Bethlehem-based American Red Cross chapter sends emergency officer to Boston

Families who may need help were not coming in to a center set up, but the manager says he expects it to help once a stay-put advisory is lifted.

A representative of the Bethlehem-based American Red Cross Northeast Pennsylvania Region is in Boston to aid families affected by Monday's marathon bombings but says the region's stay-put advisory is keeping people away so far.
 
Adrian Grieve, regional emergency services officer, helped open the Red Cross' family assistance center Thursday. The manhunt for a suspect in the bombings closed mass transit, temporarily suspended taxi service and prompted the advisory for people in the region to stay where they are.

"We were looking for all the families to start coming in today," Grieve said this afternoon from the center, "but again, with the situation, that's not occurring."

The center will remain open into next week to connect those affected by the bombings with Red Cross services but also to find help available from the federal, state and city levels, said Grieve, who is 50.

"From our site, one of our big things is the mental health side, just providing the mental health support and emotional support to the families," said Grieve, adding that some people may need medical help as well -- particularly those who came to Boston for a few days surrounding the marathon and may still be there.

The bombings on Monday killed three people and wounded more than 180 others. A manhunt for one suspect continued through the night into this afternoon in the Boston area after a gunbattle left another suspect dead.

Grieve, who emigrated from Scotland in 1985 and lives in Berks County, said he spoke to his wife back home this morning "just to let her know that I'm fine and safe.

"Where I am right now, we do have law enforcement support here," Grieve said.