Immigrant teens to be housed at Dallas convention center
FILE - In this March 31, 2020 file photo, a leaning sign sits in front of the Kay Bailey Hutchison Convention Center in downtown Dallas. “There’s no other way to claim it than a Biden border crisis.”Texas Gov. The memo sent to Dallas City Council members says the Federal Emergency Management Agency and HHS will “be responsible for providing shelter management and contracts” for food, security, cleaning, and medical care at the convention center. Dallas previously offered space to HHS during the 2014 surge of crossings of immigrant children. HHS also has said it will house immigrant youths in Midland.
’I’ve lost absolutely everything:’ Orlando mother works to rebuild after fire destroys home
ORLANDO, Fla. – An Orlando family is working to rebuild their lives after losing their Sanoma Village home in a fire last week. I’ve lost absolutely everything,” Sharrice Abney said. Abney was at work when she received the devastating call from a friend. Orlando Fire Department crews responding to a fire on Jan. 29, 2021. (Image: Sky 6) (WKMG 2020)Abney’s daughters, 5-year-old Kennedy and 4-year-old London are now living in a hotel room with Abney and her mother, who recently underwent surgery to amputate her leg.
Lake Nona home destroyed in fire, displacing family of 4
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – A family of four, including two young boys, are receiving help from their community and the Red Cross after a fire broke out at their home in the Lake Nona area. According to Orange County Fire Rescue, the fire started around 3:01 p.m. Wednesday at the home on Marsh Point Drive. A GoFundMe fundraiser was started for Mike and Teri D’Amelio and their sons to help them recoup some of the items they lost in the blaze. Teri and Mike, with their two boys, are very active within the community, especially with Nona Sports,” fundraiser organizer Mandy McIntyre wrote. All donations will be spent towards their recovery.”Donations have poured in from neighbors, friends and family, totaling more than $12,000 a little less than 24 hours after the fire.
2 dogs die in fire at Orlando apartment complex
ORLANDO, Fla. – Two dogs died Monday afternoon when a unit at Catalina Isle Apartments caught on fire, according to the Orlando Fire Department. The fire was reported at about noon when smoke was spotted coming from the window of a second-floor unit. [TRENDING: Here’s how to register for COVID-19 vaccine | Select Publix locations will offer vaccine | Fla. woman accused of screaming political profanities]During their efforts, they also removed three dogs from the apartment, two of which died from smoke inhalation. “Our volunteers arrived on scene and provided emergency assistance to 5 adults and 11 children (16 total) living in 3 units,” the statement read, in part. One-on-one support to connect people to available recovery assistance as well as mental health services.”The cause of the fire is unknown at this time.
‘We have nowhere to go:’ Fire at Pine Hills apartment complex leaves residents homeless
ORANGE COUNTY, Fla. – More than 30 people are now left trying to figure out where to call home after a fire at the Pine Hills apartment complex on Saturday. A spokesperson with Millennia Companies, the apartment complex management company, said that about 32 people were displaced, including about 22 children. She said now especially, since the fire happened there, she wants to make sure the affected families affected can have a merry Christmas. The Red Cross will also be assisting the affected families with a gift card of $500 to assist with hotel accommodations and other necessities. Saturday’s toy drive is from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Jernigan Gardens Apartments.
Over 40 displaced after Orlando apartment fire
ORLANDO, Fla. – Orlando firefighters battled an apartment fire Saturday that displaced more than 40 people. pic.twitter.com/qS6Pxj7Ryy — Orlando Fire Dept (@OrlandoFireDept) December 12, 2020Fire crews said around eight apartment units were impacted and four had smoke damage. Update: 44 residents displaced from Jernigan Gardens apartment fire this morning. pic.twitter.com/Q5oEMgkBuq — Orlando Fire Dept (@OrlandoFireDept) December 12, 2020The Red Cross stepped in to help those affected. “So far, the Red Cross has provided 29 people (and counting) with emergency financial assistance,” Duhane Lindo, Regional Communications Manager with American Red Cross said.
Do you suspect you’ve had COVID-19? Here’s an easy way to get an antibody test and confirm
I’d heard rumblings that you could give blood through the American Red Cross, and they’d test your blood for antibodies. Worth mentioning: The Red Cross says it’s a perfectly safe time to donate, despite COVID-19. How to interpret your resultsMine said: “COVID-19 Test Result: NEGATIVE.” And I blanked for a second, as in, “Negative? Learn more about COVID-19 antibody testing.” (It’s like the Red Cross knows that we’re not all health experts). The Red Cross could use your donation one way or the other.
Coronavirus complicates wildfire evacuations on West Coast
Volunteers wearing disposable masks walked from group to group, taking down their information and asking what they need for the days ahead. Normally, they'd be gathering in school gymnasiums and meeting halls, sleeping on cots and eating at buffet lines, all provided by organizations like the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other faith and community groups. When possible, displaced residents are sent to hotels instead of group shelters. In group shelters, staffers are using plastic pipes strung with clear shower curtains to separate evacuees but allow them to see out from their own socially distanced areas. In Oregon, group shelters are set up at churches, colleges and community buildings, while malls, golf courses and other businesses opened parking for evacuees who can stay in recreational vehicles.
Central Florida volunteers head to Texas, Louisiana to help during Hurricane Laura
ORLANDO, Fla. – Kathy Burkett and Sammy Conneen are volunteers with the American Red Cross of Central Florida. On Tuesday, the two got on a plane to Texas to help ahead of Hurricane Laura. The National Hurricane Center expects Hurricane Laura to strengthen into a major hurricane before it reaches landfall between Texas and Louisiana. [LIVE TRACK: Turbocharging Laura could strike US as Category 3 hurricane]Conneen, who's been volunteering for six years, said she's been in Texas for other natural disasters. “I know that if it was us they’d be coming to help us so it’s our turn to help them,” Conneen said.
Douglas weakens, but Hawaii could still see severe impact
A worker puts reinforcements on boarded storefront windows in the Waikiki neighborhood of Honolulu, Saturday, July 25, 2020, as Hurricane Douglas approaches. President Donald Trump issued an emergency declaration for Hawaii on Saturday because of Douglas, directing federal assistance to supplement state and local response efforts. Powerful storms are familiar to many in Hawaii who have spent the past several summers preparing for tropical cyclones. Luke Meyers, the administrator of the Hawaii Emergency Management Agency, urged people get ready by learning about the hazards where they live. The coronavirus was complicating preparations for the American Red Cross, which operates emergency shelters on behalf of local governments.