New Hurricane App Brings American Red Cross Safety Information to Smart Phones

A new American Red Cross Hurricane App puts help right into the hands of people who live in or visit hurricane prone areas. Best of all, it’s free and available for both iPhones and Android phones.

The Red Cross app gives people real time information for hurricane threats where they are located-whether it’s the community where they live or the places they love to vacation.

The app has a number of features that let people share vital information with their Facebook friends and Twitter followers. People who need to get out of harm’s way quickly can tap the “I’m Safe” button to post a message to their social accounts, letting friends and loved ones know they are okay. These features that will help friends and families stay in touch during hurricanes, reducing much of the fear and uncertainly for loved ones and property owners far away.

The Red Cross app also gives people the ability to receive location-based NOAA weather alerts for the United States and its territories and share those on their social networks too. Even if someone doesn’t live full-time in a threatened area, users can receive alerts for vacation spots, places where they winter or where loved ones live.  It’s a feature that can give peace of mind to frequent travelers and those with elderly relatives or college students in coastal areas.

Other features include:

•          Toolkit with a flashlight, a strobe light and an audible alarm
•          Locations of open Red Cross shelters
•         Simple steps and checklists to create a family emergency plan
•         Preloaded preparedness content that gives instant access to critical action steps even without mobile connectivity.

National Red Cross experts in health, safety, and preparedness have thoroughly reviewed and field tested the information and advice provided in this app.

The Hurricane App comes on the heels of the release of highly successful Red Cross First Aid App, which has had nearly 600,000 downloads in its first six weeks. While apps can prepare you for disasters, downloading the First Aid app is not a substitute for training. 


To learn more about Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED courses or to register, visit redcross.org/takeaclass.

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Red Cross Urges Preparedness with New Round of Severe Weather

The American Red Cross continues to work around the clock to bring relief, support and comfort to residents of North Texas affected by this week’s tornadoes. 


We've heard dozens of stories of how people used their wits and preparedness to stay safe during the last round of storms. From putting pots over their heads in bathtubs to finding the smallest closet, people reacted quickly and lives were saved. 

Well, this Easter weekend, forecasters are predicting another round of thunderstorms and we're asking, "what would you do?"


In this video, Anita Foster walks you through the basics of getting together a kit. Take the time today to prepare your family since severe storm season is just beginning and experts are predicting a very active year. 

We also know that being prepared while on the road can be challenging but if you prepare by staying alert of weather forecasts, packing a kit for car and following safety precautions issued for travelers.

The most important thing is, whether you are traveling this Easter or staying home, all Texans should get a kit, make a plan and be informed before the Easter Bunny arrives. 

Here are a checklist of things you could include in your kit:

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Things to Do When the Sky is Blue—Preparing for When Disaster Strikes

by Lilly Watson, American Red Cross contributor
Already this year, many of our fellow Americans lost their lives, their loved ones or their homes and belongings in severe storms and tornadoes. In early March alone, the Red Cross relief efforts stretched across 11 states where 22 shelters opened comforting friends and neighbors.

Those of us at home watched and asked, "How are these communities so resilient?" And also, "What would I do if this happened to me?"

There is no way to keep a tornado from arriving in your neighborhood with little notice, but you can prepare your home and family should you ever find yourself in the face of severe weather.

The video below reviews some of the most important things to remember in the eye of the storm.

You know when you are preparing to fly and the attendant tells says you must secure your mask before helping others? Well, helping in disasters is exactly the same. Your emergency preparedness kit and plan for your family comes first, then you can turn to your neighbor to help them put on their "mask."

The best time to prepare for an emergency is when one isn't happening. On top of viewing the video above, download these free tips from the American Red Cross so that you and your family will be ready when the time comes. Be safe everyone! http://rdcrss.org/eekGXz

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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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Red Cross Partnership with Grainger Gains National Recognition

The Ready When the Time Comes partnership between the American Red Cross and Grainger has been selected as one of five finalists for the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Business Civic Leadership Center (BCLC) 2011 Partnership Award.

The winner is selected by an online vote open to the public from September 19 through October 28.

The Partnership Award, one of four Corporate Citizenship awards from the BCLC, honors a company and a charitable organization that have exemplified success working together to address an important social issue.

W.W. Grainger Inc. is the founding sponsor of the Ready When the Time Comes program, in which employees of participating companies and organizations are trained as Red Cross disaster volunteers to serve in an emergency.

“Grainger’s expertise in logistics, supply chain and product distribution keeps businesses running and is a crucial asset in times of disaster. It is only logical that the company has partnered with the American Red Cross. Together they are recognized for their work to help communities prepare for and respond to disasters,” said Stephen Jordan, U.S. Chamber BCLC Founder and Executive Director.

“Given that Grainger is the national founding sponsor of the American Red Cross Ready When the Time Comes corporate volunteer program, which has trained nearly 14,000 employees from more than 460 organizations across the country ready to activate in a time of disaster, we are pleased that this business-nonprofit collaboration is a 2011 Best Partnership Award finalist.”
As a result of this program, now in its tenth year, more than 13,000 employees from 460 businesses and organizations in 52 cities have been trained as Red Cross disaster volunteers. Over the past two years, the number of trained volunteers has doubled and the program has been established in all critical disaster zones across the country.

Ready When the Time Comes teams of volunteers from a range of companies have been part of the Red Cross response to disasters this year, such as the deadly tornadoes that wrecked havoc in the South and Midwest, record-setting flooding along the Missouri and Mississippi Rivers, or Hurricane Irene’s damaging from North Carolina to New England.

