First Day of Fall Project: DIY Emergency Survival Kit

by Sydney Holt, volunteer contributor

Y’all may not have even realized, but today is the first day of the fall. While the start of this colorful season typically signifies cooler weather, those of us in Dallas-Fort Worth and the surrounding areas are still experiencing highs in the upper 90s and even 100s! I don’t know about you but I don’t plan to spend my Autumnal Equinox digging sweaters and jeans out of my closet when I won’t need them for another few weeks, even months.

Instead, I plan to catch up on a few do-it-yourself projects, one being a DIY survival kit. Not handy? Don’t sweat it – this project is easy and can be done completely inside. 

Below are a few tips for helping you get Red Cross Ready for the entire year. 

1. Grab A Container! While a shoebox or extra container might seem like the easiest option, remember to choose an easy-to-carry, durable container such as a backpack or lightweight container with handles.

2. The Minimum. At a minimum you should have the following supplies. 

• Water—one gallon per person, per day (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Food—non-perishable, easy-to-prepare items (3-day supply for evacuation, 2-week supply for home)
• Flashlight
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit 
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multi-purpose tool
• Sanitation and personal hygiene items
• Copies of personal documents (medication list and pertinent medical information, proof of address, deed/lease to home, passports, birth certificates, insurance policies)
• Cell phone with chargers
• Family and emergency contact information
• Extra cash
• Emergency blanket
• Map(s) of the area

3. Comfort Items. While the bare necessities are absolutely your first priority, having an array of comfort items is always a good idea – especially when dealing with children and pets. Examples include:

• Small games (non-electronic), puzzles, coloring books, cards
• Rain gear
• Blankets, sleeping bags and pillows
• Pet supplies – food, toys, carriers and sturdy leash or harness
• Wet wipes
• Towels
• Bug repellant

4. Awareness. Finally, be sure your kit is easy to access and all members of your household are aware of its location. Use this time to talk about your plan in case of an emergency situation and review the FREE Red Cross resources, such as our suite of mobile apps and the Plan & Prepare section of our website.

For more on what goes in an emergency survival kit, check out RedCross.org. Hint: It shouldn't look like this.

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Life is a Highway, Ride it Safely: Road Trip Safety Tips

by Micaela Rosinski, intern contributor

Road trip. Those two words have a vast range of reactions among people. Children begin grudgingly counting how many hours they will be spending in the car with their parents, young adults are anxious to see what the country has to offer, and others, like myself, desire to sit in an air-conditioned room and watch National Lampoon’s Vacation.

If you have yet to see Vacation, the film follows the now-famous Griswold family on their cross-country road trip where anything that could go wrong happens. The 98 minute comedy will leave you in tears of laughter, but there are also many lessons to be learned from the unfortunate adventure. Here are just a few: 

 
Ensure vehicle is prepared for the trip. Before you embark on your adventure, take your car for a checkup. This includes items such as batteries, tires, belts and fluids. The last thing you want is to break down in the middle of nowhere.

Practice safe driving habits. Driving while drowsy is extremely dangerous for yourself and everyone around you. If possible, alternate drivers every few hours. Always use caution while driving, observe speed limits, and buckle up. Additional highway safety tips are available at RedCross.org.

Create an emergency kit for the car. American Red Cross sells emergency preparedness kits that are great for any road trip-bound car. If something bad does happen, being prepared will save you from potential amounts of massive stress and possibly even save a life.

Research your trip. Yes, more preparedness advice. Research your routes, stops and stays. Clark Griswold was not prepared. Once they reached their final destination, Walley World, it was closed and undergoing maintenance. Do not be Clark Griswold. Roadtrippers.com allows you to map your trip and find interesting stops along the way. You may even find a special spot of American Red Cross history, such as Clara Barton’s home or our National Headquarters.

Sun and heat protection. Although in a car, the sun can still do damage to your body. Wear a broad spectrum sunscreen and sunglasses to protect you from harmful rays. In addition, never leave children or pets in a vehicle. The inside of a vehicle rapidly reaches deadly temperatures during summer.

