Sending Help and Hope to Alabama

Today we're deploying three Oregon volunteers to Alabama. Tomorrow morning one more will hop on a plane bound for Birmingham. Other volunteers are already on the ground, and have been offering shelter, food, and hope to tornado survivors for the past couple of days.

Keep and eye on the national Red Cross flickr stream for photos of our volunteers in action. Below are a few from the disaster relief effort so far.

And since lots of folks in the twittersphere have been asking, I want to make sure to tell you the best way to help is to donate at RedCross.org or give $10 by texting REDCROSS to 90999.

Big thanks to you and all of our amazing volunteers.

Saturday: Win Tickets to the Timber's U.S. Open Match on May 3rd!

Can't make it to our Portland Timbers Blood Drive on May 7th?

This Saturday, April 30th, all presenting donors at both our Clark County and our Portland Donor Centers will be entered into drawings for free tickets to the Timbers' U.S. Open Cup Game on May 3rd!

The Portland Timbers host the San Jose Earthquakes, with kickoff at JELD-WEN Field set for 7:30 p.m. next Tuesday, May 3rd. Founded in 1914, the U.S. Open Cup is an annual, single-elimination competition open to all amateur and professional soccer teams affiliated with U.S. Soccer.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

SUDAN: Three years after being abducted by an armed group, a teenage girl returns home with the help of the ICRC.

LIBYA: As fighting continues, the ICRC has stepped up its response - visiting detainees, providing medical supplies for hospitals, and delivering food and water that Libyan Red Crescent Society volunteers help distribute.

Côte d'Ivoire: The ICRC is bringing chemicals needed to treat the water that will be distributed to five million people for the next six months.

NIGERIA: The ICRC and Nigerian Red Cross Society are responding to the urgent needs of thousands of people displaced following post-election violence.

HAITI: Along with mosquito nets and in-person outreach, the Red Cross is using text messaging to fight malaria.

CHERNOBYL: 25 Years after the disaster, the Red Cross' Chernobyl Humanitarian Assistance and Rehabilitation Program still offers health screenings for survivors.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Eat Ice Cream, Help Firefighters

Portland is expecting some unseasonably cold weather on Wednesday night, which means that you should DEFINITELY want to eat ice cream. Right? Right.

And the only thing better than ice cream is CHEAP ice cream...31 cent scoops, to be precise.

Yep, it's time for Baskin Robbins' 31 Cent Scoop Night -- Wednesday, April 27 from 5-10 p.m.

What's even nicer (and why I blog this every year) is that this event honors our nation's firefighters, who are partners with the Red Cross at every turn. In fact, Baskin Robbins is generously donating $10,000 to the National Fallen Firefighters Association.

So help out our friends the firefighters by eating inexpensive (but always delicious!) ice cream. I suggest April's Flavor of the Month -- Firehouse #31. Crunchy hot cinnamon ribbon laced through red cinnamon ice cream and packed with hot candy pieces? Yum!

What The Heck Is Liquefaction?

As you might imagine, we've been talking a lot about earthquakes lately, especially the risk of a Cascadia subduction zone quake right here in Oregon.

One word that has come up over and over again is "liquefaction" which, I'm not gonna lie, I had never heard of before.

Assuming that you, like me, 1. are unfamiliar and 2. like to learn new things, this post should serve as a visual tutorial to help you better understand the topic.

First, a definition from the USGS:

liquefaction

A process by which water-saturated sediment temporarily loses strength and acts as a fluid, like when you wiggle your toes in the wet sand near the water at the beach. This effect can be caused by earthquake shaking.

And now, a video of how liquefaction works:

And now, a video of liquefaction in action [scary!]:

And NOW, you can pat yourself on the back for learning something new about earthquakes!

P.S. Why should we worry about liquefaction? It goes without saying that Oregon's a pretty wet place (What do you call two days of rain in Oregon? A weekend.) and our ground is soggier than most. And anything that goes in that ground, like those houses on stilts we see in the West Hills, has a good likelihood of coming straight down. Yikes.

Red Cross + Loads Of Hope

I'm a fairly stoic person, but it's always the heart-tugging commercials that bring me down. This one, for example, always makes me a little teary...

The first time I saw it, I immediately wondered if there was a partnership going on between Tide and the Red Cross. There wasn't...yet.

