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Show Quick Priorities For Flood Victims. . ;v; I - - - - 7, ,y -v ' it 1 if - - s " I i Hi v - ;j p " .. - . Ujr - i Red Cross Has Vital Material on Way to Scene in 21 Hours Arrangements for emergency emergen-cy priorities for the American Red Cross in disaster relief and rehabilitation worked out with the war production board, was the answer to the needs of thousands of midwest mid-west farmers following the devastating toll of the worst flood season in years throughout through-out that section of the nation. Blanket priorities enabled the American Red Cross to purchase pur-chase more than 500,000 pounds of barbed wire for distribution dis-tribution through ten retail dealers in the Southwest, . which made it possible for farmers of the area to get their farm and livestock programs pro-grams underway immediately immediate-ly after the water had receded. re-ceded. Restricted materials are obtained by the American Red Cross under the WPB priorities not only for persons per-sons unable to pay for their rehabilitation rehabili-tation but also for those who can pay, but who can not obtain the priorities. The WPB policy of handling priority pri-ority assistance in natural disasters began in March, 1942, when tornadoes torna-does struck in Kentucky, Tennessee, Indiana, and Mississippi and focused the need in such cases for restricted Despite the wide activities of the Red Cross at war posts, its home front work has increased. In addition to rushing doctors, nurses, medical supplies, food and other aid to scenes of disasters, the Red Cross, with the co-operation of the War Production board, now enables victims to get priorities on restricted materials within 24 hours. Top: Galveston County Red Cross workers serve meals to Texas hurricane victims. Lefl inset: Wreckage of an $80,000 sclieol demolished by a tornado at Baldwin, Miss. Right inset: Shore view following fol-lowing a hurricane. materials. Complicated at first, methods have been improved to make possible immediate repair and rebuilding. The green light of go ahead is possible now within 24 hours for these materials and the American Red Cross is the accepted agency for handling same. Rehabilitate Homes and Barns. Since the arrangements were worked out, the American Red Cross has been granted priority ratings for more than five million dollars' worth of critical materials. The devastating devastat-ing floods of the Midwest created the greatest demand for such materials ma-terials as the barbed wire. A heavy demand for rehabilitation of barns and homes was also met by the Red Cross. i The usual swift mobilization of workers for a disaster doctors, nurses, case workers, accountants, etc., now includes a building advisor. advis-or. The latter makes an immediate survey, estimates the needs and secures se-cures priorities for them. During the year just past, the American Red Cross participated in 171 major disasters in which rehabilitation re-habilitation was necessary. Prior to the flood season in the Midwest, April of 1943 was the biggest month, and during that period priority ratings rat-ings for critical materials to the value of $125,000 was obtained by the American Red Cross. |