Leaving the children? Find the right sitter. If it is a trip for the grownups, hire a Red Cross certified babysitter. Red Cross offers babysitting training courses which cover important information and a plethora of emergency training, keeping your children safe.

Music. Road trips are synonymous with thoughtfully crafted playlists. Create your own mixes spanning from melodies that accompanied the Griswold’s adventure to today’s tunes and satisfy any passenger. Below are a few selections that you cannot help but dance to while in the car (safely, of course…more of a head bob and hand tap-type dance).

• Holiday Road- Lindsey Buckingham
• Babel- Mumford & Sons
• Blitzkrieg Bop- The Ramones
• Sweater Weather- The Neighbourhood
• Dancin’ Across the USA- Lindsey Buckingham
• I’m Alive (Life Sounds Like)- Michael Franti & Spearhead
• Come on Eileen- Dexys Midnight Runners
• Ho Hey- The Lumineers

Road trips can be fabulous journeys. When prepared for anything that may come your way, a stressful moment can be turned around in minutes. So have fun, create memories, and make your children absolutely miserable. Safe travels, friends.

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Back to School the Safe Way: Family Safety Tips for the Start of the School Year

Written by Kellee Tyrone, volunteer contributor

At the risk of stating the obvious, it has truly been a scorcher this summer, and the long stretch of heat we come to expect this time of year is just getting started. Although temperatures continue to rise, the season quickly turned and Back to School advertisements are meeting you at the door of every local department store.

As you search the aisles for school supplies, shoe sales and designer jeans, take a moment to also make sure you are getting your child ready for a successful year with these safety tips!

You can even pin these helpful tips to your child's book bag or hang them on the fridge for a more visual reminder.

Walkers
Children walking to school should remember to choose light weight clothing to stay cool, as well as a pack sufficient amount of water to quench their thirsts during their walk home. Children who walk home should be reminded to avoid contact with strangers, and to never get in the car with anyone, even if they are familiar.

Car Riders
Children often have lunch during the early part of the school day, therefore providing a snack in the car is very appropriate and helps make sure children have the energy they need for homework or after school activities. Running errands after school is very common for riders, so please consider that these little learners may be famished during this time. Always remember to buckle up!

Bike Riders
Always have your child wear a bike helmet and make sure there is reflective gear on the bicycle. Helmets save lives!

Home Alone

A large portion of children arrive home before their parents due to work schedules. Be sure to provide all emergency numbers in an appropriate place near a telephone in the home. Also, be sure that your kids understand the importance of reacting during a moment of crisis by knowing how to contact local law enforcement, multiple exits from the home in case of emergency and where the home preparedness kit is.

A great way to make sure that a home with small children is prepared for disasters is to become a CPR/First Aid trained parent. You never know when a child will need life saving skills performed on them, and whether it is your child or someone else’s, being trained in CPR and First Aid allows you to bring that service to your family and community. To sign up for this vital training with the Red Cross in your area, click here.

So as summer turns to fall, and the kiddos return to school, please remember to sit down as a family to discuss scheduling, good school behavior, and, of course, safety!

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Thor Worthy Thunderstorms

Written by Kyla Campbell, staff contributor

When storms roll across Texas they can seem like they were sent by the sundering force of Thor himself. Thunderous billows crack the heavens and leave the sky, and all the earthly creatures, crying for mercy.

OK. While that may be a bit melodramatic, thunderstorms—especially severe ones like we might be receiving later this afternoon and evening—should be taken seriously.

Here's a rundown on how you can prepare for Thor-like forces and what to do in case he raises his massive (and gorgeous) arms to the heavens today.

Click for complete list of preparedness tips

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Safety First during Holiday Travel

Millions of travelers will take to the skies, rails and highways during the Thanksgiving holiday and the American Red Cross offers some tips to help travelers arrive safely at their destination.