But I'm pleased to share that now there is! And I have two things to say about it.

1. It's about time. The Red Cross is known for providing food, shelter, comfort and hope. And the Tide program not only has "hope" in the name, but there's no doubt that clean clothes are one simple way to make those affected by disaster just a little more comfortable. Similar goals, perfect match.

2. They've got an adorable t-shirt. Sure, it's got nothing on ours, but as far as wearing a logo goes, this one is darned cute. Vintage-y and in a variety of colors, plus $4 goes towards helping families affected by disaster. Another way to help? Buy the bottle of Tide with the yellow cap.

The partnership comes together in North Carolina this weekend, where Tide Loads of Hope will be at Kore-O-Mat (Fayetteville) and The Wash House (Windsor). The hours of the program are from 8 a.m.-8 p.m. at both locations.

In about a month, the Red Cross has already helped people affected by 35 disasters in 20 states. Sadly, that means there's virtually no doubt there will be more opportunities to work together on behalf of disaster clients. If you'd like to make a gift to support relief efforts, you can always do so right here.

Prints Of The Taishô Earthquake

In 1924, the Japanese publisher Hoshino Seki issued a set of thirty-six prints depicting scenes from the aftermath of the September 1, 1923 great Tokyo earthquake. He commissioned six artists to each produce six designs based on eye witness sketches and accounts, which the master carver Nagashima Kiichi and printer Tamura Tetsunosuke then translated into color woodblock prints for the portfolio.

The images found here are part of the Portland Art Museum's collection of Japanese prints. They are all amazing...please see for yourself.

Kawasaki Shōko
Matsuchiyama Taishô jûni-nen ku-gatsu (Matsuchiyama, September 1923)

Isoda Chôshû
Unsô basha (Horse-drawn Transport Wagon)

Oda Kanchō
Taishô jûni-nen ku-gatsu daishinzai go Kamakura Hasechô shoken (View of the Hase district, Kamakura, September 1923)

Kiriya Senrin
Kyûgosho (First Aid Station)

See the entire collection now.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

JAPAN: With support from around the world, the Japanese Red Cross is assisting tsunami survivors as they begin moving into temporary housing.


NEW ZEALAND: The New Zealand Red Cross has provided assistance to 47,800 people affected by the Christchurch earthquake with support from other Red Cross societies, including the American Red Cross, which contributed $772,000 toward the relief efforts.

PARAGUAY: Red Crossers are helping fight what the Minister of Health has called "the worst dengue outbreak in the history of our country."

NAMIBIA: In response to floods that forced 37,000 people from their homes, hundreds of Namibia Red Cross volunteers have been on the ground assisting people to relocate, distributing mosquito nets and water purification tablets, while carrying out health awareness campaigns to prevent a major outbreak of waterborne diseases.

Côte d'Ivoire: Enhancing medical care for conflict survivors, the ICRC and the Red Cross Society of Côte d'Ivoire are stepping up their support for medical facilities in the country and are beginning to operate mobile clinics in Abidjan.

NEPAL: Experts from nine countries gathered in Kathmandu to participate in an eight-day training course on international humanitarian law jointly organized by the ICRC and the Kathmandu School of Law.

LIBYA: This week 618 foreign nationals were evacuated by sea from the city of Misrata by the ICRC with support from the Libyan Red Crescent. The ICRC is also sending another ship to Misrata with medical supplies, hygiene kits, food items and 8,000 liters of drinking water.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Show Your "Green" at the Red Cross!

Fútbol fans! The Portland Timbers, in their inaugural MLS season, continue their partnership with the Red Cross through a Timbers blood drive event and sale of a limited edition t-shirt!

On Saturday, May 7, 2011 from 7 AM to 1 PM, you can give blood for your team at the Portland Donor Center!*

All presenting donors will be entered into a drawing for the following gear from the Timbers team store: adidas Inaugural Structured Caps (black or green); Timbers Scarves (Green Argyle or Rising Sun style); Timbers Wincraft Travel Mug and Timbers Wincraft Bumper Stickers!

