BERKELEY COUNTY, S.C. – A family in Berkeley County is receiving assistance from the American Red Cross after a fire severely damaged their home on Two Forts Road in Moncks Corner on Thursday. Disaster-trained volunteers stepped in to provide financial aid for urgent needs like food, clothing, and shelter, while also connecting the family to critical recovery resources.
The Red Cross is also working to prevent future tragedies through its ongoing Home Fire Campaign and the annual Sound the Alarm initiative, which help families prepare for fire emergencies. Volunteers across South Carolina are offering fire safety appointments to review household preparedness and conduct two-minute escape drills. Families can request a virtual safety session at redcross.org/sc.
Officials urge residents to take simple but life-saving measures, such as practicing escape drills and testing smoke alarms monthly. Families should create an evacuation plan with at least two exits per room and designate a safe meeting spot outside the home. Smoke alarms should be installed on each level of the home, both inside and outside sleeping areas, with batteries replaced annually if needed.
Home fires remain the most common disaster the Red Cross responds to, and volunteers are essential in relief efforts. The organization is looking for new recruits to install free smoke alarms in at-risk communities and provide emergency assistance when families are displaced. Those interested in signing up can register at redcross.org/volunteertoday.
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Residents can also prepare for emergencies by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App, which offers disaster alerts, safety tips, and a feature to notify loved ones that they are safe. The app is available by searching “American Red Cross” in mobile app stores or visiting redcross.org/apps.