Airports, bus and train stations are crowded with Thanksgiving travelers, but most holiday travelers use highways and biways. Many people even make same-day trips to visit friends and family just for the day.

To arrive safely, the Red Cross recommends these steps for those driving to visit loved ones:

• Make sure your vehicle is in good working order. 
• Start out with a full tank of gas, check the air pressure in your tires and make sure you have windshield fluid. 
• Buckle up, slow down, don’t drive impaired.
• Be well rested and alert.
• Use caution in work zones.
• Give your full attention to the road. Avoid distractions such as cell phones.
• Observe speed limits – driving too fast or too slow can increase your chance of being in a collision.
• Make frequent stops. During long trips, rotate drivers. If you’re too tired to drive, stop and get some rest.
• Be respectful of other motorists and follow the rules of the road.
• Don’t follow another vehicle too closely.
• If you plan on drinking, designate a driver who won’t drink.
• Clean your headlights, taillights, signal lights and windows to help you see, especially at night.
• Turn your headlights on as dusk approaches, or if you are using your windshield wipers due to inclement weather.
• Don’t overdrive your headlights.
• If you have car trouble, pull off the road as far as possible.

It’s also recommended that you keep an emergency preparedness kit in the vehicle. Useful items include water, snacks, a flashlight, first aid kit, extra cash and blankets. The Red Cross Deluxe Auto Safety Kit is a great solution to help people prepare for emergencies on the road and is available in the Red Cross Store at http://www.redcrossstore.org./

 

For people traveling by air, bus or train, the Red Cross reminds them that the seasonal flu can occur as early as October. If you have come in contact with someone who is sick, perhaps the trip should be postponed as you may be contagious for a week before symptoms appear.

 

Other safety tips to avoid the flu while you travel include the following:

• Remember that everything you touch has to be touched by someone else – luggage handlers, etc. Handle your own belongings as much as possible. Wash your hands often with soap and water.
• Carry hand sanitizer and anti-bacterial wipes with you. You can use them to wash your hands or wipe down surfaces such as armrests.
• Bring your own pillows and blankets – they can act as a shield against the seat itself.
• If you have to cough or sneeze, do so into a tissue or your sleeve.
• Avoid touching your face or eyes.

For more information on how to remain safe while traveling this Thanksgiving, visit http://www.redcross.org/.

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Nationwide Emergency Alert System Test November 9 at 1 p.m. CST

The Federal Emergency Management Agency and Federal Communications Commission will run a nationwide test of the Emergency Alert System (EAS) Wednesday, November 9 at 1:00 p.m. CST to assess how well the EAS alerts the public about emergencies.

This first ever country-wide test will appear on all broadcast radio and television stations, cable television systems, satellite radio and television systems, and wireline video service systems.

The American Red Cross urges the public to use the test as a reminder to get personally prepared for disasters.

“The combined resources of the government, community organizations and the Red Cross will never be big enough to do it all in every disaster,” said Charley Shimanski, senior vice president, Red Cross Disaster Services. “Every person, business, organization, school and house of worship must be prepared to take care of themselves and their neighbors in an emergency.”

The three keys to preparedness are to build a kit, make a plan, and be informed.

An emergency preparedness kit should include enough supplies for everyone in the household for at least three days. The kit should include water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents. The Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of supplies at home. Preparedness kits, radios and other items needed in an emergency are available online at the Red Cross Store.

All members of the household should work together on an emergency plan. Each person should know how to reach other members of the household. The plan should also include an out-of-area emergency contact person, and where everyone should meet if they can't go home.

People should be informed about what types of disasters are most likely to occur where they live. It is also important to take a first aid and CPR/AED course—a vital component of disaster preparedness in case emergency help is delayed.