Also, be sure to show join us during the blood drive for photo opportunities from 9 AM to 10 AM with Timber Joey and former player and community ambassador Scot Thompson! To schedule your appointment, please call 1-800 RED CROSS or visit us online

The Portland Timbers are also partnering with the Red Cross to raise money for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Disaster Relief efforts!** By purchasing this limited edition t-shirt, you Stand Together with adidas and the Portland Timbers to help support the American Red Cross and their disaster response work in Japan.

T-shirts are available at the adidas Timbers Team Store at JELD-WEN Field and at the adidas employee store (5055 N Greeley Avenue, Portland, OR) for $20 with all proceeds benefiting the American Red Cross.

*More general information about blood donation is available at www.redcrossblood.org

**Gifts to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific crisis, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other crises.

Everything Swept Away In An Instant

Before I get started rounding up the news from around the world, I just had to share this moving story from a family right here in the United States staying in a Red Cross shelter after a tornado destroyed their home...

Gilda Brisbon and her family know what it’s like to be homeless. But when they moved into their home in Raleigh, North Carolina three years ago, they thought that those days were behind them. That all changed on Saturday when their home was destroyed by a tornado and they lost everything but the clothes on their backs.

“My daughter Brittany was home alone when it hit,” said Brisbon. “I had heard the warning sirens and was hurrying to get home. I looked at my watch and it was 3:31 P.M. when I saw the black funnel cloud coming right at me.” She took refuge in a nearby friend’s house with her grandson Anthony, struggling to keep the door closed against the storm.

At their home, daughter Brittany saw the lights flicker on and off, felt the house shake and heard the sounds of the storm. She took refuge in the laundry room, miraculously suffering only minor cuts and bruises. The tornado demolished all of the Brisbon home but the kitchen and laundry room.

“It rained very hard for about five or ten minutes, and then everything got quiet,” she said. “I ran from the house to find my mother, and had to climb over many trees that were knocked down. The houses on either side of ours were untouched, but ours was destroyed.”

Read the rest of the story.

Tornadoes are frightening things. I lived through a lot of them in the Midwest, and I can tell you that the scariest part is not knowing whether everything you have could be swept away in an instant. It really hits home to hear from families who have lost everything. Here's the link if you want to donate to help with relief efforts.

Pink Martini Single Helps Japan

Did you manage to score that Beastie Boys 7" on Record Store Day? No? Well, you're not alone -- I hear that it sold out within two hours, which means great support for Red Cross Japan relief efforts.

The good news is that I've got another hot music tip for you, and this one's from a band that's a little closer to home -- Portland's own beloved Pink Martini.

Working with the folks at Starbucks, the band created the single “Yuuzuki,” with guest vocals from Japanese actress, Saori Yuki. Better yet, all net proceeds from the purchase of the song on iTunes go to support Red Cross efforts in Japan.

You can read the entire interview with Pink Martini's Thomas Lauderdale (who played piano accompaniment for all my high school musicals!), but I'll include one question below:

What instruments do we hear in this arrangement?

What don’t you hear?! This piece has “kick-ass” drums, it has bongo, congas, bass, 12-piece strings sections, harp, koto, the flute (played by Tadashi Nagai –the former Consul General to Japan for Oregon and also the Japanese ambassador to Serbia & Montenegro), The Pacific Youth Choir and piano. We put it together very quickly and I love it!

Reminders of Oregon's Geologic Past

We often enjoy posting Yahoo's Who Knew? videos on this blog (who knew that they are produced by the same company that does The Office and Family Guy?). The latest takes a peak back a year to the Icelandic volcanic eruptions at Eyjafjallajökull that disrupted air traffic across Europe. If you watch the video, you learn that if we look farther back there was a much bigger eruption a lot closer to home...

Last week scientists also announced that the history of the Yellowstone Supervolcano not only can be traced back to Oregon, but that the underground chamber of molten rock fueling it still extends close to the border.

We keep volcano preparedness tips on our website. It is important to note that a massive event such as Mount Mazama (Crater Lake) or a Supervolcano eruption in our area is unlikely to occur, although 'smaller' events similar to Mt. St. Helens are a possibility and could cause disruptions similar to Eyjafjallajökull.

3-D Earthquake Photos From 1906

Since we're talking about today's anniversary of the San Francisco earthquake, I thought I'd point out these images:

If you're unfamiliar with the technology, these are 3-D, color stereoscopic photographs of San Francisco after the 1906 earthquake.

