Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana (BCBSMT) delivered a $15,000 donation Monday to the American Red Cross of Montana to aid in the support of wildfire relief activities.
"This generous gift from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Montana will help us replenish some of the supplies we used during this historic wildfire season and it helps us prepare for the next wildfire," Red Cross of Montana Executive Director Diane Wright said. "This has really helped us put our shelters together and get the relief supplies where they're needed most." Because of severe drought, Montana faced an especially active wildfire season affecting all corners of the state this summer. In July alone, the state saw more acreage burned than previous Montana wildfire seasons.
"It really put our resources to the test," Wright said.
Red Cross of Montana responded to the emergency by opening a record 18 shelters for families forced from their homes because of evacuations, including facilities in Eureka, Florence, Hays, Helena, Jordan, Libby, Missoula, Plains, Potomac, Roundup, Superior and Wolf Creek. Those shelters provided families with a free place to stay, meals, water, snacks and information about disaster-related resources in their communities.
"We can't thank Red Cross of Montana enough for all of the amazing work they've done serving those directly impacted by the wildfires in a time of need, and in many cases, desperation," BCBSMT Community Relations Manager Jesse Zentz said. "We care deeply about the health and well-being of our fellow Montanans, and we embrace a culture of giving back to the communities we serve, especially in times of crisis. The work Red Cross of Montana does supporting our friends and neighbors is nothing short of heroic, and we're proud to support their efforts."
Wright said there are three key phases to Red Cross disaster relief – preparedness, response and recovery. Preparedness occurs year-round as shelters are positioned across the state and provided with essential supplies needed in the event of a disaster. Response is what occurs when an emergency official makes the determination that a community needs to be evacuated.
When the call goes out, Red Cross is required to have a shelter ready to open within four hours. Red Cross of Montana, whose workforce is 98% volunteer, has 300 trained disaster action team volunteers throughout Montana, which allows them to respond effectively and efficiently.
"We have disaster volunteers and materials ready to zoom into that area, set up a shelter, get cots ready, blankets out and comfort kits ready for evacuees," Wright said.
But that's not where their work ends. The last phase of Red Cross disaster relief is recovery, which means helping those directly affected by the disaster get back on their feet. Wright said the need for recovery work is amplified near Essex, where the Caribou Fire destroyed 10 homes.
There are many ways to help Red Cross of Montana. To donate, visit the American Red Cross of Montana. You can decide if you want to donate to your local chapter to help Montanans cope with disasters like the recent wildfires, or if you want to donate to Hurricane Harvey or Irma relief. You also can mail a check to Red Cross of Montana, 1300 28th St. S., Great Falls, MT 59405. Write Montana disaster relief on the memo line if you want that money to stay in Montana. Lastly, you can call 800-ARC-MONT (272-6668).
Red Cross of Montana also offers countless volunteer opportunities that match a wide range of skill sets and interests. Disaster action team volunteers open shelters and provide disaster relief on an on-call basis. Communications volunteers update social media sites, write media releases and keep the public informed as disasters occur. Disaster health service volunteers help clients replace medications following a disaster. Learn more about volunteering at the American Red Cross of Montana.