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Northern Arizona Red Cross seeks local partners; council hears resiliency plans for Bullhead City
Summary
The newly reconstituted Northern Arizona chapter of the American Red Cross presented a local resiliency plan, said it receives no government funding, and requested city engagement and a possible March proclamation for Red Cross Month.
Henning Larson, executive director of the newly formed Northern Arizona chapter of the American Red Cross, told the Bullhead City council on Jan. 20 that the chapter is rebuilding local capacity and intends to focus on community‑level preparedness and disaster response in Bullhead City and surrounding rural communities.
Larson described a two‑pronged approach: "training clubhouses" where residents and partner organizations can access preparedness resources and local storage, and "community resilience collaborations" — year‑long, locally focused partnerships that include listening tours and an action year to bring resources to a target community. He said the chapter recently reestablished a Northern Arizona office to serve five northern counties and emphasized a hyper‑local approach for remote communities such as Meadview and Fort Mohave.
Larson told council the chapter does not take federal, state, county or city funding and operates on donor dollars, while holding congressional charters that obligate the Red Cross to mass care and armed forces support during disasters. He described recent local accomplishments: two shelter simulations and disaster action team academies, 33 homes made safer with free smoke alarms, a 330% increase in local volunteers in Mohave County since March, and partnerships with county medical reserve corps and local police for mass care exercises.
Councilmembers asked about coordination with FEMA, local contact methods, and the prospect of local CPR and preparedness training; Larson said 1‑800 Red Cross numbers will dispatch to the local chapter and he left business cards and materials for staff. He requested the council consider a March proclamation recognizing Red Cross Month to help establish local presence as the chapter plans to focus on Bullhead City for fiscal year 2027.
Council members thanked Larson for the presentation and encouraged staff to follow up on training and volunteer coordination. The council did not take a formal action or pledge funding during the meeting.
Larson's request for mayoral or council sponsorship of the resilience initiative and a March proclamation remains a next step for staff follow‑up.
