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Severe Weather Information Distributed
WEST MICHIGAN (NEWSCHANNEL 3) – In 2008, severe weather caused almost $68 million in property damage in Michigan. Eight people were killed.
Now, two West Michigan groups have a plan to save lives. The groups are looking to do their part to help folks better protect themselves during severe weather.
When severe weather strikes, mobile home communities often feel the brunt of the storms, and the majority of residents have no action plans in place to seek shelter.
In Calhoun County, the American Red Cross is out visiting and talking to thousands of residents who live in the area′s nearly 50 mobile home parks.
They′re passing out information to help people make plans, plans that could save lives.
In May of 2009, three people died when storms ripped through a Missouri community, and local volunteers don′t want to see a tragic event like that play out locally.
"If a disaster were to occur, we can't be everywhere at the same time," said Sonia Elinchev of the American Red Cross.
Volunteers tell Newschannel 3 that nearly 40 percent of all storm related deaths occur in mobile home communities. The homes simply can′t withstand strong winds, making them particularly unsafe when sever weather strikes.
The lack of emergency plans is especially worrisome to the volunteers.
"None of the people I′ve spoken to have emergency plans in place," said Elinchev.
The outreach effort is the first of its kind for local mobile home parks. So far, volunteers have delivered over 1,000 emergency kits and in some cases they say they′re seeing immediately results, or at least gotten people thinking.
"I′m glad they′re here," said Michael Morey of Avenue A Mobile Homes, "safety is the most important thing."
Your local American Red Cross is a proud United Way Delivery Partner.
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