Cushing Group Donates Disaster Response Truck To Red Cross

By Rusty Surette, News On 6

CUSHING, Oklahoma - The American Red Cross is receiving a new gift for the new year to help Oklahomans in need.

The Safety Alliance of Cushing has donated a new Disaster Response Trailer to the organization to help volunteers quickly respond to emergencies and disasters across the state. Plains All American Pipeline also donated a 2006 pickup truck.

The donation was made after the Red Cross responded to several wildfires in August 2012.

Shawn Roberts, who is a manager at Plains All American, noticed the disaster relief organization was in need of additional response vehicles during the fires, and worked with the SAC to make the donations possible.

Roberts also serves as the 2012 Chairman of the Safety Alliance of Cushing.

The new trailer will be used by volunteers who respond to home fires and other events that require food, shelter and comfort for first responders and all those affected by disasters.

"We thank Shawn Roberts, SAC and Plains All American Pipeline for providing this generous donation to the American Red Cross so that we may continue to serve our communities to the absolute best of our abilities during times of disaster large and small," Red Cross Disaster Services Specialist Jennifer Young said.

"We can't thank them enough for investing in the individuals, families and first responders of our communities."

The American Red Cross spent much of 2012 helping people all across the country whose lives were impacted by disasters. Relief efforts were launched in response to 113 large scale disasters in 42 states and territories between January 1 and December 1.

In the Central and Western Oklahoma Region, the Red Cross launched relief operations after a tornado in Woodward and wildfires in Noble, Luther, Glencoe and Creek County. The Red Cross responded to both operations by opening shelters and comfort kits for families. They provided drinks, snacks and meals to the community and first responders.

Volunteers worked with partner agencies to help families get back on their feet by providing the means to get clothing, shelter, food and other emergency relief items. While these were the two major operations, Red Cross volunteers responded to a number of grass fires, house fires and apartment fires across the region in the last year.

"These disasters affected many people's lives here in Central and Western Oklahoma," said regional CEO Janienne Bella. "Red Cross workers from both here at home and across the country worked tirelessly to make sure people had a safe place to stay, food to eat, and help getting their lives back on track."