Photo: Anita Salzberg

The American Red Cross in Greater New York activated its Response Center Network (RCN - New York), an emergency call center, at its Chapter headquarters (520 W 49th Street) on May 7 to help respond to calls received from around the country about this past weekend's severe tornadoes in Kansas.

RCN - New York, along with other Red Cross call centers, is responding to inquiries about the Kansas storms received on the national Red Cross 1-866-GET-INFO (1-866-438-4636) line. According to volunteer supervisor Robert Lirtzman, calls have come in from people in Kansas who require assistance and from family and friends seeking information, as well as from individuals who have been affected by other emergencies across the country. RCN - New York is expected to operate through Friday, May 11, from 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.

On Monday and Tuesday, May 7 and 8, 236 calls were taken by 30 Greater New York Chapter volunteers and 2 employees at RCN - New York.

Among the Red Cross volunteers staffing the phones on Tuesday, May 8, were, from left to right: Lisa Clack, Jean-Pierre Larroque, Naty Duenas and Jim Shevlin.