Connecticut western news., 1919-11-13
RED CROSS READY FOR SERVICE IN
 BIG DISASTERS
100000 Lives Lost and Sl,' OO0,000,0O0 in Property Destroyed in Dis
 aSters Since 1900

Preparedness for disaster relieh on scale never before possible is be- ing undertaken by the American Red Cross. it has just been announced as one of the important features or its wide peace program, for the sup port of which an effort will be made to secure a record membership dur ing the Third Red Cross Roll Call. No- vember 2 to H..
 Experience shows that suffering in- cident to public disasters can be greatly reduced by extension of the Red Cross machinery for supplying emergency relief and knowledge gained in putting through tho task of the Red Cross in the war is to bc used to the greatest possible advan- tage.
 Because of the lack of the spectac- ular in many of them it is not gen. orally realized how frequently, year after year, disasters occur, bringing wide devastation, death and suffering in their wake. Since 1900 disasters of peace have cost many thousands of lives and have brought personal in- jury and property losses to no fewer than 100000 persons, at the same time destroying property valued at over s1,000, 0,000, 900. During 1917 7- alone, eighty disasters came 10 the at- tention of the American Red Cross; sixty-two tornadoes, Ave floods. four great fires, two earthquakes, two seri- ous mine explosions. two intuition plant explosions. a race riot. n ship -Ir ,,atf xvh rk befel Halifax. The total of deaths entailed was 175s, while 5927 were in iured and the property loss rea he'd s11O,0oo, ,O0O.
 Speed of Fire Department.
 That, in brief, is the situation that demands a preparedness for emer- gency relief comparable to the ser vice and speed required of the fire department and that is what the Red Cross, to which the people instinct iyely turn when fire, flood, tornado, or great accident comes, to leave men, women and children dead, injured, homeless or starving, is to supply. Under it's direction the entire re- sources of all communities for emerg-  stant use when needed Red Cross Chapters everywhere will create dis aster preparedness Committees that I'ill make surveys locating not only emergency food supplies. drugs and other hospital supplies, cots, mat .- ssses. blankets, clothing, schools, armorles and other buildings for housing refugees. hut will also cnn- YES physicians, nurses, social work CTS and others prepared to respond instr ntly to calls for their seryices ir disasters.
 Information gathered In these sur veys will be collated and filed by the thirteen Red Cross Divisional or- Eanizations in the United States, which win establish disaster relief supply centers and take charge of op4 erations when assistance is needed. In case of major disasters, where the resources of the Division in which fit occurs are over-taxed, the entiro re- lief strength of the Red Cross in the country will be mobiled. through na4 tional headquarters. And in both large and small disasters there will al so be ready for immediate relief duty the equipment and personnel of the fifty base hospitals organized by the American Red Cross and turned over to the Army for service in France.
 Disaster Manual Compiled.
 For the guidance of it's representa- tives at the scene of disasters a com prehensive 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 dis asters. The Manual, which will be- distributed to Chapters throughout the country, calls attention to the fre- quency of disasters and urges that re- lief to be effective must be swift and centralized. Tn accordance with the Manual the principle upon which Red Cross service will be extended dis aster-stricken communities is to place the resources represented by it's mem bership, preparedness and influence. at the disposal of the afflicted com munity without delay.
 IHS lVtai NoiiihuhAhNt Sp Aah aS pVr- sible, is depended upon to provide it's own relief. with the Division and Ma tional Red Cross organizations stand ing ready to rush additional aid where it is necessary. The extensive and varied experiences of the Red Cross places it is a peculiar position to offer sound counsel It has built up a trained and seasoned stan of relief workers and will leave on file in Division offices, its list of ex- perienced disaster workers under agreement to so, at moments mo- tice, to any stricken territory.
 a r. C r,,Nn,ina SehoaI