Shows
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastSeason 3: Disasters Untold TrailerDisasters Untold is a six-part American Red Cross in Greater NY podcast that provides an intimate look at some of the emergencies that have shaped our country over the past 20 years. It examines the Northeast Blackout of 2003, 9/11, Hurricane Maria, the 2018 Campfire (Paradise, CA), and the “Miracle on the Hudson.” Interviews with survivors, first responders, volunteers and news reporters bring different perspectives into focus and offer lessons for handling future emergencies.
2022-03-0202 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: The Miracle on the HudsonOn January 15th, 2009, at 3:25 PM, a US Airways Flight, carrying 155 passengers, departed from LaGuardia Airport in Queens, New York, for Charlotte, North Carolina. It was a routine flight that quickly became anything but routine. Shortly after takeoff, both of the plane’s engines failed, forcing the captain to make a life-and-death decision. Many called what happened next a miracle.
In this episode, we will look back at US Airways Flight 1549, also known as the Miracle on the Hudson. We’ll hear from some of the passengers and crew who recall the short flight, the terrifying water landing, and th...
2022-02-1722 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: Camp Fire - Part 2This episode is the second in a two-part series that looks back at the November 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the small California town of Paradise and neighboring communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The wildfire, which took 85 lives, was the deadliest in California history. Part two of the series features residents who escaped the flames and those who helped community members recover.
American Red Cross Gold Country Region Shelter Lead Robin Brinson (from Sacramento) helped open and run the largest shelter for Camp Fire evacuees at the Butte County Fairgrounds in Gridley, Calif.
Chip Flores...
2021-12-1314 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: Camp Fire - Part 1This episode is the first in a two-part series that looks back at the November 2018 Camp Fire that destroyed the small California town of Paradise and neighboring communities in the foothills of the Sierra Nevada Mountains. The wildfire, which took 85 lives, was the deadliest in California history. Part one of the series features four residents who helped saved lives amid the flames:
Kevin McKay, a school bus driver in Paradise, Calif., helped rescue 22 stranded students on his bus, driving them along gridlocked, dark roads as pockets of fire burned all around them. Ponderosa Elementary School teachers Mary Petersen L...
2021-12-1023 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: Hurricane MariaOn Sept. 20, 2017, Puerto Rico was hit by one of our country’s most destructive natural disasters ever, Hurricane Maria. In this episode, we hear from Red Cross team members who were on the front lines of the response to this storm, as well as two news reporters who covered the storm’s impact and aftermath—all of whom have a personal connection to the island. They recall the devastation and overwhelming challenges they witnessed, along with the spirit and resiliency of the Puerto Rican people.
The following individuals are featured:
Gaby Acevedo is a reporter at NBC4 New York and Telemundo...
2021-10-1527 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: September 11In this episode, American Red Cross volunteers who were inspired to join the organization in the wake of the horrific 9/11 attacks, recall that fateful day 20 years ago and recount their experiences helping others. These everyday heroes give a voice to all who worked to provide healing and hope to fellow Americans. Each remains an active member of the Red Cross today, continuing to help those in need in their New York communities and beyond:
Lumber-yard worker Sal Montoro of Syosset, N.Y., brought and distributed building materials at Ground Zero in the days and weeks after the attacks. He joined...
2021-08-2619 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastDisasters Untold: The Northeast Blackout of 2003Today, we’ll remember one of the most widespread power outages in recent memory, an emergency that put our great City to the test.
On a warm late summer afternoon 18 years ago this week, all of a sudden, it seemed as though the world went dark. On August 14, 2003, the Northeastern US and parts of Southeastern Canada, an area with a population of 50 million people, lost power. In NYC it would last more than 24 hours.
The summer heat, hours without electricity, communications disruptions, and memories of 9/11 brought with it a host of worries and hazards. But New Y...
2021-08-1212 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastHurricanes to COVID-19, A Lifetime of Red Cross Service Around the WorldDr. Joseph Prewitt Diaz is a pioneer in the field of disaster mental health with decades of international and domestic field experience following disasters. In his time with the American Red Cross he has supported 52 domestic deployments across the US. Internationally, he has worked in 29 different countries with the organization.
