Show RED CROSS CARRIES ON A AT T HOME TOO though en engaged abed in war relief on global scale also serves in U S crises aphis T HIS springs disaster re JL lief operations emphasize how the american red cross is continuing to handle its domestic operations on the one hand while conducting the greatest overseas program in in its history on the other basil oconnor chairman of the american red cross said just before his departure late in may on an inspection spec tion tour in the pacific war theater altogether the red cross this spring experienced one of its busiest seasons in recent years disasters occurring on an average of two a week the loss of life by mid may was nearing in april alone were killed in storms in oklahoma arkansas missouri and texas and were injured loss of life in the flooded areas national officials said was held to a low figure by prompt evacuation of families by red cross volunteers coastguardsmen and army engineers two hundred and forty red cross chapters went into action in the 24 affected states as the disasters struck colin herrle acting national administrator of red cross relief estimated after a tour of the disaster zones that louisiana was the hardest hit of the flood states and that various areas in that state would be feeling the effect of the floods and storms for many months in concordia parish for instance 98 per cent of the land was under water and practically every family was evacuated it was in this area that hundreds of head of livestock were moved out by barges help rebuild homes the red cross dispatched building inspectors and relief workers into the flood and tornado zones in march and april and priorities were obtained from the war production board tb assist local chapters in helping sufferers to rebuild their homes and barns vils this work con tined through june after a quick survey of the areas in may department of agriculture agents informed red cross that the nations lood food shortages would not be materially increased by the floods in the ohio valley the flood waters receded in time for the farmers to plant and in the lower mis sis sippi valley early crops ruined by the floods were replanted in the mississippi tributary valleys of oklahoma missouri arkansas and tennessee the floods delayed but did not prevent spring planting more beef and vegetables will be available next winter as a result of american red cross disaster relief work in the midwest and lower mississippi sis sippi valley thousands of head of cattle were evacuated by red cross and coast guard workers to high ground in march april and may feed for evacuated refugee livestock was purchased by the red cross and the fe feeding effing operations undertaken der taken by local chapters in addition the red cross distributed packages of garden seed to flood sufferers less sickness this year tear health problems were kept at a minimum in this years floods con |