The midland journal. (Rising Sun, Md.) 1885-1947, 1929-04-05
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RED CROSS CHAPTERS
STRENGTHEN FORCES
FOR DISASTER RELIEF
Launch, National Campaign to
Perfect Preparedness Plans
in Every Community.

A nationwide campaign to strength
en- plans for preparedness against dis
aster and for. emergency relief has
been launched by the American Red
Cross through It's Chapters. The pro-
gram is intended to perfect disaster
preparedness committees in the ten
thousand communities reached by Red
Cross Chapters and their branches.
When carried out, through commit
tees Of men and women in the COM
munities, it will insure that should a
disaster come, an organization for
emergency relief, including every
modern method science has perfected
such as the radio, the airplane, the
motor car and watercraft-can be
modified to bring assistance, with
the promptitude applied by the Red
Cross in recent major disasters, such
Mississippi Valley flood.
These enlarged and strengthened
plans for disaster relief are set forth
in the revised Red Cross manual,
when Disaster Strikes" which has
been placed in the hands of every
Red Cross chairman throughout the
nation. The plan to encourage adoption
of these added disaster preparedness
methods was begun at this time be-
cause Red Cross notwithstanding 48
years of disaster relief-show that
the period of the greatest number Of
disasters, large and small, ranges
from the early Spring through the
early Fall.
The Record of 48 Years
A historical summary Of Red
Cross disaster relief since 1882, shows
that the society was active in giving re-
lief In 938 domestic disasters and its
expenditures in those relief operations
were $49,594,000. The three groups
of calamities appearing most frequent
ly were: cyclones, tornadoes, hurri-
canes and other storms, 231; fires,
1871; floods, 1876.
During this period, the Red Cross
also has given assistance to distressed
peoples Of other countries in 1853 dis
asters. Total expenditures for relief
at home and throughout the world. In
48 years. amount to $77,S54,O0O.
In the four most recent major dis
asters, among the greatest which
have ever visited the American con-
tinent, Red Cross expenditures for re-
lief totalIed $29,1SS,9OS. Only in the
event of large disasters such as the
Florida hurricane of 1926, the Mis-
sissippi Valley food Of 1927, the New
England flood of the same Fall, and
the West Indies hurricane Of 1928,
does the Red Cross seek contributions
from the general public for relief
work; and frequently these are not
ample, as in the four disasters listed,
the Red Cross donated $1,338,201
from its own treasury to aid in the
work. In the event of smaller disas-
tiers, the cost of the relief is met
largely from Red Cross resources.
No Community immune
No community is immune to great
disasters of one type or another, the
manual shows. One preparedness
measure that can be adopted is sur
vey of the surrounding country. with
the assistance of engineers and other
experts to determine the type Of dis
aster to which the section is subject.
Hazards resulting from the presence
of rivers and lakes, subject to over
flow, of mines, munition factories,
and other industries wherein dangers
from explosion and fires may exist.
are singled out for consideration.
Extension Of existing disaster or
plantations in communities, and or
ganization of men and women, trained
in public health and community ser.
vice, will result in the saving of lives
and the prevention of extensive suffer
ing, through privation. epidemic and
other misfortune, should emergency
arise through disaster. These organ
ization plans, outlined in the manual,
are similar to those now existing in
most Red Cross Chapters. only
strengthened In some particulars.
They contemplate disaster prepared
ness and relief committees, under
which function subcommittee on
food, clothing, shelter. medical aid,
registration of disaster sufferers and
information service, transportation
and communication and finance.
Coordination of all Of the societies,
organized groups and institutions in
the locality is urged, SO that all effort
for emergency relief will be directed
without conflict. Trained in advance,