It’s here that the remarkable service of State Farm shines. Bringing the largest disaster response in the industry means a coordinated effort of people, technology and resources, all working together to provide exceptional service to policyholders and support to the community.

State Farm is there

State Farm Claims specialists assist customers at Louisiana Customer Care sites

In addition to thousands of employees remotely helping thousands of customers on the phone and online, State Farm claims operations are on site, day after day, helping policyholders in impacted areas.

In support of Ida response, State Farm set up seven mobile Customer Care sites – four in Louisiana and three in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. These operations bring claims teams and customers together to inspect vehicles, help with questions, and disburse payments.

Over the last two weeks, more than 1,500 customers have been given in-person help at our Louisiana Customer Care sites. So far, our overall claims operations have been able to reach more than 90% of customers who have filed a homeowner claim related to Ida, with 1 in 4 of those claims already settled.

Neighbors helping neighbors

A big part of the State Farm difference is the 19,000 State Farm agents who live and work in the same communities as our policyholders. That means that in addition to access by phone, app, and web site, State Farm customers have a State Farm agent right there in the neighborhood, ready to talk through your hopes, plans, and needs. And when disaster happens, they are neighbors ready to help.

In the wake of Ida, State Farm agents reached out to customers in impacted areas to help the recovery process.

Agent Courtney Gulledge of Harahan, La., lived up to that promise when one of her policyholders, Tassanee Nirandorn, received severe damage to his home. Courtney used draft authority, which allows agents to directly disburse payment toward the settlement of a claim. By providing an advance on claim payments, we can help customers start the process of recovery. Nirandorn was pleased with this service, saying, “On the news, all I have heard is that insurance companies are a pain to deal with, but that has not been my experience. State Farm has been exceptional during this process.”

Supporting the larger community

In addition to helping policyholders recover from the unexpected, State Farm has used its philanthropic resources to support community organizations that are helping the recovery process.

State Farm has issued $900,000 in disaster-relief grants to community organizations in Louisiana, New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania, plus a $10,000 grant to the Midwest Food Bank in Illinois to provide support to multiple Ida-impacted areas.

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

“In the aftermath of Hurricane Ida, we are truly proud to work alongside partners such as State Farm who have raised their hand to support thousands of families impacted by this devastating storm,” said Lindsay Mathieson, regional disaster officer of the American Red Cross of Louisiana. “It is that generous support that allows us to provide much-needed comfort and care to help the people who need it most.”

Said Natalie Jayroe, Second Harvest Food Bank President and CEO, “This major support from State Farm will be critical to our response to this latest disaster impacting South Louisiana. Our deepest thanks go out to the entire State Farm team and their customers.”

The work continues

Recovering from a disaster like Hurricane Ida will take time. State Farm claims operations will continue the work of serving impacted policyholders in the weeks and months ahead. More than 98,000 total claims have been received so far for Hurricane Ida-related damage, and every one of those claims is a life changed by this storm.

Being a good neighbor is about more than just one moment or just one act. For State Farm, it means continuing the work until every last claim has been handled and finding ways to help our communities thrive. When the unexpected happens, State Farm is there to help policyholders and communities recover.

State Farm’s response to Hurricane Ida began before the storm made landfall. Thousands of State Farm agents and employees began to mobilize and prepare to respond to our customers’ needs prior to the storm’s arrival.

The State Farm response to Ida is both local and national. It includes State Farm agents who live and work in the same neighborhoods as our customers; teams of claim specialists trained in disaster response traveling in to evaluate damage on site; thousands of employees in centralized care centers across the country helping answer customers’ questions and file their claims; remote claim teams conducting virtual inspections with impacted customers; and many other resources, all helping customers in their time of need.

Delivering on the promise

In the immediate aftermath of the storm, State Farm began claim inspections in areas safe for entry, focusing on the most severe damage first where possible.

Agents and Customer Care Center employees have responded to thousands of customer calls, helping customers understand their coverage and how the claim process works, including aspects of coverage that come into play when damage is especially severe.

