FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE 
3:50 p.m., August 7, 2008      
CONTACT: Steve Schweitzer, Red Cross Public Information Officer, 760-224-5519 (mobile) 

 

(Carlsbad) - 14 members of the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of The American Red Cross participated in the 2008 San Onofre Nuclear Generating Station (SONGS) Reception & Decontamination Exercise today.  The tri-annual event was held at Carlsbad High School.

 

If an actual disaster were to occur, the Red Cross would provide shelter to victims with possible exposure to radiation, as well as to evacuees from the surrounding areas of the San Onofre plant displaced by the disaster.  Also, the Red Cross would provide hydration, snacks and meals to first responders and emergency workers.  During today's exercise, 144 "mock evacuees" were registered for Red Cross sheltering.

The Red Cross was just one of many agencies from San Diego County that participated, to include the lead agency, the county's Office of Emergency Services.  Also present was the county's Hazardous Materials Incident Response Team, along with members of the Carlsbad Fire and Police Departments.  All total, about 250 people took part.  

 

Eight evaluators from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) from throughout the country were on hand to judge and to offer suggestions for improvement.  According to those FEMA officials, everyone involved did an outstanding job, with all Federally mandated requirements having been met or exceeded.   

 

Volunteers from the San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter of the American Red Cross are on call 24 hours a day and are trained in various aspects of disaster response, including casework interviews, damage assessment, shelter, feeding, health services, and crisis counseling.

The American Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on the generosity of the American people to provide our programs and services. The San Diego/Imperial Counties Chapter is leading the effort to make San Diego and Imperial Counties ‘America’s most prepared communities.’ With the public’s ongoing support we provide life saving preparedness training; disaster relief services; 24-hour emergency services to deployed military personnel and their families; and nutritional counseling through our Women, Infants and Children (WIC) program. For more information about or to support the chapter please contact 858-309-1200 or visit www.sdarc.org.

 

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