Volunteers, members of The Texas Gulf Coast Region and partners installed more than 300 free smoke alarms for families during our Sound the Alarm home fire safety event in the 5th Ward and Denver Harbor neighborhood.

“We are grateful to everyone who supported today’s Sound the Alarm event to help keep over 300 of our neighbors safe from home fires,” said Ann Balthazar, Regional Disaster Preparedness Manager, Texas Gulf Coast Region. “Home fires are a constant threat in our community, accounting for most of our disaster responses. Today’s efforts will make a lasting difference to help save lives and protect those who are most vulnerable.”

MAKING LOCAL HOMES SAFER Vivian Smith is among local residents who received support during our Sound the Alarm event, where Red Cross volunteers and members also shared information on the causes of home fires, what to do if a fire starts and how to create an escape plan.

“I am thankful that the Red Cross was not only able to install free smoke alarms at my home but also educate me on how to escape if my house were to catch on fire,” said Vivian Smith, 5th Ward resident

SAVING LIVES FROM NATION’S MOST FREQUENT DISASTER Home fires are the nation’s most frequent disaster, including the 5th Ward and Denver Harbor neighborhood.

This Sound the Alarm event is a critical part of the national Red Cross Home Fire Campaign, which has helped save over 1,500 lives since launching in October 2014. Locally during this time, the Texas Gulf Coast Region and local partners have installed more than 300 free smoke alarms and made more than 130 households safer in the 5th Ward and Denver Harbor neighborhood.

Visit http://soundthealarm.org/TXGulfCoast to learn more and make a donation to the Red Cross to help people prepare for, respond to and recover from home fires.

This work is made possible thanks to generous financial donations from regional partners: Marathon Oil, Stellar Bank, EY, Sempra LNG, Flint Hills, Houston Methodist Hospital, Amegy Bank and Young Men’s Business League.