American Red Cross volunteers and community partners installed more than 1,000 free smoke alarms for families during Sound the Alarm home fire safety events in the Eastern New York region. Additional bed shaker and strobe alarms were installed for hearing impaired residents.

We are grateful to everyone who supported our Sound the Alarm events to help keep hundreds of our neighbors safe from home fires. Home fires are a constant threat in our community, accounting for most of our disaster responses. These efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable.

The region’s signature event was held in Troy on April 29, with similar community events in Kingston on April 15 and Syracuse on May 6. Many requests for home visits were also fulfilled in surrounding communities during the month-long initiative.

(Thank you note from Betty, Troy NY)

SAVING LIVES FROM NATION’S MOST FREQUENT DISASTER Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, including in Eastern New York. In the past 12 months, the region’s Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers have responded to more than 700 home fires and other incidents, providing immediate emergency assistance to 1,280 families.

Sound the Alarm is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save at least 1,723 lives — including 79 in Eastern New York — since launching in October 2014. Locally during this time, we have joined partners to install 37,600 free smoke alarms, making more than 16,000 households safer across the region.

Residents who need assistance can request a home fire safety visit at soundthealarm.org/eny or contact us at preparedness.eny@redcross.org or 518-694-5121. Volunteers will also share information on the causes of home fires, how to prevent them, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: Suburban Propane, National Grid, State Farm, Hannay Reels, Fenimore Asset Management, The Dorothy and Marshall M. Reisman Foundation, Stewart’s Shops.

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