Red Cross Helped 87 People Across Long Island After 18 Disasters, Mostly Fires, In September: Officials

LONG ISLAND, NY — Long Island's American Red Cross chapter helped 87 people after 18 fire disasters across the island, in Nassau and Suffolk counties, in September.

The organization helped the largest amount of people in Suffolk at 57:

• One household of four people after a fire on Russell Street in Wyandanch on Sept. 5.
• One household of two people after a fire on Carlls Straight Path in Huntington Station on Sept. 7.
• One household of two people after a fire on Kastal Drive in Ridge on Sept. 14.
• Three households of five people after a fire on 9th Street in Greenport on Sept. 17.
• One household of five people after a fire on Joyce Drive in Riverhead on Sept. 18.
• Two households of four people after a fire on Woodcrest Drive in East Moriches on Sept. 20.
• One household of three people after a fire on Norton Street in Patchogue on Sept. 20.
• One household of five people after a fire on South Country Road in Patchogue on Sept. 23.
• Two households of three people after a fire on West 17th Street in Deer Park on Sept. 25.
• Two households of two people after a tree damaged a home on Colonial Drive in Huntington on Sept. 25.
• One household of five people after a fire on Peconic Avenue in West Babylon on Sept. 26.
• Three households of 12 people after a fire on Claywood Drive in Brentwood on Sept. 28.
• One household of five people after a fire on Dressel Drive in Mastic on Sept. 29.

Thirty people were affected by the following disasters in Nassau:

• Two households of four people after a fire on East New York Avenue in Valley Stream on Sept. 7.
• One household of five people after a fire on Stuart Drive East in Glen Cove on Sept. 13.
• One household of two people after a fire on Merrick Avenue in Merrick on Sept. 15.
• Three households of 10 people after a fire on Willets Avenue in West Hempstead on Sept. 16.
• Five households of nine people after a fire on Webb Avenue in Hempstead on Sept. 20.

In each instance, the Red Cross Long Island Disaster Action Team provided emergency assistance to meet the families’ immediate needs. Assistance may include financial aid, care items, recovery planning, health services, and other recovery resources as needed.

Any residents impacted by these disasters who need help with their recovery and have not already connected with the Red Cross should call 1-877-RED CROSS (1-877-733-2767) and select Option 1.

In other news, the organization wants to remind residents that fire prevention week is October 4 through 10, and they should take steps to stay safe and prevent fires at home.

Have a plan to escape your home in less than two minutes, and make sure you have working smoke alarms properly installed on each level of your home, as well as inside and outside all sleeping areas.

Find more tips at redcross.org/homefires.