Throughout the year, the Red Cross conducts programs to help people be prepared. “Be Red Cross Ready” is a web-based interactive training program that teaches people how to be ready for emergencies. The Red Cross “Do More Than Cross Your Fingers” campaign, featuring Jamie Lee Curtis, shows people how to customize their emergency kits. The “Ready When the Time Comes” program trains employees from corporations and mobilizes them as a community-based volunteer force when disaster strikes. Businesses, organizations and schools can join the Ready Rating™ program and complete a free, online assessment of their current readiness level and receive customized feedback with tips to improve preparedness.

The Red Cross works all year to be prepared to respond when disaster strikes and urges people to get ready too. Being prepared can save lives when disaster strikes. Visit http://www.redcross.org/ to learn more about how to be ready for an emergency.

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Turn The Clocks Back This Weekend And Check Your Smoke Alarms

This weekend we should all turn the clocks back one hour to mark the end of Daylight Saving Time, creating a blissful extra hour of sleep Sunday morning.

The American Red Cross recommends that everyone take the time to get prepared for fall and winter by checking their emergency preparedness supplies - a step that could save time during an emergency.

When turning the clocks back, people should also check the batteries in their smoke alarms, and make sure the alarms work by pushing the test button. It’s also a good time for everyone to check their carbon monoxide detectors. Folks should replace the batteries in both smoke and carbon monoxide detectors at least once a year.

Other steps people can take to get prepared include:

• Updating the emergency contact information in their family communications plan. Choose an out-of-area emergency contact that each person in the household can call if he/she becomes separated during a disaster situation.
• Making sure their emergency preparedness kit still includes at least a three-day supply of non-perishable food items and water (one gallon per person per day), a flashlight, a battery-powered or crank radio, can opener, first aid kit, copies of important documents, and special items such as medications, diapers, and infant formula.
• Checking their emergency preparedness kit for expired food items; refreshing staples such as water, food and batteries. If there have been changes in prescriptions or dietary needs, add new foods and medications as needed.

Taking simple actions like these can help people be better prepared for a disaster situation. More information on how families can get ready for an emergency is available on www.redcross.org So, when turning back the clock this weekend, people should take a few extra minutes to ensure that their loved ones are better prepared for the unexpected.

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Video: Disaster Preparedness Tips from Jim Cantore

Jim Cantore is a meteorologist for The Weather Channel and a member of the American Red Cross National Celebrity Cabinet.

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Mobile home safety in severe weather

Tornado in Mississippi March 2011 - Photo Credit: Megan Burkes/American Red Cross

Mobile homes and RVs are some of the most dangerous structures you can find yourself in during severe weather and tornadoes. These structures cannot sustain the extremely destructive high winds that can hit unexpectedly and leave mobile or manufactured homes, temporary trailers and RVs unrecognizable – even if they are not in a direct storm path.

For people that live in these types of structures, extra planning and time are needed to ensure the safety of you and your family. In emergency situations, time is often one thing you don’t have, so make sure you have your plan ready and activate it early! Keep in mind that every year thousands of people are killed or seriously injured by severe thunderstorms despite advance warning.

We always tell you that your safe room should be a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building. This situation does not exist in mobile home structures so your best bet is to establish your safe place somewhere else. Never try to ride out a severe storm or tornado in any of these structures, even if the structure is tied down or seems protected. Protect your family’s lives and property by taking action when severe storms threaten.

Before the storm:

• Know when to evacuate and give yourself plenty of time before a WARNING is issued. If a WARNING has been issued, leave your manufactured home immediately.
• Decide where you will go and how you will get there. Have alternate routes planned in case one route is cut off by the storm or debris.
• Listen to your weather radio to stay updated on the storms in your area.
• Move to a sturdy building, a storm cellar, a relative’s or friend’s basement or evacuate if you have enough time to get clear of the whole area.
• If you have time and it is safe to do so, turn off the main water valve and shut off fuel lines and / or turn off bottled propane at the tanks. DO NOT disconnect. (A professional would need to reconnect your gas service).

