Preparedness in Your Pocket

by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor

Earthquake? Tornado? Hurricane? Fire? 

There’s an app (to prepare) for that. 

The American Red Cross actively uses technology – to educate and prevent emergencies as well as during emergency situations. The American Red Cross app series already has 3 million downloads. 

“These aps have truly changed how people get information at critical times,” said Anita Foster, regional chief communications officer. "We've used them ourselves and know them to be very helpful in emergencies." 

September is National Preparedness Month so there's not better time than now to get ready for the next event. The app series is at RedCross.org/mobileapps; all apps can be downloaded directly from iTunes or Google Play app stores. 

• Tornado App: The Tornado app puts everything you need to know prepare for a tornado – and all that comes with it – in the palm of your hand.
• Hurricane App:  Monitor weather conditions in your area or throughout the storm track, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out. 
• Shelter Finder App: The Shelter Finder displays open Red Cross shelters and their current population on an easy to use map interface. 
• First Aid App:  The official American Red Cross First Aid app offers videos, interactive quizzes and simple step-by-step advice it’s never been easier to know first aid. 
• Earthquake App: Get notified when an earthquake occurs, prepare your family and home, find help and let others know you are safe even if the power is out.  
• Wildfire App: Get the latest state-by-state Wildfire news and updates, prepare your family, home and pets, let loved ones know that you are safe even if the power is out.
• Team Red Cross: Volunteer App: Make a difference, support your community and join Team Red Cross! 

Read More

A Great Rookie Year: Red Cross Hurricane App Turns 1

by Sydney Holt, volunteer contributor


The Red Cross Hurricane App turns one year old this month, and to celebrate we’re sharing highlights from its first year of life. With more than 860,000 downloads, this completely free resource has already received major praise being named, “One of the top 6 hurricane tracking apps” by CNN, and “One of 5 apps to get you through a natural disaster” by Fox News – there’s nothing immature about this young App.

While we may not get much use out of it in Dallas-Fort Worth and surrounding areas, we encourage you to get creative when sharing with friends and family who may find themselves in a storm’s path. Below are a few ideas for sharing this important information with those near and dear to you this hurricane season, which runs from June 1 to November 30. 

Tell a joke. While a tropical storm is no laughing matter, sometimes humor makes it easier to let someone know you’re thinking of them. Here’s one of our personal favorites:

Q: What did the hurricane say to the other hurricane?
A:  I have my eye on you. 

Send a text. Smartphone owners average 67 texts per day. Make one of those messages count by letting your contacts know they can download the app by texting **REDCROSS (**73327677) – a downloadable link will be sent directly to them.

Get social. Keep an eye out for updates to the Hurricane App and our other apps by following Red Cross DFW on Facebook and Twitter and be sure to share with your followers. 

Read More

Ways to Help as Sandy Prepares for Landfall

Written by Anita Foster, Chief Communications Officer, American Red Cross-North Texas Region 

Over the weekend, the American Red Cross in the Metroplex sent eight relief workers to New Jersey, New York and other areas in advance of Hurricane Sandy. With air travel all but halted, additional deployments will be delayed until after landfall. Even though North Texans are miles from the wind and rain, there are still three important action steps that local residents can take to help those impacted:

1. Give Blood. Residents in the impact zone will not be able to donate blood for the next few weeks as they'll be focused on disaster recovery. North Texans can do our part to help by ensuring we keep the nationwide blood supply stocked. To make a blood donor appointment, call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcross.org.

2. Make a Financial Gift. Mobilizing for a relief operation of this size is costly, but necessary. The Red Cross has already spent millions of dollars getting ready, and we'll spend millions more after landfall. North Texans can text REDCROSS to 90999 to donate $10, click on www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS to make a much-needed financial donation.

3. Download the Hurricane App: This free application from the Red Cross will allow someone to receive alerts and track friends and family in the impact zone. The App is available for the iPhone and Android.

Once Hurricane Sandy makes landfall, the American Red Cross will have a better idea of how many people are directly impacted and what additional resources will be needed for relief efforts.

Read More

Red Cross CEO Updates DFW on Plans for Isaac

Written by Kyla Campbell, staff contributor

Planning for Isaac's landfall and the potential fallout from the rain and wind remains top priority for North Texas volunteers and staff. From shelter planning to flood preparations, crews across DFW and East Texas aim to care for those who soon will become victims of Hurricane Isaac. Our CEO, T.D. Smyers, talks about what Isaac means to DFW area and how you can help!

Responding to hurricanes takes the strength of an organization like the American Red Cross and the support from donors in order to mobilize resources like we have over the last several days. Below highlights exactly how you help when you support the Red Cross with a financial gift.  

*As of Monday, August 27, the Red Cross:

• Deployed more than 1,500 disaster workers across the Gulf Coast to help with Red Cross efforts.
• Sheltered hundreds of people Sunday night in Florida. More than 560 people spent Sunday night in Red Cross and community shelters after Isaac brought heavy rain, power outages and flooding. Overall, the Red Cross opened 22 shelters and supported 20 community shelters overnight.
• Put dozens of shelters on stand-by along the Gulf, where evacuations have already been ordered in some area. Shelters are likely to open in the area throughout the day.
• Sent mobile kitchens and truckloads of relief supplies to Alabama, Louisiana and Mississippi. More than 50 pre-positioned support trailers are ready with supplies.
• Activated more than 150 emergency response vehicles (ERVs) in those states and from around the country to help.
• Continued to help in Florida where flooding continues. Red Cross disaster workers will continue to help those affected by opening shelters, providing meals and distributing relief supplies like personal hygiene and clean-up items.

And this is all in addition to all the preparations going on here in DFW!

HOW YOU CAN HELP 
Tropical Storm Isaac is predicted to trigger a large and prolonged disaster response with major flooding across several states. People can call, click or text to donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or texting REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

*Original source: redcross.org

Read More