The American Red Cross in Midland is spearheading the Red Cross Ready Communities Program to help vulnerable communities in the Permian Basin prepare for and recover from disasters.
Launched in July 2023, the pilot initiative will continue for approximately five years in the communities of West Odessa and Big Spring, according to Tracy Austin, Executive Director of American Red Cross Permian Basin. The program focuses on building resilience in areas at high risk due to factors such as low household income, poor housing conditions, and emergency service limitations.
During a recent tour of the facility, the Midland Times spoke with Austin, who has served as Executive Director since 2016. Austin emphasized the importance of preparedness and community involvement.
"We need our community to be resilient, and we are working on training that very thing," she said.
The program aligns with National Preparedness Month this September, a time dedicated to raising awareness about disaster preparedness. As Austin pointed out, "a lot of times, flooding and storms can come without warning, just like the ones in Midland and Odessa recently.
According to Austin, “having a plan and being prepared for what you’re going to do in that situation is crucial."
West Odessa was chosen for the program due to its high frequency of home fires, despite an average household income of $60,000 to $70,000. The area is underserved, with only one volunteer fire department and no EMS services. The community’s older homes and larger multi-generational households present challenges for emergency and temporary shelter placement after disasters. Limited infrastructure also hinders recovery efforts in the region.
Big Spring, with a poverty rate of 19%, was selected because of its additional vulnerabilities. The Red Cross focus also includes serving the local veterans' hospital and the veteran community, consistent with the organization’s commitment to military families.
A key component of the program is the use of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD) resources. ABCD is a strategy that identifies and leverages the strengths, skills, and assets already present in a community.
Rather than solely addressing deficits, the program encourages collaboration among local residents, businesses, and organizations to enhance resilience.
The approach includes providing CPR and first-aid training, and disaster preparedness supplies, and fostering partnerships to build stronger, interconnected support networks. By tapping into local resources, the program helps communities sustain themselves and recover more effectively after disasters.
Austin is asking the community for volunteers and company resources to help educate the communities and improve their resilience.
“Every eight minutes, the American Red Cross responds to an emergency, highlighting the need for initiatives like this to support at-risk areas,” said Austin.
Connect with American Red Cross of the Permian Basin at (432) 563-2267.
Red Cross volunteer purchasing disaster relief clean up items
Red Cross volunteer team from the Permian Basin