At the first sign of severe weather or tornado and you have access to a sturdy shelter or a vehicle, abandon your mobile home immediately. Do not wait until you see the tornado. As always, remember to include in your plan:

• A place to meet outside your neighborhood in case your family is separated when disaster strikes and you cannot return home.
• An out-of-area friend to be the person everyone calls if the family is separated. This friend can help you reconnect with others and let them know that you are ok. Make sure everyone, including children, has the address and contact information of the family contact with them at all times.

After the storm has passed, do not assume that you will be able to return home and always stay out of damaged buildings. Knowing what to do is the best protection for you and your family. Make your plan and prepare for disaster before it happens at home and at work.

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Know the Signs, Know the Difference

Disaster does not discriminate and nobody is immune. That fact has been made painfully clear in less than one month with record setting tornado outbreaks and destruction. Alabama, Mississippi, Louisiana, Arkansas, Tennessee and now Missouri are just a few of the areas in the Midwest that have experienced such devastation. Rural or urban, a hospital or a barn, it didn’t matter - the storms hit where they hit. And, yes, it can happen here too.

As these storms come into the area, you need to know the warning signs severe thunderstorms and tornadoes sometimes give and the difference between a watch and a warning. This knowledge could be the difference between getting to safety in time and getting caught unprepared.

Watch: Severe weather or tornado is possible in and near the watch area. Review and discuss your emergency plans, and check supplies and your safe room. Be ready to act quickly if a warning is issued or you suspect severe weather is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

Warning: Severe weather or a tornado has been sighted or indicated by weather radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property. Go immediately underground to a basement, storm cellar or an interior room (closet, hallway or bathroom).

Tornadoes are deadly and can strike without warning. Keep listening to your weather radio for potential tornado warnings in your area. If a warning is issued for your area, head to a sturdy shelter immediately or if you notice any of the following tornado danger signs:

• Dark, often greenish clouds—a phenomenon caused by hail
• Wall cloud—an isolated lowering of the base of a thunderstorm
• Cloud of debris
• Large hail
• Funnel cloud—a visible rotating extension of the cloud base
• Roaring noise

A thunderstorm is considered severe if it produces hail at least one inch in diameter or has wind gusts of at least 58 miles per hour. Every thunderstorm produces lightning, which kills more people each year than tornadoes or hurricanes. Heavy rain from thunderstorms can cause flash flooding and high winds can damage homes and blow down trees and utility poles, causing widespread power outages.

Refer to these tips to help you prepare and keep you safe at home, at work and on the road.

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Ready your family communications plan before disaster calls!

We are often planting little reminders for you to get your supplies ready and know where your safe place is in case of an emergency. Communicating essential information about your plan to each other keeps you and your family safe. But have you planned how you will communicate when the disaster is upon you? Each situation will be different and you and your family may not all be in the same place when severe weather hits. You may also have family in other areas that you need to reach out to so they know you are safe.

As you Build a Kit and Make a Plan, be sure to include a Family Communication Plan as well. Each member of the family should have a list of emergency contacts and one out-of-area contact person should be designated since it may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones. Also make sure that if you and your family get separated in an emergency situation that you have a set meeting place outside of the neighborhood. Each family member should know that is the place to go once it is safe to get there.

With the recent severe weather and more on the way, now is the time to get your Family Communication Plan set. It’s easy and only takes moments to make sure you and your family stay connected. Download the Emergency Contact Cards PDF to help get you started. You can fill in all the information you will need in case of a disaster and each folds up to wallet size so you can carry it anywhere.

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Red Cross Helps Those in the Path of Cresting Mississippi

A Red Cross worker disseminates information to Jimmy Ault, resident of Greenville, Mississippi at an Information Station outside of a Walmart. Photo Credit: Allison Graber/American Red Cross

As flood waters crest in multiple cities this week, the American Red Cross is working around the clock to ensure residents along the Mississippi River are prepared.

In Mississippi, the Red Cross has opened nine “information stations” where people can get flood preparedness information and talk to Red Cross workers about the services the Red Cross provides during a flood.