When storms such as Ida cause severe damage to homes, customers may be displaced. Additional Living Expense (ALE) coverage under a Homeowners or Renters policy is triggered when a covered loss causes the residence to become uninhabitable. ALE can cover some increased costs such as housing, meals, and mileage.

Some media reports are incorrectly suggesting ALE does not apply without a mandatory evacuation having been ordered. These reports are seemingly focused on one portion of our ALE coverage for affected policyholders: Prohibited Use. We are addressing the needs of displaced customers. State Farm is paying, and will pay, thousands of Prohibited Use and ALE claims to our policyholders following Hurricane Ida

For customers who have a loss covered under ALE due to the extent of damage to their home, that loss adjustment occurs regardless of the type of evacuation order in their neighborhood. Once a State Farm customer reports a claim to us, we will evaluate their damage. The process from there depends on many factors including the extent of damage and accessibility of the property. (We’re working with local authorities for access when it’s safe.)

We are here for all of our customers and are committed to pay what we owe. State Farm’s policies in Louisiana, the Northeast and other states, are filed with and approved by state insurance regulators in each state, respectively. State Farm honors the terms of the contract with our customers. Altering the terms of the contract for one event would be unfair to all those who have experienced loss from previous disasters.

Getting a boost from technology

In addition to on-site physical inspection of claims and the service provided by local agents, State Farm is making the most of technology to reach customers in more ways and make the process of resolving claims even faster and easier.

• Virtual claim handling allows customers to conduct real-time inspections of damage with remote claim teams through their smartphone cameras.
• Use of drones and aerial imagery allow State Farm to quickly assess damage and accessibility of storm-impacted areas, and to conduct roof inspections in a way that is safe, efficient and supports social distancing.
• Digital pay options allow for claim settlements to be direct-deposited into customers’ bank accounts, getting funds to customers more quickly, whether or not banks are open.
• Customers are encouraged to use the State Farm Mobile App and online account access for many self-service options such as filing and tracking claims, uploading documents during the claim process, requesting emergency roadside service, setting up a rental car reservation, and setting up digital pay. 
   

 
Crews work to assemble the Customer Care Site in Gonzales, LA

Bringing in-person service where it’s needed most

To provide convenient local service to customers, mobile Customer Care Sites are being set up in multiple locations near the hardest-hit areas of Louisiana. These sites allow customers to receive in-person support with claim handling and disbursement of payments.

Louisiana Customer Care Sites include:

1. Gonzales: 306 Louisiana 30 W, Gonzales, LA 70737 (map)
2. Houma: 6795 West Park Ave, Houma, LA 70364 (map)
3. New Orleans: 8282 I-10 Service Rd, New Orleans, LA 70126 (map)
4. Covington: 69348 Louisiana State Hwy 21, Covington, LA 70433 (map)

Northeast Customer Care Sites include:

1. Livingston, NJ: 112 Eisenhower Parkway, Livingston, NJ 07039 (map)
2. Horsham, PA: 200 Blair Mill Road, Horsham, PA 19044 (map)
3. Queens County, NY: Opening soon

To help agents in impacted areas better serve their customers, agency “command centers” are being set up to provide office space and phone/internet connection to agents who have themselves been impacted by damage from Ida.

Being good neighbors in the community

In addition to assisting our customers directly, State Farm is also helping overall recovery efforts with charitable grants to assist with immediate shelter, food, water, and clothing needs in Louisiana.

State Farm has issued eight Disaster Recovery Grants, for a total of $900,000, to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida:

Louisiana:

• $400,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $150,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans
• $100,000 to support Northshore Community Foundation
• $100,000 to support The Catholic Charities Diocese of Houma – Thibodaux

Northeast:

• $50,000 to support American Red Cross New Jersey Region
• $50,000 to support American Red Cross Greater New York Region
• $25,000 to support American Red Cross Southeastern Philadelphia Region
• $25,000 to support the Philabundance organization

Along with these disaster grants, in the days following landfall, State Farm deployed its Customer Response Unit vehicles. These vans drive through impacted neighborhoods and hand out basic essentials to residents such as water, food, work gloves, flashlights, and first-aid kits. During their deployment for Ida, the CRUs have each covered more than 1,300 miles through 18 cities and eight parishes.

