Red Cross responds to ProPublica/NPR investigative journalism story

The American Red Cross published on its own blog yesterday its response to an investigative journalism article that criticized the Red Cross’ response to recent disaster, including super storm Sandy.

In the blog, the Red Cross denies that it diverted vehicles and resources to press conferences instead of using them to deliver services.

The organization also indicates that there is “no evidence to support” an assertion that After Hurricane Isaac made landfall, the Red Cross sent 80 empty emergency response vehicles through neighborhoods in Mississippi, only for show.

Read the response for yourself at http://blog.redcross.org/#sthash.n1apoVxU.rbD1fK3e.dpuf

Don’t let big problems at the American Red Cross kill it

When the Red Cross finally appeared (in the Rockaways, N.Y.) weeks after the storm (Sandy), volunteers were planning to distribute flashlights but discovered they had no batteries, she (a volunteer for the relief group Occupy Sandy) says. One Red Cross staffer came to a Rockaways community center and asked them to donate some. “I was infuriated,” she recalls. “Didn’t Lady Gaga just donate a million dollars to you guys?” she asked the Red Cross staffer. “Buy some batteries with it.”

The above paragraph is an excerpt from “The Red Cross’ Secret Disaster,” a piece of investigative journalism published today by ProPublica, a non-profit corporation that describes itself as an independent non-profit newsroom that produces investigative journalism in the public interest. The except demonstrates just one of many ways the American Red Cross apparently allowed poor leadership at top levels to hinder (if not disable) its ability to meet the needs of the victims of Hurricane Isaac and super storm Sandy.

For a long time, the American Red Cross has been the default recipient of monetary donations from Americans who feel compelled to do something to help disaster victims. Reading ProPublic’s piece might lead you to consider other recipients for your next donation.

If so, and if you, like me, are a Christian, consider looking first to your own denomination. Many have their own disaster response ministries. If you’re not certain whether your denomination does, ask your pastor or other church leaders.

That said, I believe it would be a shame if the American Red Cross ceased to exist due to drying up donations as a result of ProPublica’s exposé. The American Red Cross has significant resources and should not be allowed to die. Instead, donors should insist on reform and greater transparency, so that the organization can better respond to the next disaster.

I welcome you to use the comment link below the title of this post to add your thoughts. And if you’d like to share this post, you’ll find convenient links below.

Registration open for 2015 SKYWARN spotter training

The northern Indiana National Weather Service office has announced that registration is now open for 2015 training sessions for people who want to become volunteer SKYWARN storm spotters for the agency and for previously trained spotters who wish to update their training.

To register, visit this website.

View a news release announcing the training.

Special Weather Statement issued October 23 at 10:25AM EDT by NWS

…AREAS OF DENSE FOG LINGERING IN SOME LOCATIONS… LIGHT WINDS AND A LOW SUN ANGLE WERE ALLOWING DENSE FOG TO PERSIST IN SOME LOCATIONS WITH VISIBILITIES STILL AROUND ONE QUARTER MILE. CONDITIONS SHOULD SLOWLY IMPROVE THROUGH THE REMAINDER OF THE MORNING AS THE SUN RISES HIGHER AND HELPS BURN OFF THE FOG. BE CAREFUL WHILE DRIVING AND BE PREPARED FOR SUDDEN REDUCTIONS IN
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Dense Fog Advisory issued October 23 at 6:52AM EDT until October 23 at 10:00AM EDT by NWS

…DENSE FOG ADVISORY THROUGH MID MORNING… .CLEAR SKIES…LIGHT WINDS AND MOIST GROUND CONDITIONS HAVE ALLOWED A FAVORABLE ENVIRONMENT FOR DENSE FOG ACROSS PORTIONS OF NORTHEASTERN INDIANA…FAR SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO. MOTORISTS MAY ENCOUNTER HIGHLY VARIABLE VISIBILITIES DROPPING TO BELOW ONE QUARTER MILE AT TIMES.
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Special Weather Statement issued October 23 at 4:26AM EDT by NWS

…AREAS OF FOG EARLY THIS MORNING… AREAS OF FOG WILL PERSIST THROUGH 10 AM EDT ACROSS MUCH OF NORTHERN INDIANA…SOUTHERN LOWER MICHIGAN AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO. PATCHY DENSE FOG CAN BE EXPECTED ACROSS RURAL AREAS WHERE LOCALIZED VISIBILITIES OF ONE QUARTER OF A MILE OR LESS ARE POSSIBLE AT TIMES. MOTORISTS SHOULD EXERCISE CAUTION WHILE DRIVING EARLY THIS
View the full statement on the NWS website.

No more frost or freeze warnings until spring

Photo of fallen leaves with frost on themThe northern Indiana office of the National Weather Service announced today that it will issue no more frost or freeze warnings for its 37-county warning area until spring of 2015.

In a “public information statement,” the office indicated that the growing season has effectively ended across northern Indiana, southwestern Lower Michigan and northwestern Ohio, thanks to the combination of a lower sun angle and temperatures dropping to around freezing Sunday morning.

Freeze Warning issued October 19 at 4:09AM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS

…FROST AND FREEZING CONDITIONS THROUGH SUNRISE… .CLEARING SKIES AND DIMINISHING WINDS WILL CONTINUE TO WORK SOUTH ACROSS NORTHERN INDIANA AND NORTHWESTERN OHIO. LOWS WILL BOTTOM OUT FROM 29 TO 32 DEGREES IN MUCH OF THE WARNING AREA WITH SLIGHTLY WARMER TEMPERATURES ACROSS WESTERN INDIANA. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR WIDESPREAD FROST TO FORM…ESPECIALLY IN FAVORABLE
View the full statement on the NWS website.

Freeze Warning issued October 18 at 10:07PM EDT until October 19 at 9:00AM EDT by NWS

…FROST AND FREEZING CONDITIONS LATE TONIGHT… .CLOUDY SKIES ARE EXPECTED TO GRADUALLY CLEAR OVERNIGHT AND WINDS DIMINISH ALLOWING TEMPERATURES TO DROP INTO THE LOWER 30S ACROSS THE REGION. IT WILL BE THE COLDEST ALONG AND EAST OF A CASSOPOLIS TO WARSAW TO MARION LINE…WHERE LOW TEMPERATURES WILL LIKELY PLUMMET INTO THE UPPER 20S TO AROUND 30. THIS WILL ALLOW FOR
View the full statement on the NWS website.