County Recognizes American Red Cross and Amateur Radio Relay League's Humanitarian Award Recipient For Contributions to County's Emergency Response Efforts

Header--Montgomery County, Maryland. Press Releases

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Contact: Kathleen Henning, 240-777-2300
For Immediate Release: February 16, 2001

County Recognizes American Red Cross and
Amateur Radio Relay League's Humanitarian Award Recipient
For Contributions to County's Emergency Response Efforts

Montgomery County's Emergency Management Group - which consists of representatives of County departments, agencies, municipalities, hospitals and utilities - took time out of its quarterly planning meeting recently to recognize the emergency response efforts of the Montgomery County Chapter of the American Red Cross and an amateur radio volunteer.

The local chapter of the American Red Cross was recognized for its disaster services to families, particularly its response to 11 separate residential fires between December 25, 2000 and January 1, 2001. In addition, the major house explosion in Hillandale on New Year's Day took two lives and left 11 families without shelter when their homes were rendered uninhabitable and the Red Cross stepped in to help.

Jerry Herman - an employee of the County's Department of Facilities and Services and an amateur radio operator who helps track hurricanes for the Emergency Management Group -- was also recognized for his outstanding efforts. Herman is recipient of the Amateur Radio Relay League's 2000 International Humanitarian Award. As the County's volunteer Hurricane Net manager, Herman begins tracking storms whenever a hurricane is within 300 miles of landfall in the western Atlantic.

For more information about the County's Emergency Management Group and the recent recognition ceremony, call 240-777-2300.

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