The response continues

The impact of Hurricane Ida continued after it moved on from the Gulf Coast, with effects reaching all the way into the northeast U.S., including intense flooding in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania.

State Farm is the nation’s largest home and auto insurer, with the capacity to serve customers through multiple simultaneous disasters. Already, State Farm has received more than 72,000 claims related to the impact of Ida – more than 42,000 in Louisiana and more than 25,000 in the northeast. This is happening all while the same level of service is being provided to those suffering the effects of wildfires in the western U.S., and everywhere else severe weather is impacting State Farm customers.

The story of any major weather event is a long one. The process of recovering, rebuilding, and re-establishing a sense of “normal” can take weeks, months, or even years. State Farm is here to help our customers get through this difficult time.

In addition to the listed efforts below, State Farm has also issued two Disaster Recovery Grants to help those impacted by Hurricane Ida.

• $200,000 to support the local Red Cross chapter of Southeast Louisiana
• $50,000 to support Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans

What We’re Doing

Our catastrophe response team is currently assisting customers following Hurricane Ida. We are committed to handling each customer’s claim, bringing the necessary resources and the largest catastrophe response effort in the industry for the benefit of our customers. Here are some of the many ways State Farm is helping with Hurricane Ida relief efforts.

• State Farm agents, agent’s staff and local employees will be available to help customers with their claims as we begin recovery. We are mobilizing teams of claim adjusters, trained for disaster response, to be ready to respond all across the affected areas.
• State Farm policyholders who have damage from can submit and manage their claim through various channels. This includes calling or emailing their State Farm agent, calling 1-800-SFCLAIM, submitting a claim through our mobile app or through our website at statefarm.com/claims.
• In addition to our on-the-ground catastrophe response team, we also have thousands of employees handling claims across the country in our centralized operations – three Centralized Catastrophe Services (CCS) operations and our Initial Loss Reporting (ILR) teams.
  • Our CCS employees work closely with our “on-the-ground” team to efficiently handle our customers’ claims. Our ILR teams are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week to help our customers report losses and begin the claim process. Our ILR associates are available by phones, mobile app and Internet reporting.
     
• State Farm also has the advantage of a fleet of mobile claim handling facilities, innovatively designed to support our ability to provide optimal customer service even under challenging conditions. Vehicles will be deployed as catastrophe needs require.
• We are helping customers in more ways, and right now that means leveraging technology and offering virtual claim handling when appropriate.
• We encourage customers to take photos of all damage and have temporary repairs made to prevent further damage, but only if it’s safe to do so. And to keep their receipts for reimbursement. Customers with damage are urged to report their claim as soon as possible.
• Finally, State Farm is also helping with the recovery efforts with charitable grants to the Louisiana Red Cross and the Second Harvest Food Bank to help with immediate shelter, food, water, and clothing needs.

Six gallons is a lot of blood. Especially if it's rare, baby-saving blood.

"It adds up to about 53 pounds," says Michael Comens. That's about the size of your average 6-year-old. Michael's speaking from experience. That's how much he's donated to local Red Cross blood drives.

Kevin Swaim's no stranger to blood drives either. "I've been to so many, I even know what kind of treats each location serves."

Kevin and Michael don't know each other, but they have a lot in common. They both work at State Farm^® (in the same department, mind you) and every two months or so, a bunch of people call them up and ask for their blood.

Now there's a reason for this, and it's not because they both somehow ended up on some weirdo vampire mailing list!

Kevin and Michael both have an extremely rare blood type. They're both Type O-negative, which means they're universal donors. And they're also free of CMV, a common virus that's harmless to most people, but can cause severe infections for patients with weak immune systems, especially newborn babies. Only 2% of people worldwide are both Type O- and CMV-negative, and this combination makes them the exact type needed for baby blood transfusions.

Turning an O-negative into a positive.

Every day, the American Red Cross sends pediatric-specific blood like Kevin's and Michael's to hospitals across the country through a program called Heroes for Babies.