Originally from Puerto Rico, Dr. Prewitt Diaz is a highly-accredited educational psychologist with degrees from the University of Puerto Rico, the University of Connecticut, and the Gestalt Institute of Cleveland.
In this final episode of our second season we discuss how his long and accomplished...
2021-07-2928 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastStepping Up to Volunteer in the Middle of COVID-19 PandemicSince the beginning of the pandemic, there has been an outpouring of interest from residents seeking out new ways to give back to their communities. Vanessa Diez, from Yonkers, N.Y., is a full time student pursuing her master’s in public administration/emergency management and a full time social worker, helping immigrant youth in NYC. She is a remarkable young woman who, despite a busy schedule, made it a priority to serve through the American Red Cross as a volunteer. She recently joined the Red Cross and just graduated from our Disaster Action Team Academy, a specialized training prog...
2021-03-1819 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastServing Military Communities During COVID-19Our military communities sacrifice so much in “ordinary” times, but COVID-19 has brought new anxiety and uncertainty to their unique situations. For nearly 140 years, the American Red Cross has been there for active and retired service members and their families at every stage of service. During the pandemic, we have adapted our work to these trying times.
This Red Cross program goes by the name of Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) and takes many different forms in communities and on military installations across the US and on bases all over the world.
Katherine Jones, Asia...
2020-11-1122 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastHurricane Relief During CoronavirusJoin us and get trained during this active disaster season to support families affected by emergencies across the country and right here in NY. Sign up here: www.redcross.org/volunteertoday
When 22-year-old, recent college grad Nick Montoro learned that he could assist on the ground in Louisiana, shortly after Hurricane Laura made landfall, he immediately raised his hand and volunteered to help, a decision that made his father, Sal Montoro, very proud. His dad Sal is a longtime volunteer who has dedicated a big part of his life to service through the Red Cross. In our...
2020-09-1314 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastKids, Coronavirus and PreparednessFrom inconvenience to economic strain to emotional drain, COVID-19 has complicated life for us all. But the impact on young kids and their parents is unique. Kids are coping with confusion, sadness, worry and at times loneliness brought on by this strange and stressful moment. Parents are dealing with their children’s anxiety and their own concerns, all while juggling the new roles forced upon them by the pandemic. For this episode of the podcast, we’ll be talking about kids, coronavirus and preparedness. We will hear from three different Red Cross experts who will discuss the emotional impact that C...
2020-06-2321 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastCoronavirus: Helping Residents Displaced by Local Disasters During a Global PandemicLosing your home and all your belongings to a fire or other disaster is incredibly traumatic but imagine being confronted with such loss and uncertainty in the middle of a global pandemic. That’s what makes the work of Red Cross team members, who come to the aid of these individuals, so critical. As this coronavirus crisis has evolved, the Red Cross has adapted the way we respond to local disasters with new safety measures including remote casework and registration, social distancing in the field and the use of face masks. But we are still providing critical relief.
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2020-04-1013 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastCoronavirus: Coping with the Emotional TollWe are bringing back our podcast for a few short coronavirus conversations. For our first episode, we spoke with long-time Red Cross disaster mental health volunteer Dr. Thomas Hlenski about emotional toll that this is having on us all and ways we can cope despite our unique and different circumstances.
In his role at the Red Cross, Tom draws on his work as an experienced mental health practitioner to help individuals cope with the fear, trauma and stress brought on by disasters. He does this work locally and at times he deploys to disasters outside our region...
2020-03-3015 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastThe Spirit of Giving BackAs a Disaster Spiritual Care volunteer, Rabbi Stephen Roberts provides a very unique form of assistance following emergencies large and small. Working alongside team members from different faiths, he tends to the spiritual needs of individuals recovering from trauma and tragedy by providing them with safe space in which to cope. And in doing this work, he also carries forward a long-standing family legacy of service.
Rabbi Stephen Roberts has volunteered with the American Red Cross for 20 years. He is currently the lead for the Disaster Spiritual Care Function within the American Red Cross in Greater New...
