[Congressional Record Volume 144, Number 20 (Wednesday, March 4, 1998)]
[Senate]
[Page S1367]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




TRIBUTE TO THE AMERICAN RED CROSS FOR ITS CONTRIBUTION TO THE RED RIVER 
                   VALLEY FLOOD RELIEF EFFORT IN 1997

 Mr. GRAMS. Mr. President, I rise today in honor of ``American 
Red Cross Month'' to pay tribute to one of the most exemplary 
humanitarian organizations the world has ever known, and to 
specifically recognize how the Red Cross touched the lives of thousands 
of Minnesotans during the 1997 spring floods.
  Each year, the Red Cross comes to the aid of victims of 66,000 
disasters nationally. When disaster strikes, the Red Cross responds 
swiftly to the call to relieve human suffering and restore a sense of 
comfort and normalcy in the face of tragedy--a response honed over its 
135 years of service.
  This surely was the case when tragedy hit Minnesota in the form of 
severe flooding in the spring of 1997. When the Minnesota and Red 
Rivers overflowed their banks, it brought forth a flood of destruction 
and human misery unseen in this normally peaceful part of the country.
  The Red Cross response to this catastrophe was swift and effective. 
With operations in three states--Minnesota, North Dakota, and South 
Dakota--the Red Cross provided over 6,994 volunteers to aid in the 
flood relief effort. In addition, the Red Cross contributed direct 
assistance to approximately 11,867 families.
  In Red Cross service centers, victims were provided with basic 
necessities which were made scarce or unattainable due to the floods. 
The extensive damage to private homes displaced thousands, prompting 
the Red Cross to open 19 shelters which served 6,001 people. In all, 
the Red Cross served 1,179,950 meals at its 43 feeding sites and with 
its 64 mobile feeding units. The Red Cross was also able to provide 
fresh water, clothing, and blankets.
  After the water had returned within its banks and it was time for 
people to return to their homes to begin to clean up the residue left 
by the flood waters, the Red Cross provided 12,754 clean-up kits to aid 
in this long process.
  In a relatively short period of time, the river took away from some 
what it had taken a lifetime to build. In order to aid people in 
dealing with the mental strain brought by such a traumatic experience, 
the Red Cross made mental health professionals available, who attended 
to the needs of 15,498 individuals.
  During the many weeks of flood recovery work, there were two 
instances where individuals generously gave significant monetary 
contributions to the victims of the flood. These anonymous donors were 
properly referred to as ``Angels.'' While this label is indeed 
appropriate, it seems that it should also accurately be used to 
describe the thousands of Red Cross volunteers who came from all over 
this country and generously gave their time and labor to people known 
only to them by their need for assistance.
  Mr. President, while this was indeed a dark time for Minnesotans in 
the flood areas, the uncompromising compassion of Red Cross volunteers 
provided a bright display of kindness, a light that shone in the hearts 
of the many who so generously gave their time and labor in the face of 
this great tragedy. On behalf of the people of Minnesota, I wish to 
offer my sincerest thanks to the men and women of the Red Cross and 
commend this fine organization for its relief efforts throughout the 
world.

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