European Stars And Stripes (Newspaper) - February 22, 1986, Darmstadt, Hesse                                Saturday february 22, 1986 stars and stripes page3 firemen and policemen come to the Aid of others helping to fight a Blaze j Home in san Minto Calif. Dan lifted Man was found dead inside the car. Food no recedes As fins let up ferocious Pacific storms that sent Tor rents of water through scares of communities killing at least 17 people eased thursday after nine Days and Many of the 12,000 flood refugees began returning to Homes choked with mud and Sodden debris. The flood level dropped slightly but reservoirs remained full and Lowas and farm land were still swamped. Hundreds of mudslides and avalanches blocked highways and rail lines. Thousands of people remained without Power and slates of emergency were in effect in 12 counties in California four in Nevada and four in Utah. This was sup posed to be an area that did t have a flood problem so hardly anyone around Here had flood insurance. Including me said Dan Thomas who returned wednesday to find his Kilroy Calif., neighbourhood littered with soggy furniture and belongings of the 125 families who had to flee. Rain with Snow in the higher elevations continued to fall Early thursday or much of Northern California and Nevada and Southern Oregon Idaho Utah and Colora do since the first in a series of storms hit feb. Ii 24.53 inches of rain have been measured in Kent Field Calif., North of san Francisco. The Snow depth on Mammoth Mountain in cast Central California was 14 i feel thursday. According to our script the worst looks like it s pretty much Over Bob Diaz of the1 weather service s Redwood City Calif., bit i said wednesday. We will still have a to percent Chance of showers through the and and but a Chance is far better than what we fee had in the last several  still Resnis of mountainous Northern California and arts of Idaho and Utah were warned to brat Cir Flash floods. In Guc Meville Calll 70 Miles North of san Francisco the it Okjan River receded wednesday to 43.5 feel few its record 493 feel the Day before. Floor Flag forced the town s 1,500 residents from Char Homes. The whole Lawn just drowned National guardsman Mark Mcclaughlin id. You could see Redwood decks and piece of roofs floating Down the River. The hoist that Anks there s nothing left Wib a win to nose peo ple to go Home  contributions will go to storm victims red Cross in Europe to Aid West coast by Dan Wollam Stuttgart Bureau Stuttgart the american red Cross in Europe has received the thumbs up from Washington to solicit contributions to Aid West coast storm victims. The unrelenting storms have killed at least 17 peo ple and forced 12,000 people from their Homes. Mudslides and avalanches have blocked highways and rail lines. The decision to allow the red Cross in Europe to solicit Money for flood victims was announced thurs Day by the office of personnel management in Washington. Money collected for Hood Relief will be added to the largest Money raising Effort the red Cross in Amer Cahas Ever conducted said Joanne Jones spokeswoman for the american red Cross in Europe. The red Cross in America has been working since november to raise $40 million to replenish its coffers. The red Cross in Europe has not solicited previously for the special stateside Campaign because the combined Federal Campaign began at the same time As the stateside solicitation. Organizations that receive combined Federal Campaign Money such As the red Cross usually Lon t conduct Independent solicitations durin the Campaign. Jones said the solicitation will be Short and Low key because other fund drives such As the army emergency Relief Are about to begin. Local chapters will con duct the solicitations she said. We be done solicitation spots for an but Chap ters will probably be working through Community papers and perhaps holding some events Jones said. Contributions can be sent to american red Cross european Headquarters Apo 09is4, or to local red Cross chapters she said. Checks can be earmarked for California disaster Relief. In the first six months of the fiscal 1986, which began in july for the red Cross the organization spent $39.45 million in the United states on disaster Relief about $5 million More than was budgeted for the entire year Jones said. The red Cross spent $11.95 million the previous year on disaster Relief in the states. The weather has been rough on the United states recently. Since 1944 an average of two hurricanes a year have hit the United states. From july to novem Ber in 1985, six hurricanes hit the United slates. Hurricane Juan which slammed into the Gulf coast in november was the most destructive in terms of Money and the red Cross spent More than $ 12 million for disaster Relief Jones said. Hurricane Elena which hit Alabama Florida and Mississippi on labor Day weekend forced More than i million people from their Homes. Jones said that was the largest civilian evacuation in . History. Mudslides in puerto Rico forced More than 10,000people from their Homes and Cost the red Cross More than $10 million. Fires tornadoes and floods especially the floods in Virginia and West Virginia in october drained the service organization of another $ 10 million. Red Cross officials in the United states announced in november they would begin a Campaign to raise a additional $20 million for the Relief fund. As disasters mounted officials realized that they would need something closer to $40 million the largest sum the red Cross has Ever attempted to raise. Red Cross officials also began looking Tor ways tout costs. In november they cancelled their annual National leadership conference and routed the Money instead to disaster Relief Jones said