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1917 – Omaha chapter formed four days after the U.S. enters World War I. Headquarters located at Douglas County Courthouse. Focus on needs of servicemen.
1917 – Organizes Base Hospital #49 in cooperation with University of Nebraska Medical School. Ranked as second-best equipped among all hospitals sent oversees. Cares for wounded from largest battles in France.
1919 – Fire destroys chapter offices. Forces relocation to several temporary sites.
1922 – Joins Community Chest. Receives financial support. (Withdraws in 1939 to do own fundraising).
1935 – Changes name to Douglas County Chapter.
1935 – Interest in first aid classes grows. First aid stations established at county’s four most dangerous intersections.
1939 – Learn-to-swim summer program established. 2,300 children enroll first year.
1940 – Gray Lady Service established due to shortage of nurses at local hospitals. During WWII, 593 women log more than 100,000 volunteer hours.
1941- 1945
· Centralizes activities and moves to house at 208 S. 33rd St.
· Develops countywide disaster response plan and Block Preparedness. Goal - have someone trained in Red Cross skills on every city block.
· Canteen Services started to provide for servicemen passing through Omaha.
· Missouri River floods (1943) – Work with other agencies to set up shelters for 450 people.
1948 – Omaha Red Cross Blood Center opens at 2549 Farnam St.
1951-1953 – In cooperation with Union Pacific, Blood for Freedom Train collects 41,289 units of blood in a four-state area.
1960’s & 1970’s
· Support military families during Viet Nam war with emergency communications, financial assistance. National Red Cross Field Director stationed at Offutt and Strategic Air Command.
· (1981 – Position becomes part of Heartland Chapter).
· Disaster services increase due to house fires and weather-related incidents. 1964 flooding results in 200 volunteers giving 45,000 service hours. Hundreds of volunteers help with 1975 tornado.
· Vial of Life program initiated. Program goal – have vital medical information in homes accessible to emergency medical personnel.
· Omaha Central Labor Union trains volunteers in Build and Repair disaster course, first of its kind in the nation.
· Safety courses increase. Add first aid, CPR, water safety.
1980 – Move to new $2 million facility at 3838 Dewey Ave.
1984 – Missouri River floods – Red Cross volunteers serve more than 8,000 meals. Give $215,482 in assistance to families in 11 counties.
1984 – Omaha Federation of Labor and Red Cross convert old building into St. Vincent DePaul Family Shelter.
1986 – National Red Cross stations Emergency Response Vehicle in Omaha.
1987 – Heartland University started to train and help young people find summer life guarding jobs. More general classes (CPR, babysitting, first aid) offered to public.
1988 – Collaborate with Junior League of Omaha to develop SafeCare for Kid’s program for childcare workers.
1988 – Disaster Action Team (teams of volunteers) created. Respond to fires, interview victims for emergency needs.
1988 – Chapter supports United Airlines flight 232 DC 10 crash in Sioux City, Iowa.
1988 – Energy Assistance Program begins assisting 253 households in the initial year.
1992 – Elizabeth Dole attended the annual Andersen Awards Banquet as our special guest speaker.
1993 – Heartland Chapter separates from Midwest Region Blood Services.
1993 – Great Midwest floods affect 10 states in Midwest including: South Dakota, Iowa, Missouri and Nebraska. Chapter administers Nebraska flood operation.
1994 – Margaret Thatcher attended the annual Andersen Awards Banquet as our special guest speaker.
1996 – Move to new $3 million facility at 2912 S. 80th Ave. Includes classrooms, disaster operations center, retail center for health/safety supplies, and more space.
1997 – October Ice Storm leaves thousands of Omaha residents without power – Red Cross opened 10 shelters for a minimum of 1 week.
1998 – Michael Douglas attended the annual Andersen Awards Banquet as our special guest speaker.
1999 – Chapter becomes an AFES Call Center contracting casework services for 40 other chapters.
2001 – An Amtrak derailment occurs outside of Nodaway, Iowa, resulting in 90 injuries and 1 fatality. Train passengers are taken to a family assistance center in Omaha to be cared for by Heartland Chapter disaster volunteers.
2001 – Barbara Bush attended the annual Andersen Awards Banquet as our special guest speaker.
2001 – After the 9/11 attack on America, the chapter supported airlines grounded at Eppley serving 6,000 meals, providing 70 comfort kits, 100 mental health interventions and more for the 705 passengers and airline staff.
2001 – Chapter provides assistance after a Seward, Nebraska bus crash occurred which fell 60 feet into the Papio Creek killing 4 and injuring 28 students.
2005 – Disaster Call Center is activated taking over 19,000 calls and a shelter is opened for Hurricane Katrina Evacuees.
2006 – Accounting Department begins providing accounting services for numerous Red Cross chapters.
2008 – Heartland Chapter becomes a Regional Chapter.
2008 – Tornado touches down in Ceresco, Nebraska. Two weeks later, another tornado touched down in Gretna and Omaha, Nebraska. A week after that, a strong 90 mph wind storm tore through Omaha, knocking out power to 125,000 residents. 5 shelters were opened for all of these incidents.
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