"I had no idea what my blood type was before I first donated," said Kevin. Shortly after his first donation, he was contacted by the Red Cross.

"Once they told me that my blood was rare and was being used to help babies, I wanted to help out as much as I could."

Michael's story was similar. "I knew I was a universal donor, but I'd never heard about CMV or the Heroes for Babies program."

Now Kevin and Michael are both proud members of Heroes for Babies, and both donate as often as they can. Their efforts are definitely appreciated.

"We are deeply grateful for the support from partners like State Farm who have enabled the American Red Cross to continue to deliver on our lifesaving mission nationwide and help patients during these unprecedented times. The need for blood does not stop during a pandemic. Thanks in part to the many State Farm employees who have generously rolled-up a sleeve, including as part of our Heroes for Babies program, the Red Cross has been able to provide patients young and old the blood products they need,” said Kamenna Lee, vice president, biomedical marketing at the American Red Cross.

Donating is an APPsolute breeze

The pin Michael received after donating his sixth gallon of blood.

"You have to wait about 60 days between donations," said Michael. "But it's easy to find places to donate."

Finding a location is easy, even during the pandemic, thanks to a special app available from the Red Cross.

"It's been important for me to keep donating blood through the quarantines and lockdowns," said Kevin. "It's the least I can do for these kids who need it."

The Red Cross app not only allows Kevin and Michael to find places to donate, they can see exactly where their blood is being used.

"It's pretty cool to see all the different places your blood is out there making a difference," Kevin said, having used the app to track his donations to pediatric hospitals across the country.

Michael agreed, and encouraged others to give blood. "They wouldn't ask for it if they didn't need it, plus you might find out just how valuable your blood really is."

100 for Good™

If you haven’t yet, download the new 100 for Good™ app from the IOS and Android App stores. Check out the 100 for Good Yammer page for stories about your fellow State Farmers doing good and info on how to get/stay involved. Most importantly, don’t forget to record your Acts of Good! 

Six gallons is a lot of blood. Especially if it's rare, baby-saving blood.

"It adds up to about 53 pounds," says Michael Comens. That's about the size of your average 6-year-old. Michael's speaking from experience. That's how much he's donated to local Red Cross blood drives.

Kevin Swaim's no stranger to blood drives either. "I've been to so many, I even know what kind of treats each location serves."

Kevin and Michael don't know each other, but they have a lot in common. They both work at State Farm^® (in the same department, mind you) and every two months or so, a bunch of people call them up and ask for their blood.

Now there's a reason for this, and it's not because they both somehow ended up on some weirdo vampire mailing list!

Kevin and Michael both have an extremely rare blood type. They're both Type O-negative, which means they're universal donors. And they're also free of CMV, a common virus that's harmless to most people, but can cause severe infections for patients with weak immune systems, especially newborn babies. Only 2% of people worldwide are both Type O- and CMV-negative, and this combination makes them the exact type needed for baby blood transfusions.

Turning an O-negative into a positive.

Every day, the American Red Cross sends pediatric-specific blood like Kevin's and Michael's to hospitals across the country through a program called Heroes for Babies.

"I had no idea what my blood type was before I first donated," said Kevin. Shortly after his first donation, he was contacted by the Red Cross.

"Once they told me that my blood was rare and was being used to help babies, I wanted to help out as much as I could."

Michael's story was similar. "I knew I was a universal donor, but I'd never heard about CMV or the Heroes for Babies program."

Now Kevin and Michael are both proud members of Heroes for Babies, and both donate as often as they can. Their efforts are definitely appreciated.

"We are deeply grateful for the support from partners like State Farm who have enabled the American Red Cross to continue to deliver on our lifesaving mission nationwide and help patients during these unprecedented times. The need for blood does not stop during a pandemic. Thanks in part to the many State Farm employees who have generously rolled-up a sleeve, including as part of our Heroes for Babies program, the Red Cross has been able to provide patients young and old the blood products they need,” said Kamenna Lee, vice president, biomedical marketing at the American Red Cross.

Donating is an APPsolute breeze

The pin Michael received after donating his sixth gallon of blood.

"You have to wait about 60 days between donations," said Michael. "But it's easy to find places to donate."

