Red Cross says get ready, seeks volunteers

Let’s take a moment from the usual silliness to consider these two releases I just got, back-to-back, from the American Red Cross. Here’s the first one:

American
Red Cross Urges Residents to Prepare for Hurricane
Hannah

Columbia,
SC, September 2, 2008 –The American Red Cross urges
everyone to dust off their disaster supplies kit and get better prepared for
Hurricane Hannah and the variety of disasters such as high winds, flooding and
tornadoes that may accompany it.

 

“By taking
three basic preparedness actions you can get “Red Cross Ready” for disasters and
other emergencies 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a plan and 3) Be informed,” said

Greg Parks

, programs and services
director, American Red Cross of Central South Carolina. “Your local Red Cross
chapter is here to help you get prepared for specific disasters like hurricanes.
Even if you took action to prepare last hurricane season, it’s important that
you revisit and update your communication plan and check your disaster supplies
kit for expired items.”

 

The
American Red Cross recommends the following preparedness
actions:

Get
or assemble a disaster supplies kit:

Gather
enough emergency supplies to meet your needs. A portable kit, stored in a
sturdy, easy to carry, water resistant container should have enough supplies for
three days. The Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of
supplies at home and to keep a smaller kit in the trunk of your car. Check your
kit and replace the stock every six months. Whether you purchase a kit for $60
at www.centralscredcross.org,
call (803) 540-1200 to make a purchase or choose to build your own, your
three-day kit should include:

· A three-day supply of water
(one gallon per person, per day) and ready-to-eat non-perishable foods, such as
tuna fish, peanut butter, crackers, canned fruit, juice boxes,
etc.

· A manual can
opener.

· A battery-powered or
hand-crank radio, flashlight and plenty of extra
batteries

· A first aid kit and
reference guide

· Prescription and
non-prescription medication items

· Copies of important
documents, including birth certificates, insurance policies and social security
cards.

· Cash. ATMs and credit cards
won’t work if the power is out.

· Special items for infant,
elderly or disabled family members

· A change of clothes for
everyone, including long-sleeved shirts, long pants and sturdy
footwear

· One blanket or sleeping bag
per person

· Emergency tools, including
tools to turn off utilities.

· An extra set of home and car
keys

· An extra pair of glasses or
contact lenses, extra batteries for hearing aids

· Pet
supplies

 

Prepare
a Personal Disaster and Evacuation Plan

The
American Red Cross urges each and every household to develop a household
disaster plan.

· Meet with your
family to create a plan. Discuss the information you have gathered and why it is
important to prepare for a disaster.

· Identify two meeting places;
One right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, like a fire, and one outside your neighborhood in case you can’t return home.

· Be sure to
make advanced preparations for your pets. Be aware that pets may not be allowed
in shelters.

Contact

hotels, motels,
family members and animal shelters to see if they would allow pets in a disaster
situation. Keep a contact list of “pet friendly” locations. If you are asked to
evacuate, take your pets with you.

  • Choose
    an out-of-area emergency contact person. During or     after a disaster, it’s often
    easier to call long distance, especially if local phone lines are
    overloaded or out of service.     Family members should call this person and tell them where they are. Everyone must know your emergency contact person’s phone number and email
    address.

·     Tell
your family about the Safe and Well web site accessible at all times via www.redcross.org.  The Safe and Well Web site is an
Internet-based tool that allows those directly affected by a disaster to let
their loved ones know of their well-being. People within a disaster affected
area are able to select and post standard “safe and well” messages. Concerned
family members who know the person’s phone number (home, cell, or work) or a
complete home address can search for the messages posted by those who
self-register.

· Show and
explain to each family member how and when to turn off the water and electricity
at the main switches. Turn gas off only if instructed by local authorities.
Remember, if the gas is shut-off, only a professional can turn it back
on.

  • Plan
    your ev    acuation
    rout    e. Download the S.C. Emergency
    Management Division 2008 Hurricane Guide for a map of evacuation routes, shelter
    locations and helpful tips at www.scemd.org.
    Use local maps
    and i    dentify alternate evacuation routes from home, work and/or school.
    K    now where you are going and
    how you plan to get there before you leave home.

 

Be
informed:

· Find out how
local authorities will contact you during a disaster. Listen to local media
broadcasts or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest storm conditions and follow the
advice of local authorities.

· If you are
told to evacuate, do so immediately. You may choose to evacuate sooner than
alerted if you think you may need additional time.

 

Know
what to do if a hurricane
WATCH is issued:

· Listen to weather updates
from your battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.

· Bring in outdoor objects
such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools, anchor
objects that cannot be brought inside.

· Close all windows and doors.
Cover windows with storm shutters or pre-cut
plywood.

· If time permits, and you
live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor
to protect it from flooding.

· Fill your vehicle’s gas
tank.

· Check your disaster supplies
kit to make sure items have not expired.

 

Know
what to do if a hurricane WARNING is issued

· Listen to the advice of
local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.

· If in a manufactured home,
check tie-downs and evacuate as told by local
authorities

· Secure your home by
unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water
valve

· If you are not advised to
evacuate, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass
doors

· Do NOT use open flames, such
as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light

· If power is lost, turn off
appliances to reduce damage from a power surge when electricity is
restored

 

For more
information regarding how
individuals and families can prepare for disasters or to purchase emergency
preparedness and first aid kits, visit www.centralscredcross.org
or call (803) 540-1200.

 

The
American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides
nearly half of the nation’s blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and
supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable
organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the
generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.

-END

And here’s the second:

Red
Cross Braces for Hurricane Hannah, Volunteers Needed

Columbia

,

SC

,
September 2, 2008 – The
American Red Cross of Central South Carolina needs volunteers to staff shelters
during coastal evacuations. Anyone can volunteer – all that is needed is a
desire to help.

 

A shelter
operation overview for new volunteers will be held Thursday, September 4, from 1
to 3 p.m. at the S.C. DHEC Peeples Auditorium located on

Bull Street

in

Columbia

.

 

To sign up
for the emergency volunteer training, call (803) 251-6104 or e-mail columbiasc@usa.redcross.org.
Volunteers may fill out preliminary volunteer paperwork online at www.centralscredcross.org.


All
American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary
donations of time and money form the American people. You can help the victims
of thousands of disasters across the country each year by making a financial
gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross
to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of
disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. To support the work of the
American Red Cross this hurricane season, designate your contribution to
Hurricane Season 2008 or Disaster Relief Fund. Call 1-800-REDCROSS or
1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent
to your local American Red Cross chapter at

P.O. Box 91

,

Columbia

,

SC

29202

, or to the American Red Cross,

P.O. Box 37243

,

Washington

,

DC


20013

. Internet users
can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.centralscredcross.org or
www.redcross.org.

And here’s the latest on the coming storm.