Residents who visit these stations can learn where shelters are located, and can also pick up bottled water, snacks and comfort kits (which contain daily personal items such as shampoo and toothpaste).

Teams of Red Cross workers trained in mental health, health services and spiritual care are also going door to door in some areas to talk to residents about flood preparedness. Volunteers from AmeriCorps National Community Civilian Corps (NCCC)—a long-time partner of the Red Cross—are also involved in these efforts.

In addition to distributing preparedness information, the Red Cross has opened seven shelters in Mississippi, with more on standby to help residents who evacuate from their homes.

In Louisiana, where the opening of the Morganza Spillway on Saturday is expected to affect thousands of people, Red Cross workers are also distributing flood preparedness information in potentially impacted parishes.

The Red Cross is prepared for a prolonged feeding and shelter response, with more than 20 shelters ready to open if needed in Louisiana. To ensure there will be enough volunteers to support a long-term sheltering operation, the Red Cross in Baton Rouge, La., is also recruiting and training more local volunteers.

Red Cross is ready to support flooding of Louisiana. Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs) and dedicated volunteer crews, now totaling 11 in the state, stand ready to deploy from Disaster Relief Operations HQ in Baton Rouge. Photo Credit: Eric Jones/American Red Cross

Meanwhile, truckloads of Red Cross relief supplies made their way into the state over the weekend, including thousands of cots, blankets and comfort kits. The Red Cross is working closely with government and community partners to ensure workers, equipment, shelters, food and relief materials are in place as people evacuate from their homes.

Residents in inundated towns along the river not only need things to meet their physical needs, such as food and shelter, but also someone to listen and support them through this difficult and uncertain time.

Brenda Griffin has been through great emotional upheaval this year, and that was before the area known as “the cutoff” in Tunica, Miss., was covered by flood water. Many of the homes in the area were stilted as a precaution, but those homes and three fishing camps were wiped out by the Mississippi last week.

As Griffin talked with Red Cross emotional support worker Dominic Di Girolamo, she told him that her mom had recently died after a battle with cancer, and she that had to put down one of her beloved pets. The small town has also lost several of its residents to illness in the past few months. And now she’s lost her home.

“I’ve never been in a situation where I don’t have anything,” said Griffin. “I’m separated from all my stuff; I feel disoriented, like I’m floating on a raft in the ocean. My mom was always there for me and now she’s gone. She was the person who grounded everything.”

Griffin described the Red Cross shelter in Tunica as a safe haven where she and other Tunica residents from the cutoff can meet to catch up. Local restaurants and businesses have been closed, so the folks from the cutoff meet at the shelter to check in with each other.

For weeks to come, as waters remain high through many parts of Mississippi and Louisiana, Red Cross volunteers like Di Girolamo will be there to help residents through what is for many a life-changing disaster.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster. Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. This gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. Visit www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS; you can also text the word “REDCROSS” to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to local American Red Cross chapters or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

2011 Spring Floods

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Show Her You Care: Prepare!

Being able to contact our loved ones is something we may take for granted—and it’s only in an emergency that we realize how tenuous those connections can be. So when you call your mom this Mother’s Day, take a few minutes to make an emergency communication plan.

Make a Plan

Print out the Emergency Contact Card to help guide you. Write down your local emergency numbers and the contact information for an out-of-area emergency contact person. As often happens during disasters, it may be easier to text or call long distance since local phone lines may be overloaded or out of service.

Putting a plan in place can help families stay connected with loved ones nearby and overseas, should an emergency strike. Every year, people are separated from their relatives in an emergency, such as an earthquake, typhoon or armed conflict. Telephone, Internet and postal services are often disrupted, leaving loved ones miles or oceans apart with no way to communicate.

Tips to keep in mind in case you can’t reach a loved one during an emergency:

• Call during off-peak hours or send text messages, which can often work even if telephone lines are down.
• Check social networking profiles, such as Facebook or Twitter.
• Contact employers, schools or religious centers where loved ones might go.
• Use a free Internet-based tool, such as Safe and Well at www.redcross.org, to send or search for messages from loved ones within the U.S.
• Reach out to the U.S. State Department (1-888-407-4747) to inquire about loved ones with U.S. citizenship who are traveling or residing in another country.