Finding a location is easy, even during the pandemic, thanks to a special app available from the Red Cross.

"It's been important for me to keep donating blood through the quarantines and lockdowns," said Kevin. "It's the least I can do for these kids who need it."

The Red Cross app not only allows Kevin and Michael to find places to donate, they can see exactly where their blood is being used.

"It's pretty cool to see all the different places your blood is out there making a difference," Kevin said, having used the app to track his donations to pediatric hospitals across the country.

Michael agreed, and encouraged others to give blood. "They wouldn't ask for it if they didn't need it, plus you might find out just how valuable your blood really is."

Join the conversation on Yammer!

Long after the news cycle moves on from one West Coast wildfire to the next, from one land-falling tropical system to the next, State Farm^® crews and resources remain in those neighborhoods to help people recover from the unexpected.

Early in a disaster, waves of support come in the form of needed supplies and manpower. But after those first waves subside, the need remains.

To assist, State Farm has issued $250,000 in grants to on-the-ground nonprofits across California, Oregon and Washington.

State Farm actively supports charitable programs and volunteerism in communities across the country every day. But the company also sets aside special funding each year to respond to natural disasters and other crises. These extra funds supplement the support of agents and Claims teams in these communities. They help meet ongoing human services needs (food and shelter) and future prevention projects.

And the good neighbor spirit of agents further extends the reach of the company’s on-the-ground charitable arm.

Wildfires today are extremely different and more dangerous than they were in the past. Wildfires are burning closer to homes, businesses and populated communities compared to previously being events that happen only in forests.

“Today, more families and business owners are being displaced when a wildfire occurs because of evacuation orders and loss of residences and businesses,” Senior Vice President Annette Martinez said. “This leads to an immediate need for shelter, food, evacuation help and medical assistance. These grants will support those recovery efforts.”

“The West Coast recovery effort will be an enormous task,” Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods said. “The organizations receiving grant support through this relief package are some of the first organizations to respond to the devastation and will continue to provide assistance during the recovery phase.”

In addition to the wildfires on the West Coast, State Farm has provided disaster response grants for the Iowa derecho, Hurricane Laura and Nashville tornadoes.

Louisiana agent spearheads Hurricane Laura donation drive

Laura bore down on Lake Charles, La., last month as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest to strike the state since 1856. In the aftermath, shattered structures, crumpled cars and dangling power lines bore witness to the strength of the storm.

Blake Wheelis is an agent in West Monroe, La., about 200 miles north of Lake Charles. He saw his state smacked yet again by a monstrous storm, only 15 years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Monroe was heavily impacted but nothing like the devastation in Lake Charles,” he said. “My heart hurt for them, so I mobilized efforts to help.”

Blake sent a note to fellow agents telling them about the devastation in his home state. He also created a way anyone can donate to help residents through United Way.

As of Sept. 23, more than $40,000 in donations have poured in.

“State Farm agents are doing what they always do — helping others when they need help,” Blake added. “The bond among us is unique.”

All donations will be used to help feed Lake Charles residents and assist with recovery.

“When all is said and done, none of us will be remembered for how we enjoyed times of prosperity, but we will be remembered for how we responded during times of adversity,” Blake said.

Early in a disaster, waves of support come in the form of needed supplies and manpower. But after those first waves subside, the need remains.

To assist, State Farm has issued $250,000 in grants to on-the-ground nonprofits across California, Oregon and Washington.

State Farm actively supports charitable programs and volunteerism in communities across the country every day. But the company also sets aside special funding each year to respond to natural disasters and other crises. These extra funds supplement the support of agents and Claims teams in these communities. They help meet ongoing human services needs (food and shelter) and future prevention projects.

And the good neighbor spirit of agents further extends the reach of the company’s on-the-ground charitable arm.

Wildfires today are extremely different and more dangerous than they were in the past. Wildfires are burning closer to homes, businesses and populated communities compared to previously being events that happen only in forests.

“Today, more families and business owners are being displaced when a wildfire occurs because of evacuation orders and loss of residences and businesses,” Senior Vice President Annette Martinez said. “This leads to an immediate need for shelter, food, evacuation help and medical assistance. These grants will support those recovery efforts.”