The Smithsonian National Museum of American History recently discovered these images, taken by photographer Frederick Eugene Ives six months after the magnitude 7.8 earthquake struck the city on April 18, 1906. The above pair shows the view of a street near City Hall, looking northeast.

Read more about the discovery here.

April 18, 1906: Mother Nature 1, San Francisco 0

From Wired:

1906: San Francisco is destroyed by an earthquake so powerful that it is felt from Coos Bay, Oregon, to Los Angeles, and as far east as central Nevada.

What became known as the San Francisco earthquake and fire struck at 5:12 a.m., when the San Andreas Fault gave way, tearing the earth wide open from Humboldt County, near the Oregon border, to San Benito County, a hundred miles southeast of San Francisco. The epicenter was on the fault line just offshore from the San Francisco–San Mateo county line.

The earthquake had a magnitude measuring anywhere from 7.8 to 8.3 — a precise method of measuring seismic activity did not exist in 1906 — but it was enormous by any standard. There have been larger earthquakes recorded in California, but none so near a major population center. And damage was widespread all along the fault line. The town of Santa Rosa, 50 miles north of the Golden Gate, was flattened. Stanford University, in what was later to be named Silicon Valley, suffered severe damage.

Keep reading...

Teen Workplace Safety Tip Sheet

For many of us, getting our first jobs as young teenagers signifies a passage of freedom in which we are able to begin earning, spending and saving our own money. In this exciting time it is easy to overlook safety hazards in the workplace.

Parents, teachers and teens alike may be unaware that young people under the age of 25 are twice as likely to get hurt on-the-job than older workers. It is important for young adults in the workplace to receive proper safety training and knowledge as to hazardous tasks or conditions they might encounter in their place of employment.

To find out what questions to ask an employer, laws pertaining to meal and break periods and a list of prohibited occupations for minors both under the ages of 16 and 18, view the new tip sheet.

Teens might also consider signing up for a first aid class at their local Red Cross (if it's not already offered by their employer), so they know how to treat injuries in the workplace when, not if, they occur!

Friday Final Cut

It's Friday, and once again we find ourselves with a plethora of stories. So here's your final cut...everything that we wanted to share, but don't have time to blog.

Enjoy!

Make or Breaker: Can a Tsunami Warning System Save Lives During an Earthquake? (Scientific American)

How to Treat an Earthquake ‘Hangover’ (Wall Street Journal Blog)

Japan crisis showcases social media's muscle (USA Today)

Japan Faces Up to Failure of Its Earthquake Preparations (Scientific American)

AUDIO: Disaster and Preparedness in the Ring of Fire (City Club of Portland)

QUIZ: Is your first aid knowledge out-of-date? (The Oregonian)

And, an interesting look at disasters in pop culture...

Movie Mutants Give A Face To Our Nuclear Fears (NPR's Morning Edition)

Volunteer: Meet Erica Welch!

It is National Volunteer Week at the American Red Cross and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the volunteers from within our local communities. Over the next week we will feature the stories of 5 selected volunteers which may inspire you to become the next Red Cross Volunteer!

Community and service define Erica Welch. Her passion for community and service began at an early age and now this passion pervades everything she does, every word she speaks, every life she touches.

For Erica, volunteering is her "me time," a time to indulge in her passion. Although Erica has been a volunteer for 20 years, her relationship with the Red Cross began in grade school when she did a presentation on CPR and first aid. At a young age Erica worked as a lifeguard and went on to teach water safety.

Erica believes in "walking the walk" and is a staunch supporter of community responsibility. Eight years ago, Erica "went dry" in Red Cross instruction, moving from lifeguarding and water safety to teaching a wide variety of classes. She now instructs regularly at the Oregon Trail Chapter building as well as throughout the Portland area.

Read More...

Record Store Day, Foursquare Day, My Birthday?

Tomorrow (4/16), there are a million reasons to celebrate.

Okay...maybe it's just three reasons. But at the end of the day, you could go home with a bunch of vinyl and pie, so it's definitely worth your while to read on...

Record Store Day

I've been looking forward to this one for a few months now. Support independent record stores and score exclusive tunes? Yes, please! But my favorite part of Record Store Day is that the Beastie Boys are selling their 7” single for “Make Some Noise/Make Some Noise (Passion Pit remix)” online only, with the proceeds going to the American Red Cross' Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund.

