Area Volunteers Aid Victims of Tornado

In the aftermath of a devastating tornado that tore through five New York counties May 31, two local American Red Cross disaster-relief volunteers are lending a helping hand to the victims in Albany, N.Y.

Frank Chew of Canoga Park and Bill Frazer of Mission Hills arrived in Albany last week to provide disaster-relief services, said Mike Powers, a spokesman for the organization’s Los Angeles chapter.

Chew, a licensed psychologist, is serving as a volunteer disaster mental health specialist.

“When a disaster like this occurs and wipes out a piece of the community, there’s an initial shock and the people’s reactions are what you’d expect after a very heavy hit,” Chew said.

According to early reports, about 400 homes were damaged or destroyed by the tornado.

“Basically, people are doing very well here because they have strong family support and that’s very important,” said Chew, who has provided mental health counseling services to about two dozen Albany-area families.

Frazer is serving as a coordinator for the Red Cross Mass Care Unit, which is responsible for the immediate needs of victims such as providing meals and temporary shelters, Powers said.

“Those two will help make sure that the people are taken care of right now,” Powers said. “They’re two of the Valley area’s most dedicated and most active disaster-relief volunteers.”

Chew previously provided crisis counseling services to victims in Alabama, which was ravaged by a tornado in April.

Since January 1997, Frazer has participated in eight disaster-relief operations, including assisting El Nino storm victims in Los Angeles and Northern California earlier this year, he said.

Chew is scheduled to return next week while Frazer’s operation should be completed by the end of this month, Powers said.