The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1927-11-09
The Red Cross Helps
In Recent Disasters

In the Mississippi Valley, scene OF
Americas most extensive disaster
the American Red Cross gave emer-
gency help to 100000 persons.
Figures taken from the organiza-
tons annual report today by the To-
cal chapter summarize the extensive
relief operations started last spring
as the great flood swept over an
area of approximately 10000 square
miles and inundated parts of eight
states.
With a rescue fleet of nearly 900
power boats and literally thousands
of auxiliary craft, more than 100000
persons were rescued from levees and
other points of temporary safety with
a loss of less than 80 lives. Up and
down the vast flood area, says the re-
port, these boats piled for weeks
carrying the homeless to the 149 re-
fugee camps where more than $780,
600 flood sufferers were given food,
shelter, clothing, and medical atten-
ton for several months. In addition
thousand others received similar help
in the second stories of flooded build
ings and emergency quarters such as
public buildings and churches.
For the first time in history the
radio and the air services of the gov
eminent played major parts in the
disaster relief program. Thirty radio
communication sets, strategicaliy
placed throughout the area, kept Red
Cross headquarters in touch with ali
points A squadron Of 81 land and
seaplanes flying for the Red Cross
performed an outstanding service in
furnishing emergency transportation
for workers and supplies, and in
scouting for stranded refugees over the
great muddy sea.
The Red Cross carried through the
most comprehensive disease proven
ton and sanitary program in the
Mississippi Valley ever undertaken
following disaster in this country.
To combat malaria 1000 pounds CT
euinine were used. In its fight
against possible outbreaks of typhoid
fever and small pox, especially pre-
valent in the section, it inoculated
nearly 100000 persons against typh-
old fever and vaccinated for small
pox approximately $4,000. Three
hundred twenty-nine Red Cross nurs-
es were used to look after the well
fare of the refugees. Every family
living in a tent was visited each day.
Emergency health units were estab-
ished in counties not having regular
facilities. Tons of lime and other
material were used for sanitary pur-
poses as the water receded leaving
thousands of dead carcasses and 9TH
er debris on the mud-soaked land.
The organization, in cooperation
with the State Department of Health
and the U. S. Public Health Service,
succeeded not only in preventing the
outbreak of epidemics but in making
health conditions actually better than
they had been in the lower valley for
many years. Statistics show that
there was less sickness in the affected
states following the flood than in
normal times.
The Red Cross is still carrying on
in the valley, re-establishing in their
homes the great army of refugees
and supplying them with live stock
seed, farm implements, and other es-
sentials and also repairing or rebuild
ipu wrecked huildinpc
The rescue by the Red Cross dur
ing the emergency perior of more
than 100000 head of live stock which
were cared for and later returned 10
their owners as the water receded
has helped materially in the rehabili-
tation work, officials state.
Although it will be a long time be-
fore the organization can close its
flood relief work, substantial pro-
gress has been made in helping the
inhabitants of the valley back to a
self-supporting status. At the close
of the organizations fiscal year
June 30th, reconstruction aid had al.
ready been given to approximately
A6O 000 parSopS