Restoring Family Links

The Red Cross also offers a free service to help re-establish communication between immediate relatives separated internationally by a war or disaster, and this past year helped reconnect more than 4,200 families.

Local caseworkers work with families to find loved ones and send messages until normal communications can be restored. In places like refugee camps, such a message is often the only method of communication available, but the words “I am alive” may be all that is needed to ease the minds of distraught relatives half a world away.

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Ready your family communication plan before disaster calls!

We are often planting little reminders for you to get your supplies ready and know where your safe place is in case of an emergency. Communicating essential information about your plan to each other keeps you and your family safe. But have you planned how you will communicate when the disaster is upon you? Each situation will be different and you and your family may not all be in the same place when severe weather hits. You may also have family in other areas that you need to reach out to so they know you are safe.

As you Build a Kit and Make a Plan, be sure to include a Family Communication Plan as well. Each member of the family should have a list of emergency contacts and one out-of-area contact person should be designated since it may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service. Everyone should have emergency contact information in writing or programmed into their cell phones. Also make sure that if you and your family get separated in an emergency situation that you have a set meeting place outside of the neighborhood. Each family member should know that is the place to go once it is safe to get there.

With the recent severe weather and more on the way, now is the time to get your Family Communication Plan set. It’s easy and only takes moments to make sure you and your family stay connected. Download the Emergency Contact Cards PDF to help get you started. You can fill in all the information you will need in case of a disaster and each folds up to wallet size so you can carry it anywhere.

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Spring Forward With Your Plans for Severe Weather

An American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle brings food and drinks to families and volunteers on a street devastated by a tornado in Mapleton, Iowa.
Photo Credit: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross

Spring is here! Just a few weeks ago, we set our clocks forward and lost an hour of beloved sleep. Now, it’s time to move forward with our plans to prepare for severe weather, which, if left undone, could leave us without things much more important than a few extra taps of the snooze button. Springtime brings beautiful flowers and warmer temps, but Mother Nature also has tornadoes up her sleeve. The Red Cross is urging all North Texans to assemble disaster supply kits and make plans now.

Know the Difference

Severe Thunderstorm Watch: Severe Thunderstorms are possible in and near the watch area. Stay informed and be ready to act if a severe thunderstorm warning is issued.

Severe Thunderstorm Warning: Severe weather has been reported by spotters or indicated by radar. Warnings indicate imminent danger to life and property.
In times of inclement weather, be sure to listen for storm watches and warnings and act accordingly. Knowing the difference between watches and warnings and following can help save lives.

Ways You Can Prepare

The following are procedures you should follow in order to prepare your family for tornadoes:

• Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado, windstorm or major hail storm. The safest place to be is underground, or as low to the ground as possible, and away from all windows. Unfortunately, many residents in the Metroplex do not have basements, therefore an interior hallway or room on the lowest floor is the best choice. Putting as many walls between you and the outside will provide additional protection. Also make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and keep this place uncluttered.
  
  
• Get out of your mobile home and choose a safe place in a nearby sturdy building. Mobile homes are much more vulnerable to strong winds than site-built structures. If your mobile home park has a designated shelter, make it your family's safe place.
  
  
• If you are in a vehicle, get out immediately. Find a sturdy nearby structure and take shelter. If there is no building nearby, go to a low-lying area until the storm passes. Taking cover under bridges is not recommended.
  
  
• If you are in a high-rise building, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building. You may not have enough time to go to the lowest floor. Center hallways are often structurally the most reinforced part of a building.
  
  
• Check with your work and your children's schools and day care centers to learn tornado emergency plans. Every building has different safe places. It is important to know where they are and how to get there in an emergency.
  
