Montana flooding prompts Red Cross advice

 Since widespread flooding has displaced people in Eastern Montana, an overwhelming number of calls have come to the Montana Red Cross from concerned people nationwide inquiring about the well-being of friends and family.

The Red Cross encourages people affected by a disaster to register on www.safeandwell.org.

This gives people a way to alert family and friends of their status. From a list of standard messages, people can select those they want to communicate to let others know they are OK.

People also can “search registrants” to find family members.  

Those currently living in areas threatened by rising water who have been or are about to be displaced from their homes can call 1-800-ARC-MONT to alert the Montana Red Cross to their situation.

Others are likely to be affected in that area and shelter response will be swifter with updates.  

The role of the Montana Red Cross during flooding is “to help provide a safe, warm place to sleep, food and client needs assessments along with mental health counseling and community referrals to flood victims,” according to a news release.

Call 1-800-ARC-MONT to make donations to help the Red Cross. Donors need to specify that they would like to help Montana flood victims.

Donations made to any other Red Cross number or website will not reach or help aid Montanans.

Flood victims should not call the Red Cross for sand bags, according to statewide disaster director Colleen Tone.

“The Red Cross does not participate in sandbagging,” Tone said. “Local emergency management entities in each county, such as DES, local fire and police, or tribal factions, will avail sandbags to residents, so check with your local fire station for information on how to obtain them.”