Subject: Red Cross in Nebraska

Ms. Labellarte,

I understand there has been another shake up of Red Cross employees across the rural portions of Nebraska
and would like to know how those of us who are emergency planners can plan for a Red Cross response? I
understand more countiesfchapters have been merged and additional people have either been fired or
resigned. I was witness to the merger of the Prairie ?v?alley Chapter here in Columbus with the Norfolk and 20
other chapters as a former board member. I lost all faith in Red Cross and you when you told the employees
here in Columbus to tell board members and the public nothing will change and if they didn't they would
lose theirjobs and or bene?ts. This was a heavy handed threat and the reason I am including board
members from across Nebraska as I feel they should know.

Well there has been change.

We went from a very strong chapter with a large volume of active volunteers involved in disaster response
exercises and planning to no volunteers and very minimal involvement by Red Cross at all. When someone
did show up at our planning meetings we were told to not plan on any Red Cross response for at least 4
hours. essentially wrote Red Cross out of my Local Emergency Operations Plan and advised many other
Emergency Managers across the state to do the same.

I understand there are very few volunteers here in Columbus at all and I question if there is even any
response to house fires as there was in the past. I used to attend the Red Cross Volunteer meetings so they
would be familiar with me and I would know them. Since the merger I haven?t been invited and I?m guessing
the meetings don?t exist anymore.

As I mentioned earlier I was a board member for the Prairie Valley Chapter here in Columbus, I resigned
because the focus of the Red Cross went from disaster supportfpublic service to fund raising and as a boa rd
member I felt this was the wrong direction.

So I ask you Ms. Labellarte please advise to me what the purpose of the American Red Cross is in Nebraska?

Tim Hofbauer Director
ColumbusfPlatte County Emergency Management

2510 141th St

Columbus, Ne 63601