American Red Cross CEO From New York Visits Oklahoma City to Show Solidarity with Bombing Survivors and Families

American Red Cross
Thursday, 18 April 2002

Input From Oklahoma Will Aid In September 11 Long-Term Recovery Efforts

On the eve of the seventh anniversary of the bombing in Oklahoma City, Robert M. Bender, Jr., CEO of the American Red Cross in Greater New York, will meet with key public officials, family members, survivors and emergency personnel in Oklahoma City. The purpose of the trip is to express solidarity with the families and to gather critical information as the Red Cross continues to develop its long-term recovery for the victims of the September 11 attacks.

"New Yorkers and Oklahoma City residents are now inextricably tied to one another," Bender said. "For seven years the Red Cross has assisted victims in Oklahoma. Our experience in Oklahoma and New York teaches us that an important part of the healing process occurs when victims of tragedy support one another. After 9/11, the Red Cross brought Oklahoma families to New York to offer their support and have been learning from their experiences ever since. The bonds they have maintained with the New York families are a testament to the work we can accomplish together.

"We have a lot to gain from listening to the brave people of Oklahoma City. Their strength and resilience are a marvelous example to New Yorkers as they embark on the road to recovery," Bender said.

A top item on Bender's agenda is the current and emerging mental health needs of those affected by September 11 to help the Red Cross best prepare for their recovery. As part of its September 11 long-term recovery, the American Red Cross recently commissioned a survey of the mental health needs of Greater New Yorkers. It finds that while New Yorkers are resilient (69% say they are coping better than they were in November), one in three adults is still experiencing trauma and suffering.

Highlights from the agenda for Bender and Melvin Reeves, director of social services for September 11 long-term recovery, in Oklahoma City, include:

- Meeting with key public officials who led the Oklahoma City bombing response:
- Former Mayor Ron Norick
- Former Chief Marrs, Oklahoma City Fire Department
- Deputy Chief Bill Citty, Oklahoma City Police Department
- Bob Spinks, president of the United Way of Metro Oklahoma City

- Discussion with Oklahoma family members who Red Cross brought to New York following September 11 about their recovery during the past seven years.

- Attending the commemorative ceremony at the Oklahoma City Memorial and viewing the recently installed American flag that previously hung in the Family Assistance Center (FAC) in New York over the "wall of (teddy) bears" which was initiated by the Oklahoma City National Memorial.

- Visiting the Red Cross Bombing Recovery Center to meet with Oklahoma City bombing survivors, an emergency first responder, the assistant director of the long-term recovery process for Oklahoma City and a mental health professional who worked extensively on the Oklahoma City relief effort.

- Meeting with key leadership of the Central Oklahoma Red Cross Chapter who were instrumental in the response and remain involved today, including Joe Shockley, chairman of the Central Oklahoma Red Cross board.

One of the family members with whom Bender will meet is Delores Watson. Delores' grandson, P.J. Allen, was two years old at the time of the bombing and suffered severe injury, mainly to his lungs. The Red Cross continues to assist with P.J.'s recovery process and other household expenses for P.J. and Delores, his primary caretaker.

For the past seven years, the Red Cross has worked with those affected by the Oklahoma City bombing. Red Cross continues its service by providing assistance with mental health support, substance abuse counseling, medical treatments and surgeries, physical therapy, prescription medication and eyeglasses for those injured in the blast, daily living expenses, referrals for job placement testing and re-training for individuals who, because of the disaster, could no longer perform the tasks required for their job.

The American Red Cross is dedicated to saving lives, easing suffering and restoring hope at home and around the world. Currently operating on a budget of $3 billion, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to the victims of more than 67,000 disasters nationwide and has been the primary supplier of lifesaving blood and blood products in the United States for more than 50 years. In 2000, the Red Cross also trained almost 12 million people in vital lifesaving skills, provided direct health services to nearly 2.6 million people and delivered more than 21 million locally relevant community services. The organization also assisted international disaster and conflict victims in close to 40 locations around the globe and its emergency communication centers processed 1.2 million calls in support of U.S. military families.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org