People Helping People
Red Cross Responds as Flooding Forced Families from Homes
On Wednesday, June 28th, rain soaked our region. 
As floodwaters wreaked havoc throughout the Northeast, covering homes and displacing thousands of residents, SEPA stepped into action to provide relief. Flood victims began the first steps toward rebuilding their lives with the help of 132 Red Cross volunteers. Our chapter opened five shelters throughout the flooded areas. We served 1,892 meals and 1,684 snacks, distributed 686 clean-up kits and 154 comfort kits over the course of three weeks.
This chapter responded across Pennsylvania in a big way, from staffing the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency desk during the first week of flooding to shipping more than 900 cots and supplies throughout the affected areas.
A Long-Awaited Welcome
SEPA proudly welcomes the membership of Magen David Adom (MDA) and the Palestine Red Crescent Society to the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. After a much-anticipated vote - 58 years in the making – these two national societies were admitted as full voting members on June 22, 2006. Their inclusion is a significant step towards universality - one of the seven principles of the movement.
Progress toward MDA’s inclusion began in December 2005 when a diplomatic conference adopted the red crystal as the third additional protocol, providing a comprehensive and lasting solution. MDA had been denied access because they use the Red Star of David, which is not explicitly referenced in the Geneva Conventions. The crystal must be used when operating internationally.
Red Cross Comes to the Aid of More Than 4,100 Evacuees
More than 4,100 evacuees were greeted with a warm welcome as they 
arrived at the Philadelphia International Airport from Lebanon. With 48 hours notice, SEPA, working with our city, state, airport and federal partners, transformed Terminal A West into a full-service reception center.
As each person arrived, the Red Cross was there with water, a stuffed animal (for the children), and a smile. “Seeing the American Red Cross at the airport, I knew they were there to help. That was awesome”, said Mazen Haffar, Lebanese evacuee turned Red Cross volunteer translator.
Helping them with their bags, a Red Cross volunteer escorted each family to the reception area, where they found food, travel assistance, emotional support, airline connections, first aid, shelter, childcare, emergency communications and other necessary relief. For nine days, 249 volunteers worked 1,054 12-hour shifts serving 5,465 meals, 16,959 snacks and 2,275 comfort kits.