This is a pretty unusual arrangement and you're going to have to wake up EXTRA early (or go to bed REALLY late) to get your hands on the single...read the whole scoop here.

Foursquare Day

Once you've hit the participating record stores in your area, you'll want to head over to 12th and Hawthorne's Cartopia and Whiffies Fried Pies. While there, you'll check in on Foursquare and (hopefully) be rewarded with the elusive SuperSwarm badge! Here are all the ways this is awesome:

• Pies are $1 off
• One lucky person will win free pie for the year
• El Rancho Viejo will be giving out $25 gift certificates to the 50th, 100th, 150th, 200th and 250th check in
• ZZoom Media will be donating $1 to the Red Cross in support of Japan Earthquake relief for every check in

Get all the details on this yummy event here.

My Birthday?

Okay, it's not really my actual birthday. But tomorrow IS my birthday party! The good news is that you'll probably be so satiated by your record-shopping and pie-eating adventures that you won't notice that your invite may have been lost in the mail -- I'm really sorry about that.

So enjoy your Saturday, buy records, eat pie and help Japan. Happy Everything Day!

Congratulations Benson High School Red Cross Club!

Congratulations to Benson High School's Red Cross Club for securing a matching donation of $20,000 for earthquake relief efforts in Japan.

The club partnered with a non-profit organization and participated in a, "Paper cranes for Japan" project in which $2 was donated toward reconstruction efforts in Sendai for every origami crane sent in.

Club members, student groups and many other individuals within the high school helped to fold more than 10,000 cranes for the fundraiser.

Sara Callies, biology/anatomy teacher at Benson and the Red Cross Club coordinator says, "The grassroots nature of the fundraiser really appealed to kids as a way to help those in need in Japan and feel good about doing their part in the relief effort. The club was stunned by the outpouring of students across the school community and the cranes literally flew in the door!"

VOLUNTEER: Meet Rick Aizawa!

It is National Volunteer Week at the American Red Cross and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the volunteers from within our local communities. Over the next week we will feature the stories of 5 selected volunteers which may inspire you to become the next Red Cross volunteer!

Rick Aizawa lives the change he wants to see in the world and the quick smile and sparkle in his eyes bespeaks his passion.

Rick is halfway through his term as a member of the Oregon Trail Chapter's Board of Directors. He serves on the Governance and Nomination committee and is helping to promote international services.

Supporting Red Cross International Services is of special interest to Rick. The mission of this relatively new board project is to educate Oregonians about international issues, particularly humanitarian aid worldwide.

Read More....

VIDEO: Business Preparedness Seminar

Missed today's business preparedness seminar with Oregon geologist James Roddey? Well, now you can feel like you're in rainy Portland, Oregon with this video, straight from the event.

Want more? How about viewing a few photos here!

VOLUNTEER: Meet Suzanne Nguyen!

It is National Volunteer Week at the Red Cross and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the volunteers from within our local communities. Over the next week we will feature the stories of 5 selected volunteers which may inspire you to become the next Red Cross volunteer!

Suzanne Nguyen was selected to be a member of the first Red Cross Youth Council in December, 2005, which is comprised of 20 to 25 students from many high schools in the Portland Metro area. Today, she serves as the group's activities and public relations coordinator.

Suzanne works "to make sure there is a diverse group from all over the Portland metro area. My focus is quality over quantity. I want students who will be accountable." Suzanne's canvassing techniques are as multi-tasked as her lifestyle.

A college sophomore attending classes year-around, she has four part-time jobs. In her "spare" time, she goes to malls, parks and coffee shops -- "I go where the kids are!" -- to hand out fliers and talk to students about Red Cross and the Youth Council.

Read More....

Young Americans need to (and want to) learn the rules of war

[Article by Mat Morgan. Re-posted from blog.redcross.org because today is the 150th anniversary of the first shot fired in the American Civil War.]

A new American Red Cross survey reveals that only 1 in 5 American youth are familiar with the Geneva Conventions, while 4 in 5 think that the U.S. should better educate young people before they can vote and enlist in the military.

The results of the survey come 150 years to the day after the start of the American Civil War, during which time the first codified rules of international humanitarian law were adopted. In 1863, President Lincoln commissioned a code of war, known as the Lieber Code, as part of a commitment to uphold American values and principles.

