A March is Red Cross Month Update from T.D. Smyers

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

T.D. Smyers, CEO,
North Texas Region

Red Cross Month is buzzing along and here in the DFW area, we’re looking forward to a little more celebrating before April comes our way. Regional CEO T.D. Smyers, for one, is excited:

“Red Cross Month is an affirmation of what we mean to America and to the people we help,” said T.D. “The recognition during the month of March each year gives us a great opportunity to showcase to the public all that we do. The fact that the mayor of Dallas, Mayor Mike Rawlings, and the mayor of Fort Worth, Mayor Betsy Price, have agreed to be honorary chairs of Red Cross Month activities annually has meant a great deal.”

Some of the activities coming up between now and the end of the month include:

• Jack Rogers Trunk Show & Shopping Event
  Wednesday, March 20, 4-6pm at Highland Park Village
  20% of sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Red Cross Day at Norma’s Cafe
  Thursday, March 21 at Norma’s Cafe
  A portion of the day’s sales will benefit the American Red Cross
• Downtown Fort Worth Turns Red
  Monday, March 25 after dark
• Chisholm Trail Chapter Open House
  Monday, March 25, 10am-2pm
  Tuesday, March 26, 3pm-7pm
• Dean Fearing’s Lost Coyote Band Benefit Concert
  Friday, March 29, 8-11pm at the Green Elephant Bar
  $20 admission price will benefit the American Red Cross

Many of these events have a special Red Cross tie—Dallas Area Chapter board members Lori Jones and Kimberly Schlegal Whitman are co-hosting the Jack Rogers Trunk Show, while board member Bob Boulogne plays drums for the Lost Coyote Band. 

“We are so grateful that these leaders in our community believe in our cause and have been so closely involved in planning these events,” said T.D., who was on hand to receive the official Red Cross Month proclamations from the Dallas City Council and Dallas Commissioners Court and will do the same in Fort Worth on March 19. Additionally, on March 25, buildings in downtown Fort Worth will light red to commemorate Red Cross Month. 

T.D. says he’s especially excited that Red Cross Month is bringing attention to the new Red Cross Tornado app.

“It’s so powerful because it’s a real tool, something people can hold in their hand and that has the potential to save their lives. That’s pretty amazing.”

Red Cross Month is a great time to get involved—whether it be donating, giving blood, taking classes and especially volunteering.

“It’s going to be tough for you to find something more rewarding than getting involved with the Red Cross. We’re more than 90 percent volunteers,” T.D. explains. “It’s not that volunteers are important to us fulfilling our mission—they’re crucial. They’re the soul of our organization."

“I tell people, the Red Cross is you. We’re your neighbors. Sometimes people think of the Red Cross as just being a big organization that responds to national disasters, but we’re also the neighbors who show up at the curbside when a house burns down.  That’s because of our volunteers.”

To start your Red Cross story today, visit RedCross.org/DFW, and don’t forget to check out our Facebook page for more updates on Red Cross Month celebrations.

So what’s T.D. looking forward to the most?

“I’m excited to see the Fort Worth skyline turn red. It’s the culmination of a lot of work to make something like that happen, so that’s special,” he said, adding, “On the Dallas side though, definitely the Lost Coyotes concert. I like to rock. And I would never turn down a slice of Norma's Mile High Pie. I'll let my wife take care of the Jack Rogers sandals.”

Read More

Lessons in Severe Weather Planning

by Kristen Kerr, volunteer contributor

It's National Severe Weather Preparedness Week, so it's a great time to be thinking about what you should be doing to prepare for bad weather. In fact, that was the point of our big multi-state disaster drill this weekend: to prepare when the sky is blue for when it isn't.

As a native Texan (born and raised), I have been through the tornadoes, droughts, floods, severe thunderstorms, wildfires and heat waves. Over the years, I learned a thing or two about how to prepare not only myself, but also my family, for severe weather. 

During the tornadoes that ripped through Fort Worth in 2000, I was home by myself. I was about 11 years old and I was trying to stay safe (and alive). I had my dad’s weather radio turned on and since it runs on batteries, it was perfect, because if the electricity went out, it would still function. The radio kept me informed on the storm’s progress. Later, I went into our downstairs closet and made sure it was clear of anything heavy or harmful that could hurt me during the storm. I also took a blanket and flashlight with me so that I could stay warm and see (just in case we lost electricity). 

That was really all that I knew how to do at the time since I was just a child, and shortly after that, my parents bought me a cell phone in case of emergencies like that one. 

Prepare an emergency kit in case of severe weather.
Or, you can get one from RedCrossStore.org!

Since then, I began an internship with the American Red Cross, and I have learned quite a bit more in regards to staying safe during severe weather. 

In fact, there is a 3-step plan that everyone should put into action when severe weather threatens:

1. Get a kit. A kit can be as simple as a plastic tub. The kit should contain bottled water, canned foods, cereal bars, flashlights, batteries, weather radios, first aid kits, hand sanitizer, disinfecting wipes, medicine and copies of important documents.
2. Make a plan. It is important to have a plan of action prepared because when any severe weather warning is issued it is easy to get overwhelmed, scared and confused. If you have a plan, all you need to do is follow it. You don’t need to worry about trying to think of where to go and how to get there. It’s already done!
3. Be prepared. It’s a great idea to have your kit pre-made and stored somewhere with easy accessibility. Also do a trial run if your action plan with your family, so that when you severe weather hits, you know what to do!

When I was a little girl, being alone during the tornadoes felt like a bad dream because I didn’t know what was going on outside and how bad it really was! However, in today’s ever changing technological world, it no longer has to feel that way! I was excited to learn that the American Red Cross has launched their new tornado app that includes a high-pitched siren and alerts for when a tornado warning has been issued in your area and later signals an “all clear” alert so that users know when a warning has expired or been cancelled. I know if this app would have been around during the 2000 tornadoes, I would have felt a lot safer and smarter! 

You can feel safer and smarter too. Download the new app for free at RedCross.org. Stay safe this spring season!

Read More

New Red Cross Tornado App Provides Life-Saving Alerts, Safety Information

by Amy Yen, Digital Communications Manager, American Red Cross

The new Red Cross Tornado app
can save lives by sounding a siren
during tornado warnings

Here in the heart of Tornado Alley, we know that a tornado can hit at any time of the day, wherever you are and with little or no warning. That’s why today we are so excited to be introducing our new Tornado App for iOS and Android devices, which will, among other features, sound a siren when a NOAA tornado warning is in effect in your area. 

The siren will go off even if you are not running the app, so the audible alert can save lives because users might not otherwise know of the danger in their area. For example, many tornadoes happen at night, when people are sleeping. The tornadoes that hit the Metroplex last April were in the middle of the day, when many people were at work and not monitoring the news or weather.

The app is designed to give users access to local and real-time information about what to do before, during and after a tornado hits. It’s available in English and Spanish, and is free for iPhone, iPad and Android devices.

Other features include:

• An “all clear!” alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled
• A “I’m safe” button to let loved ones and friends know when you’re out of harm’s way
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members
• Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity
• Toolkit with a flashlight, a strobe light and an audible alarm
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

You can download the Tornado App now by searching for Red Cross in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. Don’t forget to also check out our other apps: First Aid, Hurricane, Earthquake and Wild Fire. 

Let us know what you think of the app & don't forget to tell your friends in tornado-prone areas to download it!

Read More