Wilmington, DE – May 30, 2006 – A Red Cross disaster shelter will open at the downtown PAL Center at 1:00pm today to take care of those left temporarily homeless after this morning’s fire at Crestview Apartments on N. Market Street in Wilmington. Red Cross volunteers have been on the scene of the fire for several hours, providing canteening services for both residents and emergency personnel . A specially trained disaster nurse is also on the scene and mental health workers – all trained volunteers – are en route as the Red Cross takes steps to meet the immediate emergency needs of possibly 200 or more people displaced by the fire at the 14-storey building.

The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula is working with local community partners to ensure that all those displaced will be assisted with their longer-term recovery needs.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of the Crestview apartment fire and hundreds of other disasters across the community each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, clothing, counseling and other assistance to those in need in the state of Delaware and Caroline, Cecil, Dorchester, Kent, Queen Anne's and Talbot counties in Maryland.

To help the victims of this and other local disasters, contributions may be made by mail to the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, P. O. Box 831, Wilmington, DE 19899-0831 or by calling 1-800-777-6620 during office hours. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcrossdelmarva.org.