“The West Coast recovery effort will be an enormous task,” Director of Corporate Responsibility Ed Woods said. “The organizations receiving grant support through this relief package are some of the first organizations to respond to the devastation and will continue to provide assistance during the recovery phase.”

In addition to the wildfires on the West Coast, State Farm has provided disaster response grants for the Iowa derecho, Hurricane Laura and Nashville tornadoes.

Louisiana agent spearheads Hurricane Laura donation drive

Laura bore down on Lake Charles, La., last month as a powerful Category 4 hurricane, the strongest to strike the state since 1856. In the aftermath, shattered structures, crumpled cars and dangling power lines bore witness to the strength of the storm.

Blake Wheelis is an agent in West Monroe, La., about 200 miles north of Lake Charles. He saw his state smacked yet again by a monstrous storm, only 15 years after Hurricane Katrina.

“Monroe was heavily impacted but nothing like the devastation in Lake Charles,” he said. “My heart hurt for them, so I mobilized efforts to help.”

Blake sent a note to fellow agents telling them about the devastation in his home state. He also created a way anyone can donate to help residents through United Way.

As of Sept. 23, more than $40,000 in donations have poured in.

“State Farm agents are doing what they always do — helping others when they need help,” Blake added. “The bond among us is unique.”

All donations will be used to help feed Lake Charles residents and assist with recovery.

“When all is said and done, none of us will be remembered for how we enjoyed times of prosperity, but we will be remembered for how we responded during times of adversity,” Blake said.

UPDATE: Due to an overwhelming response, State Farm has just doubled our commitment and will now be matching donations made at redcross.org/statefarm up to $200,000!

Catch clips on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon YouTube channel.

Since 1954, millions of Americans have tuned in to watch the longest running late night program in television history, The Tonight Show. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, host Jimmy Fallon has been filming special “at home” editions of the Tonight Show where he (virtually) interviews guests, hosts “live” musical performances, and tries to keep his two young daughters from jumping on camera and stealing the show!

On last night’s show, Jimmy Fallon announced that for the week of March 30, State Farm will match any donation up to $100,000 made to the Red Cross. To make a donation visit http://redcross.org/statefarm. For those of you who were looking for ways to help, this is a good way to double the difference you make.

This week, our neighbors @StateFarm are matching donations made to the American Red Cross, up to $100,000! Use the link https://t.co/UAOCaU8YHD to donate – created with @StateFarm pic.twitter.com/9EcTZg80c0

— The Tonight Show (@FallonTonight) March 31, 2020

State Farm^® partnered with the Red Cross on a campaign to educate citizens across the United States on fire safety and install free smoke alarms. Along with local fire departments and other community partners, more than 100,000 smoke alarms were installed in homes across the country.

Ashleigh Brucker has always had a passion for public safety and education. While in college, she interned with the Champaign Fire Department as safety educator.

“I really love the parts of State Farm that are community driven, people driven and focused on making life go right, so when I saw this opportunity to volunteer I immediately signed up,” the State Farm employee in Bloomington, Ill., says.

During the event, volunteers were divided into small groups with one person focused on getting the household details, one person giving safety information and the others checking current smoke alarms or installing new alarms.

Ashleigh took charge of the education portion for her group. The education packets included a checklist about fire safety such as cooking safety and electrical safety, planning escape routes and how and when to check your smoke alarms to ensure they are working correctly.

“It was so awesome that people were willing to open their doors to us,” Ashleigh says. “We often don’t take time out of our busy lives to think about these things.”

Through 426 Sound the Alarm events, with at least one organized in each state, 43,008 homes were made safer with the help of 30,859 volunteers.

Sonja Campbell-Jones, a State Farm employee in Dunwoody, Ga., used the opportunity to network in her new community. “I consider myself a new Georgia resident, even though I’ve been here for five years. I saw this as a great way to get involved and give back to communities at risk,” she says.

Volunteers canvassed at-risk neighborhoods during their events and found many people to be open and appreciative of the services.

