(LONGVIEW, Wash. – Oct. 23, 2009 – 11:45 a.m.) Southwest Washington Red Cross
 
Four Red Cross volunteers mobilized at 9:00 a.m. in a Disaster Action Team (DAT) Rig yesterday morning to serve 4 local families, (up to 16 people) displaced from their residences because of a fire in an apartment complex west of Washougal, WA.

Skamania County Fire District notified the local Red Cross. Washougal Fire District also responded. 

All four families lost everything. The Red Cross responders provided shelter inside the DAT Rig while meeting the immediate needs of the family.  One family had no place to stay so a voucher for lodging was provided.  Fortunately, the remaining families had friends or family to stay with. In addition, Red Cross provided vouchers for clothing and food for everyone displaced.

These services were made possible by the generosity of local residents in Clark, Skamania, Klickitat, Cowlitz, Wahkiakum, and Pacific counties.  To donate in support of future disaster responses, please call toll free 888-434-1966 or visit Donate Online.

For more information about being part of the largest humanitarian network in the world, visit Volunteer.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.