior workers includes at least one chapter in every county practically every chapter has its standing committee on disaster preparedness and relief headed beaded by a chairman who is one of the outstanding leaders of the community recognized for his managerial ability to this committee are subordinated several others which are trained to quickly provide food clothing shelter and med ical aid during an emergency when their work is done the vast task which often remains is taken over by a subcommittee sub committee on tion which makes awards to fam illes affected by the disaster meetings of these committees are held at least twice a year in them f every type of disaster hazard which might inight threaten the community is carefully studied plans are laid t to be followed if the disaster occurs i and a committee members are thor 1 hughly trained in the duties that t fc will fall to them in that case lifesaving life saving first objective members of other chapters which j have successfully battled with dis asters are invited to come and tell their experiences the chapter chairman presents hypothetical problems of disaster relief relie to be solved epidemics rebuilding rafter after 4 tornado fire and flood first in the field when disaster strikes is the subcommittee sub committee on survey the 46 eyes of the red cross members are usually architects mechanical and civil engineers contractors and builders real estate men and public health officers before an emergency occurs they are supposed to have studied all places where trouble might start their first job in disaster is to estimate the number of dead injured estimating the number needing hospital attention homeless homes destroyed homes damaged and families suffering losses saving of human life is always the first consideration so go the rescue subcommittee sub committee goes immediately to work in a flood the big job is to get marooned victims to dry and safe spots to bring the sick and injured to medical posts to save property if it is properly identified and to perform other acts which will reduce the possibility of further loss real courage strength health and a knowledge of first aid are prerequisites for members of this subcommittee doctors dentists nurses and family case workers serve without charge on the subcommittee committee sub for medical aid they immediately secure and make ready whatever hospital facilities are available locally loca lly and set up emergency hospitals if they are necessary when flood sufferers are rescued from danger spots the crews usually know where to take them this is because the subcommittee committee sub on shelter has made periodic canvasses of the area for empty houses public buildings such as churches a and I 1 d schools and automobile camps where disaster refugees can be kept temporarily from the elements temporary buildings are constructed if the load makes them necessary hotel managers wholesale grocers managers of chain food stores res restaurant caurant operators and army or navy illy men usually make up the subcommittee committee sub on food they know in advance the types of food supplies each merchant deals in how much of a stock he keeps on hand and how these supplies can be made available to the red cross quickly in time of disaster communication Is vital tremendously important in time of flood is the work of the sub com cittee on transportation and communication muni cation headed by local leaders of the transportation and radio industries this committee must keep the avenues open for the work of all the others it must have a good working knowledge of all the facilities in the community before and after a disaster occurs it must provide automobiles trucks boats cars anything that may be used to transport sufferers from the flood area or to bring in food from the outside world often the most difficult task faces ky 1 the red cross after the emergency has passed and it is a function with which comparatively few are familiar think what has happened inhabitants of the stricken area have bought their homes or furniture they may have a little car perhaps their livelihood comes from a small business or a farm in almost no time stark tragedy leaves them with nothing at all they cant produce a living they have no place to live they probably have no money or at least too little to do them any real good now it is time for the sub com cittee on rehabilitation to begin living standards maintained widows with children may have to be resettled in completely rebuilt homes and new furnishings given them farms whose usefulness has been destroyed through the deposits of silt must be restored that their owners may once more earn a living small shops must be rebuilt or re stocked to enable their operators to make a living again A few instances picked at random of what this red cross aid has meant in the past will serve to illustrate in a new england town a mill worker and his wife had finished paying for their little home when the mill shut down in 1935 their small savings were carrying them along temporarily the flood came police forced them to evacuate they returned some time later to find their home washed away completely ely the red cross traded their lot for another in a safer location built them a new home and furnished it city relief officials found the man a job in pennsylvania in 1918 a fruit farmer and his wife made a modest living owned their home the mans health failed so his son and daugh ter in law moved in to run the farm succeeding in making a bare living for the family on the day of the second johnstown flood the son went to the rescue of a neighboring family in distress he was drowned their own farm was ruined the case looked hopeless hopeless red cross workers helped with the funeral found new clothing made the house livable again they soon repaired it well and made it possible for the family to buy new furnishings plans were made to care for the remainder of the family until the young wife was eligible for a widows pension these are some of the permanent improvements that are directly attributable to the red cross of course it costs a lot of money in reviewing the various branches of the society which must gird tor for any emergency one has been left out this is the subcommittee sub committee on fundraising and public information this is the most important w work ork of all especially in the present disaster flood suffering has reached unprecedented proportions with relief needs mounting admiral grayson explains the only limit must be the maximum generosity of the Arrie american rican people 0 western newspaper union |