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[Music] this is our native land of peace tranquility and majestic beauty fashioned by the hand of God blessed by nature with vast sprawling burden plane and mile upon mile of lush abundant farmland with rugged boundaries guarding our peaceful nation of 145 million America great cities mark our skylines happy eager people strong our streets busy battery reflecting nature's blessings shape of glorious future but nature's blessings are subject to the Furies of its element [Music] man whose work is beauty before the onslaught of mighty horses lush lands are devastated by the hot breath of catastrophe today men and science constantly on guard give battle to these destructive forces u.s. weather bureau and coast guard experts charge storm paths and brash hurricane warnings to help minimize the toll of his menace hurricanes yearly threaten havoc to millions living along the Gulf and Atlantic coasts organized to combat calamity are thousands of volunteers serving with the American Red Cross nerve center for five area offices of the disaster preparedness and relief service is at national headquarters Washington DC here of VAS communications network is an immediate contact with the scene of every major catastrophe occurring throughout the United States when a major disaster threatens facilities and resources of military naval coastguard and civil authorities join forces with the Red Cross to expedite relief operations in stricken areas area offices Red Cross reaches its thirty seven hundred and fifty four chapters and fifty-five hundred and seventy eight branches covering every county in the United States in a stricken region key people from municipal health and safety forces are in session a disaster preparedness committee which months before organized a program to cope with such emergencies as they now face with the community threatened the disaster program swings into action areas have been surveyed temporary shelters feeding and medical stations designated nothing has been overlooked in the preparedness plan [Music] [Music] [Music] major tasks now the saving of human life thousands must be moved speedily from danger zones to shoulders difficulties of transportation and blocked highways must be overcome emergency crews calm the countryside to expedite safety measures all time residents reluctant to leave their homes must be assisted every effort is made to save movable household goods livestock so essential to farm life must be rescued and routed to places of security by the time the predicted disaster strikes the preparedness committee and cooperating agencies have worked hard in staving off heavier death and property toll despite nature's rampage the emergency needs of a disrupted populace are met [Music] warning the terrifying twister on natal smooth with cataclysmic fury upon helpless communities in its wake utter desolation and death tornadoes strike somewhere in this country on an average of 146 times a year another unpredictable disaster earth quake in recent years 45 states have experienced its tremors earthquakes smash gas and water mains fires quickly followed spread unchecked causing tremendous life and property loss Great destroyer constantly ravages our life property loss alone in one year reached a half billion dollars fires most of them caused by man's negligence continue to destroy maim and to kill forest fire Janu the land causing soil erosion and then one preventive measures can only lessen not eliminate man's carelessness in a single year over 200,000 forest fires destroyed enough timber to build a quarter of a million badly needed home [Music] there is always work for disaster crews [Music] tragedy at sea occurs infrequently that were the less chapter workers already when survivors are brought ashore providing blankets clothing food nurseries angeles home service quickly communicate with worried families of passengers and crew [Applause] railroad accidents are more frequent some of them serious within minutes after this crash chapter units were assisting police and hospital workers in rescue and burst a [Music] air trouble ever on the increase is not without its unfortunate incident [Music] in a 12-month period over a thousand men lost their lives at mine and quarry accident each stark tragedy leaves its scars on families for years to come [Music] of the thousands of major disasters during the last half century hundreds were floods this torrential force suites homes and homes away making Jesta to hundreds of thousands of people butts have happened in every month and in every state in one great flood alone the American people rushed 25 million dollars to the Red Cross to help 1 million homeless repeated experiences with disasters have given Red Cross workers the know-how of meeting these situations without confusion or panic [Music] one of the major responsibilities is feeding the hungry to teach idli located canteens serve hot nourishing food to lift the spirits of the tired refugee from the immensity of disaster overwhelms local facilities national and Area Headquarters dispatch supplies and personnel from various points a strength and neighborliness of the nation are concentrated on the stricken area overcoming such handicaps as disrupted transportation communication and other facilities the disaster preparedness and relief committees and cooperating government and local agencies all to a minimum loss of life and property in providing food shelter and medical and nursing care to guard health they have helped to check epidemic the prepared shelters proved a godsend to the homeless to avert hysteria vital information is rushed in answer to the thousands of calls and telegrams from anxious relatives who fear for their loved ones disaster workers immediately record all deaths hospitalizations family placements and shelter occupants so that separated families can be reunited to people who have lost all their belongings extra clothing is an urgent need here the purpose of the chapter production core is a team this is only the beginning of disaster relief problems face the agent the homeless begin do many families require a health is ready for those in need there once will be reviewed by experienced caseworkers who will visit their homes and their injured kin in hospital meeting regularly a local Advisory Committee of representative community leaders hears caseworkers present for banks on each register the family disaster laws its resources and the extent to which it can assume part of its rehabilitation beyond that the Red Cross provides four answers to meet the need case number 205 a 31 year old breadwinners with wife and son disaster injury caused amputation of his leg previous family illness depleted their savings they face large hospital bill and added expense of artificial limb family requires maintenance until man can work again caseworker recommends meeting these needs across 16 hundred and forty dollars MIDI agrees the award is just case number 416 a veteran's home has been heavily damaged by fire as a wife and baby the wife's health is very poor they are heavily in debt needed beyond insurance to repair home fourteen hundred and sixty dollars approve case number 91 elderly couple in failing health and without funds they're supporting son has been hospitalized the case will be held active for later review period maintenance to the extent of $300 is needed approve these disaster sufferers are a cross-section of America helped to their feet again by generosity and neighborliness Express through the Red Cross in outright gifts handled confidentially so preserving the dignity of these citizens in their community there are many problems to be solved after each disaster a small herd of cattle is given to a farmer whose livelihood was swept away replacement of a carpenters tools enabled him to resume his work long-term medical nursing care is provided for severely injured a blind woman's radio her main contact with the outside world is restored nursing aide in many cases continues for months after disaster strikes the squeak of disaster goes off this year every year thousands will be maimed or killed some of them may be your neighbors millions and property will be lost thousands of homes destroyed today 3,000 counties and there are many agencies working through Red Cross are prepared to meet emergency to feed house and help billions of people but today unfortunately there are some communities not fully organized to cope with a major calamity public awareness will hasten action to remove this risk we know we should be must be ready when disaster strikes [Music] [Applause] [Music]