Sandra was sitting in her kitchen with her puppy Apollo when she heard a loud boom and the building shook. She ran outside and saw the corner of the building demolished and noticed a man on the ground covered in debris. She called 911 as she made her way over to help. She couldn’t believe what she was seeing and felt confused about what was happening. Sandra felt as if she was in the middle of a nightmare.

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Sandra is one of at least 31 people displaced from their apartments on South Pine Lane in Newark after an explosion rocked their building in Stephen Crane Village.

Three volunteer members of our American Red Cross Disaster Action Team met with family members from the 12 families of the affected building to provide comfort and care, along with emergency financial assistance to help with food, clothing and other immediate needs. The Newark Housing Authority placed the families in a local hotel and will help them find more permanent housing.

Red Cross volunteer recovery case workers will follow up with affected families within 72 hours to provide additional guidance and referrals to other organizations which may be able to help with recovery as needed.

Sandra tells us she wishes she would wake up to find herself sitting quietly in her living room watching TV with Apollo at her feet and learn this has all been a bad dream. She realizes it isn’t and is grateful her and Apollo made it out okay. She then graciously thanks the Red Cross volunteers and all who are helping her and her neighbors get through this nightmare.

YOU CAN HELP You can help people affected by disasters like floods, fires and countless other crises by making a gift to Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 800-RED-CROSS ((800-733-2767), or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.