Starved prisoners from Andersonville pose at the end of the American Civil War. Rules of war were created at President Lincoln’s request, ensuring basic standards of treatment by the Union Army. Credit: Library of Congress.

The Geneva Conventions are the core of modern international humanitarian law (IHL). Their basic limits on how war is waged protect civilians, wounded and sick combatants, and prisoners of war. Inspired in part by her work in the Civil War, Clara Barton founded the American Red Cross and also advocated for the U.S. ratification of the first Geneva Convention.

The Red Cross commissioned two surveys, one of younger Americans between 12 and 17 and another of adults, and the results showed that, in many cases, youth are more inclined to support illegal actions in times of war than adults:

• Nearly 3/5 youth (59%) – compared to 51% of adults – believe there are times when it is acceptable to torture the enemy.
• More than 2/5 youth (41%) believe there are times when it is acceptable for the enemy to torture captured American prisoners, while only 30% of adults agree.
• More than half of youth (56%) believe that there are times when it is acceptable to kill enemy prisoners in retaliation if the enemy has been killing American prisoners, while only 29% of adults agree.

The survey demonstrates the need for further education, especially since nearly 7 in 10 youth say they have a relative or a close friend who is a veteran of the armed forces and these rules of conduct protect their loved ones in time of war.

Take Action

The American Red Cross urges teachers in schools across the country to use the Red Cross curriculum Exploring Humanitarian Law (EHL), which can be incorporated into social studies and history classes. More than 1200 schools in all 50 states already use these resources. This document shows how EHL helps to educate youth about key survey findings. Find more detailed information and download the free toolkit at www.redcross.org/ehl.

After telling your teachers and administrators about EHL, there are other ways you can help:

• Sign our petition on Facebook
• Ask the survey questions to your friends
• Talk about IHL through social media
• Check out www.redcross.org/ihl for more information about IHL

How 5 Teaspoons Of Blood Helped Save A Little Boy's Life

Original story from www.facebook.com/RedCrossBlood

To say that little Nicholas Jackelen has been surprising his mother, Alisha, since he was born would be an understatement – he’s been surprising her since before he was born.

It all started on Alisha’s commute home from work. Carrying twins Emma and Nicholas, Alisha’s water broke landing her in the hospital at 32-weeks gestation, eight weeks shy of full term. “I was not prepared to be having my babies so early and definitely not prepared for what would endure following delivery,” she said.

After six hours of labor, the twins were delivered by cesarean section. “Nicholas often had his head facing up throughout the pregnancy, rather than down, which is needed for a traditional delivery,” said Alisha. At 3 lbs., 13 oz. for Nicholas and 3 lbs., 3 oz. for Emma, the twins arrived and were whisked away to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) before Alisha could even see them.

Four hours after they were born, Alisha saw her children for the first time. While Emma’s vital signs were strong, Nicholas was struggling. He initially had difficulty breathing and his blood pressure was very low. Though his breathing stabilized a short time later, he was not responding to saline injections with medication intended to stabilize his blood pressure. Alisha sums up the first few days in the hospital as a whirlwind filled with mixed emotions. “On one hand you’re incredibly excited about your new family, yet your son is fighting for his life in the NICU,” she said.

Late in the evening, between days six and seven in the hospital, the medical staff came to Alisha and her husband, Charlie; Nicholas needed a blood transfusion or he may not live. That night Nicholas received the equivalent of approximately five teaspoons of blood, which doubled the blood volume in his little body. “The change in Nicholas was amazing. His color came back and his blood pressure went up. I was immediately filled with gratitude for the blood donor that stepped up so that Nicholas could live,” she said.

Nicholas and Emma spent the next five weeks in the hospital gaining their strength to come home. Alisha describes Nicholas, now 18 months old, as an “extremely healthy and happy little boy” who loves to play with his new toy kitchenette set with his sister.

“I cannot thank the person whose donated blood gave my son his life enough,” Alisha said choking up. “Blood donors are truly a gift for patients.”

VOLUNTEER: Meet Tom Jellum!

It is National Volunteer Week at the American Red Cross and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the volunteers from within our local communities. Over the next week we will feature the stories of 5 selected volunteers which may inspire you to become the next Red Cross volunteer!