2019-12-1925 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastReady When Called UponFate rarely calls upon us at a moment of our choosing. These words of wisdom are best exemplified by the career of Red Cross IT specialist and international disaster responder Andy Li. Li has often been struck by some apprehension when confronted with the task of supporting major relief operations following some of the largest natural disasters in recent history, but in each instance, no matter what the challenge, his training and instincts took and over allowed him to accomplish the task at hand.
For more than a decade, Andy has served as IT Specialist, a role...
2019-12-1216 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastFinding Time To Do GoodFor many, balancing work and family life is challenging enough let alone finding time for the causes we care most deeply about. What makes Conrad Meyer such a model for those who want to make a difference in the world is how, throughout the different stages of his corporate and retired life, he always found time to not only give back, but to involve his family.
During his 25-year career on Wall Street, Conrad was a founding member of Lehman Brothers' Mergers and Acquisitions Department and went on to run the global M&A new business development...
2019-12-0518 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastPaws for a CauseEveryone can look back into their past and point to one or two defining moments that forever changed the course of their lives. For Judy Audevard that moment came the day her pet Kizzy opened her eyes and her heart to the incredible healing power of dogs. Judy eventually gave up her successful corporate career to dedicate her life to bringing therapy animals to adults and children suffering from anxiety, tragedy and trauma.
Judy Audevard is President and Founder of the Hudson Valley Paws for a Cause Pet Therapy Program. This is a 501C3 organization who have o...
2019-11-1923 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastThrough the FireImagine arriving at work one morning greeted by the sight of smoke, and embers falling from the sky. Imagine a situation that deteriorates very quickly, one that forces your entire workplace, and your entire town to evacuate. Imagine escaping town in your vehicle and seeing nothing but smoke and fire all around you. And, finally imagine a six-hour drive to safety knowing that your home is probably destroyed.
These circumstances were very real for the residents of Paradise, California where, on November 8, 2018, a massive wildfire devastated this tightknit community.
Abigail Gerspacher-Davis and Mary Petersen Ludwig, t...
2019-11-0626 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastExperience Beyond His Years
Society has become more socially conscious than ever before, especially young people. But finding one's place in the world, where one can contribute and make a difference, can often feel overwhelming. At the same time, parents struggle with how to instill civic minded values in their children. That’s what makes Eli Russ’ story not only remarkable, but also instructional for those looking to find their way. Eli learned the value of service at an early age, almost by chance...and it changed the course of his life.
Eli first joined in 2009 as a member of his high...
2019-10-2915 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastThe Journey of a LifetimeVivian Moy is an active American Red Cross volunteer from Port Washington, N.Y. who supports the organization's home fire safety program, provides assistance at local disasters and serves as a Public Affairs representative.
At times Viv travels to large disasters outside the Greater New York region, like major flooding in Texas, devastating wildfires in Northern California and a Nor'easter in Massachusetts.
Last June, Viv organized an unofficial delegation from the American Red Cross to attend an annual gathering of Red Cross/Red Crescent volunteers from around the world in Solferino, Italy, the birthplace of...
2019-10-1724 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastKeep Calm and Be There For OthersAlec Cecil is a psychologist at the Albert Einstein College of Medicine and Montefiore Medical Center, working primarily with underserved adolescents and young adults and their families.
He joined the American Red Cross in 2001 after the crash of AA Flight 587 in Queens. As part of his work with the Red Cross, Alec volunteers with the organization's Service to the Armed Forces Program (running Reconnection Workshops), he teaches Psychological First Aid and Disaster Mental Health Fundamentals, and he deploys nationally to provide Disaster Mental Health support following major emergencies like Hurricane Harvey and the Parkland shooting.
2019-10-0121 min
American Red Cross in Greater New York PodcastSeason 1: Humanitarians of NY TeaserThe American Red Cross in Greater New York Podcast is a collection of short, intimate conversations with everyday heroes who give back and help others suffering from trauma and tragedy. The theme of this first season is "Humanitarians of New York."
2019-09-2401 min