, 1935-09-27
PREPAREDNESS
PLEA IS MADE
/. BY RED CROSS
Always Pay Attention
To Warnings, Evans
Tells Delegates To
Institute

N6UECIN4 10 AuN 6|EAAuN
HARLINGEN, Sept. 1--WE had
better pay attention q dozen times
70 warnings because ii takes only
one (disaster) to put us under the
ground" said Albert Evans, direc-
tor OF disaster relief for the mid
west area Of the American Red Cross
IN speaking before a Valley disaster
institute at the city hall Thursday.
He had referred 10 the fact that
often communities become careless
after a number Of warnings fail to
materialize. this being the old. old
story Of the boy who cried wolf" so
often that the townsmen did not
believe him when the wolf finally
appeared.
While the midwest was suffering
from the scourge Of dust storms.
the Red Cross saw the dangers OF
flood In the same areas and pointed
them out only to be almost laugh
ed out Of town. Evans said. As O
matter OF fact disastrous floods did
occur later as silt damned up in
streams and impounded huge
quantities Of water.
Fully Advised
The offices OF the Red Cross In
st. Louis, washington and other
centers are kept fully advised Of
flood and storm dangers. The
weather bureau keeps the Red Cross
advised. Evans called attention to
the new storm warning service that
has been established along the Gull
coast with teletype instruments In
key cities to expedite warnings by
telegraph. One Of these teletypes
has been installed in the midwest
area headquarters in st. Louis so
that the Red Cross will be advised
as quickly OF storm dangers as the
people IN the area involved.
Evans and also II. r. KeiSker, as
eistant manager OF the st. Louis
office, spoke of the cooperation Of
various agencies in time of disaster.
Evans referred 70 the good work
done by railroads which send spe-
cial relief trains without thought Of
compensation. He told Of an Incl
dent which did not come to his
knowledge until long after the hur-
ricane which hit the Valley in 1888.
He said that Il was found that one
Of the ambulances it was desired
to bring to the Valley would not
fit into q steel freight car without
cutting the end Of the car out with
an ~acetylene torch. The railroad un-
hesitatingly performed the neces-
sary operation. although the car
was severely damaged.
Emergency relief given by the
Red Cross in time OF distress Is the
smallest part Of its job. Evans said.
The work Of rehabilitation. putting
families back on their own resour-
ces as they were before the disaster
struck, is the long time work OF the
Red Cross. IL Is the aim OF this or
~ganization to restore conditions to
such a point that the people az
fected by disaster can continue to
earn a living and go on as before.
In some cases this may near pro-
viding Just a fgw nights shelter: in
other instances IL might mean
spending hundreds 1f dollars. &C
cording TO the needs Of the stricken
family which may need agricultural
implements ms well as shelter and
other help.
Relief Office Promises Help
The disaster institute opened
Thursday morning at the city hall
with representatives from two
counties present. Joe A. Sloan. chair
man OF the San Benito chapter,
presided and Miss Paul Hill Of Har-
lingen, vice chairman, was in charge
OF registrations. Alternate talks
were made by Evans and Keisker
during the course Of the institute
and the meetings closed with quest
tons.
The discussion OF the necessity
Cor preparedness brought out the
fact that the Red Cross organization
favors the printing OF local emer-
gency setupS on cards easily obtain
able by the citizens OF a community.
A number OF Valley cities h.Na al
ready set up thee emergency or
CARNATIONS to Jump into action In
case OF disaster.
Near the close OF the institute. g.
J. Sweeney OF Edinburg. the district
relief administrator for five south
Texas counties including the Valley.
told Evans that the relief agencies
would take care Of persons on their
rolls in a. Of disaster and that
aid would be needed from the Red
Gross only for those not on relief.
Hill Foreman. state highway
patrolman. was commended for his
work following the storm In pre-
venting curious visitors coming into
the Valley and adding to the con
fusion.
The institute enjoyed a noon re-
cess IN the patio Of the Reese-Wil-
Mond hotel where those attending
had lunch and heard musical num-
bers. Mrs. II. Maurice Dace played
the violin and Mrs Henry Carlisle
sang. They were accompanied by
MRS. s. r. Jennings and Mrs
Josephine Pollard Huntley.
Registrations were MS follows:
Brownsville-W. o. washington.
chapter chairman; Col. r. K
Chaplin. OF the 18th Cavalry: County
Judge o. g. Dancy. DR.. w. =. Spivey.
head OF the county health unit. San
Benito-Joe A. Sloan. chapter chair
man: Frank G. Pierce, Mrs. Joe q.
Ballenger. volunteer chairman:
Mrs. z. z. Mcdonald. Mrs. j. w.
Sweeney. registration chairman:
Mrs. Martha "A. Plummer. Mrs. Paul
Cowgirl, secretary nursing commit
tee; r. j. CBudl Bonner. Pete H.
Smith. manager chamber Of COM
merce: DR.. Hugh Robertson. chair