House Fires Most Common Disaster in Central New Jersey
Local Red Cross Chapter Responded to Eleven House Fires Since Thanksgiving

PRINCETON, NJ, January 7, 2010 – The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey responded to a house fire in Hamilton last evening, the eleventh response for the chapter’s Disaster Action Team in the past six weeks. Red Cross volunteers were at the scene and worked one-on-one with the displaced family of four to address their immediate disaster-caused needs for food, clothing, shelter and other necessities.

Since Thanksgiving, the local Red Cross chapter, which provides services in Hunterdon, Mercer and Middlesex counties, has provided emergency assistance to 96 people, including 32 children, after their homes were damaged or destroyed by fire. Several of the recent fires where Red Cross assistance was requested were larger, multiple-family dwellings.

“Many of these fires occurred in the middle of bitterly cold nights,” said Kevin Sullivan, CEO of the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey. “Our volunteers were there with the families, making sure everyone affected had a warm place to stay and received assistance for food and clothing if needed.”

The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey Disaster Action Team is on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to respond to disasters and other emergencies. All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by the generous donations of time and money from the American people.

“Financial donations are down significantly and we depend on our Central New Jersey community to help fund this service,” said Sullivan.

You can help people in Central New Jersey affected by disasters by donating to the American Red Cross. Contributions to the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey may be sent to 707 Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.njredcross.org.

About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

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707 Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540-6311. 609-951-8550. Fax: 609-951-9787
Hunterdon Branch: 79 Route 202/31, Suite 302, Ringoes, NJ 08551. 908-782-4121 . Fax: 908-782-2864
www.njredcross.org