  
• Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit. This kit should be kept near your safe room, whether at home, work or school, and should contain supplies such as bottled water, flashlights with extra batteries, first aid supplies, an AM/FM or NOAA Weather radio and additional important items.
  
  
• Conduct periodic tornado drills so everyone remembers what to do when a tornado is approaching. Practice having everyone in the family go to your designated area in response to a tornado threat. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response more of a reaction, requiring less thinking time during an actual emergency situation.
  
  
• Discuss tornadoes with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members are not together. Discussing disaster ahead of time helps reduce fear and lets everyone know how to respond during a tornado.
  
  
• Take an online “Be Red Cross Ready” course. This 15-minute interactive course will ensure that you’ve got everything you need on-hand before the storm hits. To find the course, go to www.redcross.org/beredcrossready.
  
  
• Log on to www.redcross.org to download free tips on getting prepared for severe weather.
  
  

In the event that severe weather does impact the North Texas area, the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter will be ready to respond. Real-time updates for any responses can be found by following @RedCrossDallas on Twitter.

Storm photos from the American Red Cross' Photostream on Flickr

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September is National Preparedness Month

If you've been reading this blog long, you know I love a good celebration. Well, this month is reason enough to celebrate - it's National Preparedness Month!

As you know, no matter how overwhelming or unimportant it may seem, it's vital to "Be Red Cross Ready" a.k.a. prepared. By taking these three steps, you can be ready to respond and stay safer in an emergency situation:

1. Get a kit
2. Make a plan
3. Be informed

Take the Readiness Quotient Survey to get your preparedness score and see where you should start.

Then, Pledge to Prepare and get involved here.

For more information about National Preparedness Month and the American Red Cross' involvement, click here.

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Hurricane Katrina Video Story 1: Makin' Waves, Saving Lives

To commemorate the fifth anniversary of Hurricanes Katrina, Wilma and Rita which devastated the Gulf Coast, the Red Cross has completed several short videos that describe our work in the aftermath of these storms, provide information about our preparedness today for major disasters and urge more steps to be taken so our nation is even more ready for disasters in the future.

Starting today, we will begin posting a video each day.

We hope these stories will be a reminder that the unthinkable can happen and that we all must do our part to get our homes, communities and nation ready.

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Pets need to breathe too

If you've been reading this blog long, you know that we love quirky new preparedness items. Well, this one will have you running down to your local fire station (or staying indoors and going to petmask.com) in search of one of the only preparedness items man's best friend needs, a pet mask.

Monica Plumb, a determined 12-year-old, conducted research and raised some money to get the five firetrucks in her county specially-designed oxygen masks for pets.

"I hope at some point, every fire department has these kits," said Monica in an article posted by USA Today.

Experts estimate from 40,000 to more than 100,000 animals die each year, most from inhaling poisonous gases. Of course, firefighters will often go the extra mile and perform nose-to-mouth breathing or use human oxygen masks. But, this new mask - created especially for pets - works the best.

Until the masks make their way down here, check out the American Red Cross dog first aid safety series.

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Be Flash Flood Ready

In the wake of the flash flooding that took the lives of several Arkansas residents last week, we’re all reminded that our world could be turned upside down in a matter of minutes. Our hearts go out to the families affected by these floods.

A flood of this caliber is unusual for that area and residents reacted to the disaster as best they could. North Texas is not immune to the devastating effects of flash flooding either, and there is no better time than the present for us to become prepared should a strong storm bring flood waters to our area.

Redcross.org is a one-stop-shop for all things related to Preparedness including a whole page devoted to Flood Preparedness. Check out the Flood Safety Checklist which highlights how to prepare for a flood, how to react during a flood and how to recover from a flood.

An important thing to remember during a flood is that you’ll likely be without electricity. So battery operated equipment is essential: battery operated or hand-cranked radios and flashlights. If you find yourself stuck in your home after a flood, you’ll want a supply of food and water. The Red Cross recommends having a three-day supply.

Find these and many more helpful recommendations at www.redcross.org.

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