The patriot. [volume] (Indiana, Pa.) 1914-1955, 1919-11-01
RED CROSS TO
FURNISH RELIEF
Preparations For Disaster aid
on q Gigantic scale
now Beng Mad9.
NATIONS WEALTH AVAILABLE

New Plan is Part of the Peace Pro-
gram and No Disaster is Too Big
For it to Handle Efficiently.
Preparedness for disaster relief
on scale never before possible is
being undertaken by the American
Red Cross, as one of the important
features OF its peace program, for
the support of which an effort will be
made 10 secure a record membership
during the Third Red Cross roll call,
November to II.
A FrightfuI Record.
Because of the lack Of the spec
tacular in many of them, it is not
generally realized how frequently
disasters occur, bringing death and
suffering in their wake. Since 1900,
disasters Of peace have cost thousands
of lives and have brought personal
injury and property losses to no
fewer than 100000 persons, at the
same time destroying property valued
at over $1,000,O00 200.
During 1917 alone, eighty disasters
came to the attention of the American
Red Cross siXty-tWo tornadOes. five
floods, four great fires, two earth
quakes, two serious mine explosions,
two munition plant explosions, race
riot, a shipWreck and the tragic ca.
lamity which befeIl Halifax. The to-
tai Of deaths entailed was 1853 while
1927 were injured and the property
loss reached $110,O00OOO
Under its direction the entire re-
sources of all communities for emer-
gency relief viii be mobiIized for in
stant use when needed. Red Cross
chapters everywhere will create Dis
asrer Preparedness Committees that
will make surveys locating not only
emergency food supplies, drugs and
other hospital supplies, cots, mattress
es, blankets, clothing, schools ar
mories and other buildings for housing
refugees, but also will canvass physi-
clans, nurses, social workers and
others prepared to respond Instantly
to calls for their services in disasters.
Relief Supply Centers.
Information gathered in these sur
veys will be filed by the thirteen Red
Cross Divisional organizations in the
United States which will establish
disaster relief supply centers and
take charge of operations when assist
ance is needed. In the case of major
disasters, where the resources of the
division in which it occurs are over
taxed, the entire relief strength of the
Red Cross in the country may be mo-
bilized, through National Headquar-
ters. And there viii also be ready
for immediate relief duty the equip
ment and personnel of the fifty base
hospitals organized by the American
Red Cross and turned over to the
army for service in France.
For the guidance of its represpn-
tativeS at the scene of disasters a
comprehensive Relief Manual has
been compiled by J. Byron Deacon.
director general of the American Red
Cross Department Of Civilian Relief
who is charged with responsibility for
Red Cross funds and operations in
disasters The Manual calls attention
to the frequency of disasters and
urges that relief to be effective must
be swift and centralized
The local community, so far as DOS
sible is depended upon to provide its
own relief, with the Division and Ma
tiOnal Red Cross organizations stand
ing ready to rush additional aid where
1t is necessary. The extensive and
varied experience of the Red Cross
places it in a peculiarly effective po-
sitiOn to offer sound counsel. 1t has
built up a trained and seasoned staff
of relief workers and each Division
office will have its list of experienced
disaster workers under agreement to
60, at a moments notice, to any
stricken territory.
The Red Cross is thus planning to
put disaster relief on such sound
basis that it will become in the fullest
sense, nationwide in scope, and will /
assure a swifter mobilization and ap-
plicatiOn of whatever may be needed .
after calamities, no matter what their .
size or where they occur.