Shakema Green, who works for State Farm in Richardson, Texas, and her 16-year-old daughter, Micaiah, often volunteer together.

“I want her to see through volunteering how other families are in different situations,” Shakema says of bringing her daughter to volunteer events. “No one wants to be down and out; no one wants to be in need. If it was me, I’d want someone to help me or educate me. So, it’s me teaching her to not take for granted what you have and to not look down on others who don’t.”

Eleven days later, the house burnt down when a candle caught a box of clothing on fire. Luckily, the smoke alarm sounded in one of the bedrooms. The entire family escaped to safety thanks to their gift from the Red Cross and State Farm.

Home Fire Preparedness Arms Families

The American Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign rolled out across the country in October, 2014. The goal? To reduce the number of deaths and injuries from home fires by as much as 25 percent over the next five years by installing smoke alarms for families who need them.

Across the country, the Red Cross, along with local fire departments and community groups, are canvassing neighborhoods and teaching people about fire safety.

In 2015, Alec and his family traveled from their Wisconsin home to Florida for vacation. While in line to buy ice cream, his friend noticed a dark shadow in the pool. Alec realized someone was drowning.

Alec, who still gets chills reliving this memory, didn’t miss a beat. That day the 18 year old reacted, jumped in the pool, carried the young boy out, and used CPR to resuscitate the six year old. A year later, the young boy is still the normal child he was before his tragic incident at the pool.

The American Red Cross recently honored Alec at their Brave Hearts event in Wisconsin. He received the Youth of the Year Award sponsored by State Farm for his quick-thinking, life-saving actions.

To take a CPR class or learn other life-saving skills, visit www.redcross.org/takeaclass. Families can also download apps that provide first aid and water safety guidance apps @ www.redcross.org/apps.

Alec’s advice if you find yourself in a similar situation: “Take a deep breath, don’t panic, and do what you need to do to help.”

Sounds like a great firefighter in the making. And a true hero.

RELATED INFOGRAPHIC: Backyard Pool Safety Reminders

We all know that nursing isn’t easy. But, seeing patients recover and thrive makes it all worth it. Most people may not remember or connect with their doctors or other staff like they do a nurse or Certified Nursing Assistant.

Because let’s face it, they are the heart of healthcare. The empathy and care they provide to patients helps encourage strength and recovery. It takes special people to see people at their worst, most difficult time and support them on their course to getting healthy and enjoying a great quality of life.

The job opportunities also provide a great quality of life for those who purse these careers. Christopher Strickland, a 52 year-old father, who was laid off as a cook at a local pub, realized this job path could create stability and help him earn a better income. He was experiencing difficulty finding steady employment and wanted to work in a field where there’s a need.

It was happenstance that he came across an ad in the newspaper about the Red Cross Nurse Assistant Training (NAT) program and the chance to receive a scholarship to complete the training. He decided to apply and was awarded a State Farm® scholarship to achieve his goals.

Christopher quickly realized through his training that nursing was the right fit for this next step in his career journey. His charisma and sense of humor went over famously with the residents at a nursing home where students perform their clinicals. Residents developed meaningful relationships with Christopher, and it helped them feel comfortable being in their most vulnerable state.

As Christopher shared excitement for his new opportunity, his son, Ali, took notice that nursing is a field that will always have a need for qualified individuals. Ali, a 23 year-old young man didn’t have a job at the time and wanted to find something that would provide a decent salary. He decided to follow in his father’s footsteps, applied and was awarded a State Farm scholarship to complete his training.

“Nursing has always been a field dominated by women, but more patients are wanting to have a choice as to whether a man or woman takes care of them.," NAT Coordinator Tanya Christensen shared. "In addition, people who are further along in their careers are realizing nursing could be a great next career step since the healthcare sector continues to add jobs and that the unemployment rate is low. With all these reasons, why wouldn’t someone pursue this rewarding career path.”

Lucikly, there’s still time to apply for scholarships and participate in training sessions provided by the Red Cross. Day and evening classes are taking place in Green Bay, La Crosse and Waupaca. Check out the Red Cross NAT website for more details!