San Diego State University has partnered with the American Red Cross to prepare for and respond to potential disasters.
The American Red Cross San Diego /Imperial Counties Chapter brought multiple disaster shelter containers to the Mesa, which will be stored on campus to provide emergency relief to those affected by disasters. The containers house enough water, meals, cots and comfort kits to care for a sizable percentage of SDSU students during an emergency.
"This is a win-win situation for everyone involved," said Tom McCarron, SDSU's vice president of Business and Financial Affairs. "The supplies are available for students in the case of an emergency, and the partnership also adds the capacity for us to assist the community."
The services provided by the Red Cross at SDSU are designed to meet the needs of those affected by disasters including sleeping quarters, restrooms, shower facilities, laundry, feeding facilities and counseling and relocation assistance.
A community effort
In addition to supporting the university, the partnership will also serve the community. The containers will be available for the community to access in the case of an emergency.
"We live in an area of ‘no-notice’ events like wildfires and earthquakes. It’s not a matter of if, but rather when a disaster will strike our area," said Bill Earley, the CEO of Red Cross. "Being prepared is key. We’re proud to partner with SDSU on this and encourage other entities to do the same.”
In addition to providing relief in the face of disaster, the partnership will also encourage the campus community to prepare for disasters.
For more information on how you can prepare, visit the San Diego American Red Cross website.