Tom Jellum has many trees on the hundred acres he calls home. There are fruit trees and there are fir trees. The fruit trees offer up luscious treats. The fir trees offer shelter from the heat and rain. Yet Tom has no time to sit under his trees because he is busy offering up food and shelter to victims of disasters.

The aftermath of Hurricane Katrina jolted this former Seattle firefighter into action. He deployed with the Red Cross to New Orleans to assist in the post-hurricane recovery efforts.

Tom related a poignant recollection of a woman in a Slidell, LA neighborhood. "Contractors had gutted the homes, leaving mountains of debris in the yards," Tom said. "The FEMA trucks were coming through and scooping up the lifetime of memories that remained. This woman was terribly distraught as the FEMA truck moved from house to house. I asked her if she was OK because she was laughing and crying as she rummaged through her cherished belongings. Her daughter explained she was searching for mementos of her mother, who had passed away shortly before Katrina."

Read More....

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 7)

Can Your Home Withstand An Earthquake?

So you might not own this baby.

But you can still improve the "seismic safety" of your abode, thanks to the fine folks at the City of Portland's Bureau of Development Services.

According to the press release, the new Residential Seismic Strengthening Program is intended to provide homeowners and contractors a simple guide to evaluating existing homes to determine if certain improvements would be beneficial in order to reduce the risk of earthquake damage.

And right on the website, you can learn:

Why many older homes lack foundation anchors.

What to look for when evaluating a homes need for seismic strengthening.

How to obtain a permit to perform seismic strengthening and why permitting is important.

Step-by-step instructions on how to perform the work.

Limitations that apply to the Residential Seismic Strengthening Program.

But wait! There's more!

On April 25, there will be a Home Earthquake Preparedness meeting, featuring our own Francisco Ianni as well as speakers from the Portland Bureau of Development Services and Clackamas County. Here are the details:

WHAT: Home Earthquake Preparedness Meeting
WHEN: Monday, April 25, 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m.
WHERE: St. Johns Community Center (8427 N. Central St., Portland OR 97203)
COST: Free

Join us!

VOLUNTEER: Meet Lynda Holm!

It is National Volunteer Week at the American Red Cross and we would like to take this opportunity to recognize some of the volunteers from within our local communities. Over the next week we will feature the stories of 5 selected volunteers which may inspire you to become the next Red Cross volunteer!

When the American Red Cross showed up at Lynda Holm's front door to check on her during Oregon's 1996 floods, she decided then and there that she wanted to get involved. But it took Hurricane Katrina to, "get me off my desk to do what I was going to do in the first place," said Holm, a resident of Rockaway Beach.

Holm deployed to Biloxi, Mississippi where she began to help disaster victims by providing much-needed shelter, food and water. While there she also met Erving the Teddy Bear.

As the story goes, Holm encountered a mother who became a volunteer for the Red Cross with her son. The son was sent to Iraq, and, while the mother was helping with Katrina, she received word that her son had been killed. After returning home, the mother sent Red Cross volunteers a teddy bear with her son's dog tags, a photo and a note requesting that they take the bear on their daily routines so that her son could continue his mission for the Red Cross.

Read More....

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 6)

CONTEST: Giving You Some Peace Of Mind

Frontier Communications and the Oregon Red Cross are committed to keeping you connected and prepared before, during and after a disaster. Now were teaming up to get you digitally prepared!

Beginning Monday, April 11 – Saturday, April 30, we'll be sharing preparedness tips, giving away a laptop and other preparedness items all because we want you to be digitally prepared. So how do you join the campaign? It’s simple!

To be entered to win a FREE Laptop:

· “Like” Frontier Communications – West Region on Facebook before Midnight on April 30, 2011.

· Share the tip of the day with this link on your Facebook page

To win other cool prizes:

· Answer our quiz questions with a correct answer on the Frontier Communications – West Region and Portland Red Cross Facebook pages.

· Answer our quiz questions through Twitter at @FrontierWest and @RedCrossPDX.

· Quizzes and questions will be posted during the 9 am hour Pacific Time on Monday, Wednesday and Friday and you have till midnight to comment with the right answer to be entered into the drawing. Winner will be announced the next day.

To be digitally prepared:

· Sign up for Frontier Peace of Mind for $12.99 per month through the Great Frontier Donate & we will donate $10 to Red Cross. Click here to sign up.

