SEAFORD, DE – June 29, 2006 – As the Red Cross continues to provide emergency services to communities flooded out in the Southern Delmarva region, Red Cross Board member Lynda Messick launched an appeal for local disaster relief funding. Ms. Messick, who is the CEO and President of Community Bank Delaware, requested businesses, organizations and individuals to support their local Red Cross as it stands by its promise to prepare for and provide immediate disaster relief, 24 hours a day, to those devastated by disasters.

Ms. Messick said, “While attention was drawn to the high-profile tragedies around the nation and abroad, disasters take place in our own backyard everyday. This week, local families’ lives were forever changed by the flooding we have seen, but house fires happen all the time. These families are given shelter, food, comfort, care, and mental health counseling and the services are provided free of charge to them by your Red Cross. This all thanks to the generosity of the American people. Most people don’t realize that the Red Cross is not federally funded, but counts on volunteer and monetary support from the public. None of the vital services that Red Cross provides, from disaster relief and preparedness to facilitating emergency communications for the military or training in life-saving skills such as CPR, would be possible without the thoughtful support of community neighbors. Businesses and individuals are urged to generously support the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula and the Disaster Relief Fund, which supports this other disasters that happen every day

Ms. Messick thanked Delmarva Power for leading the way by donating $5,000 to this relief effort to help area residents who have had their homes or property damaged by this week’s rainstorms and flooding. She also encouraged others to follow in Delmarva Power’s footsteps and support the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula as well as this effort. “Being ready to respond is Red Cross’s role everyday – we need the community’s help to ensure we are there when they need us!”

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. 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.

Red Cross volunteers have delivered more than 500 meals and beverages a day since the day after the flooding to affected communities. To increase rapid outreach to more than 140 families in Sussex, Dorchester, Caroline and Wicomico counties, the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula partnered with its sister chapter, the American Red Cross, Lower Shore Chapter from Salisbury, Maryland, and the Salvation Army, to deliver emergency supplies, including clean-up kits.

Preparedness For Possible Flooding In Cecil County

The American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula today pre-positioned a trailer stocked with emergency supplies at a potential shelter near Port Deposit, in preparation for possible flooding in the area. Trained Red Cross volunteers are also on call to take care of the immediate needs of affected residents, should continued rainfall make this necessary.

Red Cross Volunteers Respond To Spate Of Fires On Delmarva Peninsula

Meanwhile, a spate of fires that displaced countless families has continued to be the focus of the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula. Red Cross volunteers in six counties in Delaware and Maryland were quickly at the scene to help families with temporary accommodation, food and clothing and to guide them as they begin their recovery process. In the past three weeks, the Red Cross has helped fire victims in Harrington, Dover, Denton (Maryland), Millsboro, Claymont, Newport Heights and New Castle. In addition, 12 people were helped by Red Cross after an apartment fire in Easton, and 14 adults and 3 children after a fire in Northeast (Maryland).