Wilmington, DE – June 1, 2006 – All Crestview Apartments residents who were left homeless after the building fire on Tuesday morning, May 30th are urged to register with the Red Cross to determine their eligibility for financial assistance. While the majority of residents have been housed at a Red Cross shelter at the Police Athletic League (PAL) of Wilmington Center on 3707 N. Market Street, several others opted to make alternative housing arrangements. These residents may be eligible for Red Cross assistance with food, clothing and other emergency needs and should register with the Red Cross at the PAL Center between 10am and 3pm tomorrow, Friday June 1st. They can also call the Red Cross office at (302) 656-6620 for more information during office hours, 8:30am-4:30pm, Monday to Friday.

Last night (Wednesday May 31st), 45 residents of Crestview and Compton Towers apartment complexes stayed overnight at the PAL Center. More than 35 Red Cross staff and volunteers, in collaboration with government, emergency management, and other community partners, have been involved in assisting the displaced residents since the crisis began. Throughout their stay at the Pal Center, residents have been monitored by trained health and mental health professionals, who are available 24 hours a day.

Mark Tinsman, Emergency Services Director of the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, said, “The Red Cross is committed to running a shelter to take care of the emergency needs of those affected by these two emergencies for at least another week. In collaboration with our community partners, we have been able to address the significant needs of all those affected in this very complex disaster response.”

He continued. “While it is too early to project the cost of our response, it is important that people know that all Red Cross emergency services are provided free of charge to those affected by disasters. As we are not funded by the government, we rely on the generosity of the American people to be able to offer our critical services to all those in need.”

Meanwhile, plans are underway to relocate the residents to another downtown Wilmington shelter. The time and location of the new shelter will be announced after this is shared with the PAL Center shelter residents.

Normal operations, including youth activities, at the PAL of Wilmington continue to be cancelled until further notice.