The recent series of disasters around the world and in our region: earthquake, tsunami, flooding and snow are reminders of the reality that could happen in our backyard. Don’t risk losing your precious data during a disaster – get Frontier Peace of Mind and be digitally prepared. By doing so, you’ll help ensure the Red Cross is there to help too.

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 5)

Would You Like Some Candy?

Not an April Fool's joke we'd recommend, but funny nonetheless. How often does your workplace conduct fire alarm/candy drills?

[via Izismile]

Tickets Still Available! Portland Timbers Partner With The Red Cross!

The Portland Timbers are partnering with the American Red Cross to raise money for the Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Disaster Relief efforts!*

To help support this disaster relief, you can STILL purchase a ticket to the Timbers match against F.C. Dallas at JELD-WED Field on Sunday April 17, 2011 in an exclusive area on the Widmer Southern Front. Ticket includes food and soft drinks for only $37.**

A large portion of the proceeds will benefit the American Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Disaster Relief efforts. After purchasing your ticket, visit oregonredcross.org/timbers to download a flyer to share with friends! The food package includes gourmet macaroni and cheese, barbecue meatballs, freshly popped popcorn, roasted peanuts, potato chips with onion dip, fresh baked cookies and Coca-Cola products.

Tickets are only available by calling Katie Hoffner at 503-553-5404 or khoffner@portlandtimbers.com Tickets limited so act now. *

Gifts to the American Red Cross will support disaster relief efforts to help those affected by the earthquake in Japan and tsunami throughout the Pacific. On those rare occasions when donations exceed American Red Cross expenses for a specific crisis, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other crises. **Offer not valid at the JELD-WEN Box Office.

Graphic courtesy of portlandtimbers.com

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 4)

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

Côte d'Ivoire: The humanitarian situation in Côte d'Ivoire is worsening as fighting and looting continue. An ICRC-chartered aircraft has landed with nearly 12 tons of supplies to meet the most urgent needs of people affected by the conflict.

LIBYA: As a result of the recent and ongoing fighting in Libya, unexploded munitions pose major risk for civilians. The ICRC is preparing to send staff to provide support for the destruction of such items and to launch a mine risk education campaign.

CHAD: The IFRC and Chadian Red Cross are strengthening programs in areas hit by meningitis, measles and cholera.

Across the Middle East and North Africa: As unrest and violence continue to spread, one of the ICRC's top priorities is to support local health staff in saving lives and ensuring that people in need of emergency medical care – in particular, those wounded in the violence – receive help.

GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 3)

Mega Quake At Science Pub!

We've been waiting for the opportunity to participate in OMSI's Science Pub FOREVER. What could be more fun than geeking out AND enjoying delicious food and drink?

Well, our dreams have come true and now we're on the agenda with lots of incredible experts forApril 13 at the Bagdad Theater. We'll be talking about preparedness (of course) and what you can do to be ready when The Big One hits.

As the website says, "Quench your thirst and feed your head." Join us!

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 2)

CNN: Bomb Shelter Boom

The boom is on. And, on a smaller scale, we've been seeing a similar run on the emergency preparedness products in our online store. How much would you be willing to invest for your family's survival?

Earthquake Prep With James Roddey (Part 1)

No Fooling -- It's Earthquake Awareness Month!

It's no joke -- today marks the start of Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month here in Oregon. See for yourself!

Earthquake and Tsunami Awareness Month 2011

In celebration (?), next week we'll be posting videos from our DOGAMI scientist friend James Roddey. He worked with the Clackamas County Sheriff's Office on a 7-part series that explores the likelihood of a catastrophic earthquake in the Pacific Northwest, and how you can prepare for this impending event.

P.S. One great way to great ready is to take a class. Don't forget that we've got a class coming up for families/individuals and one for businesses. Join us...they're FREE!

PSA Of The Day: You Give

We're now on the final day of PSAs, which means it's time for the first place winner in the MOFILM competition.

Well, remember Remy Neymarc, the Lewis & Clark student who took home second place? Surprise, surprise -- he took home first as well. GO PDX!

P.S. We want to give credit where credit is definitely due. Congrats as well to Remy's brother Andrew Neymarc, who also helped with writing, producing and directing this PSA.