"Are We Prepared?"

 

by: Bobby McDonald

 

"Moose" and Dawn Morgan outlined the needs in Hopkins County for Red Cross preparedness,
at a noon luncheon, on Wednesday.

 

"Most of us say, it won't happen to us!" advised Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, CEO of the Dallas Area Chapter of Red Cross. "But, it's not a matter of 'If".... It's a matter of 'When' it's going to happen in your community!"

Sutterfield-Jones was the speaker at a Red Cross Vision Meeting hosted in the Sulphur Springs Public Library, Wednesday at noon, sponsored by the Hopkins-Rains Farm Bureau, City National Bank, and Guaranty Bond Bank. She stressed the need for trained volunteers in our community, so that when a disaster strikes, our community will be able to deal with the trauma and the needed supplies.

 

Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, CEO of the Dallas Area Red Cross, spoke at Wednesday's luncheon,
and told of the magnitude of preparedness needed in the 13 County Dallas service area.

 

"Moose" Morgan and his wife, Dawn, local Disaster Action Team leaders in Hopkins County, gave an overview of the local preparedness and outlined the areas that Hopkins County needs to become trained with. "We have 12 to 15 trained volunteers in Hopkins County and are looking for more individuals (up to 40) willing to go through the training," they expressed. "The training can be completed in an 8-hour session, all on one Saturday, or in a couple of night meetings at your location!"

"We're looking for church groups, organizations, or corporate groups, willing to be trained and ready to help when a disaster should strike our community!" they continued. "We have two shelters at the present and are looking for others in our county to be used in the case of a major disaster!"

 

 

Local fire fighters spoke to the group and told of the important roles that the local Red Cross Organization provided when homes were destroyed by fire.

 

Local fire fighters, Mike Matthews and Caleb Melton told Wednesday's group of the many services
that the local Red Cross provided during local disasters.

 

Local business and community leaders then were shown a new film entitled "F-5" that outlined a massive tornado coming through the Dallas Area and the need for Red Cross volunteers, money, supplies, and communication, when something of this magnitude happens. The film outlined the major needs and showed how individuals can become involved in their local communities.

If you are interested in becoming a Red Cross Volunteer you may call Michelle Conrad at (903)456-7984 or contact the Dallas Area Chapter at (214)678-4396.

 

Local community leaders discussed the needs of our community for disaster preparedness.