More on the Ready When the Time Comes program can be found in this video on the program.

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Getting Prepared is as Easy as 1-2-3

An American flag hangs on an overturned car after the tornado hit Joplin, Missouri, in a photo taken on May 24, 2011 (Photo by Bob Carey/American Red Cross)

This year’s many natural disasters—from tornadoes and floods to hurricanes and wildfires—are a reminder of how important it is to be prepared.

Getting prepared takes just three steps:

1. Get a Kit
At a minimum, have the basic supplies listed below. Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry container that you can use at home or take with you in case you must evacuate.

• 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
• Battery-powered or hand-crank radio (NOAA Weather Radio, if possible)
• Extra batteries
• First aid kit
• Medications (7-day supply) and medical items
• Multipurpose 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

Pressed for time? Check out the ready-made disaster supply kits in the Red Cross store.

2. Make a Plan
Every family should create and practice an evacuation and communications plan. Each person should know how to reach other family members and where to meet if they can’t return home. You should also designate an out-of-area relative or friend as an emergency contact and make sure all household members know how to contact this person.

To make an evacuation plan, choose two meeting places: one right outside your home in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire, and another outside your neighborhood in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate.

Decide where you would go and what route you would take if you had to evacuate. Make sure to also plan ahead for your pets. Keep a phone list of "pet friendly" motels/hotels and animal shelters that are along your evacuation routes.

3. Be Informed
Learning the skills you need to respond in an emergency before help arrives is another important key to being prepared. Make sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR and knows how to use an automated external defibrillator (AED).

Go to Redcross.org to learn more and register for a class.

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American Red Cross Begins Preparations for 2011 Hurricane Season

New Volunteers Encouraged to Join; Existing Assets Being Tested

After one of the most devastating and deadly tornado seasons in the nation’s history, and an ongoing and unprecedented response from the American Red Cross, no chances are being taken as Hurricane Season 2011 begins. In Dallas, the local Red Cross chapter is doing their part to get themselves and the community prepared in advance.

Beginning on Monday, June 13, 2011 and ending on Saturday, June 18, 2011, the Dallas Red Cross will not only be testing their own internal systems, but also encouraging North Texans to join the Disaster Volunteer Reserves program before evacuees head north to Metroplex shelters.

“The Disaster Volunteer Reserves Program is perfect for people with busy schedules,” said Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones, chief executive officer, American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter. “Volunteers take about three hours of training to be ready to respond when a large disaster happens such as a hurricane or tornado; something that would exceed the ability of our day-to-day responders to handle. When that catastrophic disaster happens, we’ll call for the Reserves.”

With 16 named storms, 9 hurricanes and 5 major hurricanes predicted for the 2011 Atlantic Hurricane Season, the American Red Cross is encouraging those who have never taken Red Cross training to join the Disaster Volunteer Reserves now. Go to www.redcrossdallas.org/volunteer to fill out an application and enroll in the next Disaster Volunteer Reserve course.

On top of training new volunteers, the Red Cross will also be testing the response time of their existing volunteer pool. On Monday, June 13, 2011, beginning at 10:00a.m. and concluding at 2:00p.m., “Hurricane Alfred”, a fictional storm taking aim at the Texas coast, will provide the scenario background for 15 volunteers who will assemble in the Disaster Command Center at the American Red Cross, 4800 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Tex., and call each pre-trained volunteer with a request for availability. This helps the chapter understand how many volunteers would be available if evacuees needed immediate shelter in North Texas.

Concluding the week of activities, a Hurricane Summit will be conducted at the Red Cross in Dallas on Saturday, June 18, 2011 from 9:00a.m.-3:00p.m. Red Cross workers from Dallas, Fort Worth, Tyler and surrounding areas will attend. The purpose of the Hurricane Summit is for leadership volunteers to receive a full briefing on the hurricane evacuation process, how to best work with state and federal officials and evaluating the capacity of each Red Cross chapter. Additionally, a Disaster Volunteer Reserve course will be conducted from 9:00a.m.-12:30p.m. All activities will take place at the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter, 4800 Harry Hines Blvd., Dallas, Texas.

For additional information on Red Cross programs and/or services, go to www.redcrossdallas.org.

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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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Family, Children, Pets - they all need a plan!

As with any situation, being prepared is the key to survival. You wouldn’t go into a meeting without your presentation, you wouldn’t send your child to school without their school books, and you wouldn’t walk into a final exam without studying. You take such care making sure you and your family prepares for daily life, the same care should be taken to prepare for a disaster.

At home, develop a plan that the whole family knows and practice it regularly. In a tornado or severe weather, everyone needs to know where the safe room is. Practicing this drill is just as important as practicing your fire drill. When making your plan, include the following:

• A safe room in your home where household members and pets may gather during a tornado. This should be a basement, storm cellar or an interior room on the lowest floor with no windows. If no underground shelter or safe room is available, a small, windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is the safest alternative.
• During a thunderstorm. This safe room should be away from windows, skylights and glass doors that could be broken by strong winds or hail.
• An emergency kit that includes the basic necessities you will need while waiting out the storm such as a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, emergency blanket, and first aid kit.
• A plan for family pets to get them into a safe area. Make sure they have collars or identification on them in case they get out. If they are in the room with you make sure you have food and water for them as well as a leash or kennel to keep them secured.
• 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.
• A safe meeting place. Not every disaster will happen when you and your family are all together in your home. After a disaster strikes make sure there is a safe meeting place established away from the neighborhood to meet up. Access to your home may be cut off, so you need a familiar place that everyone would be able to get to.

More useful tips and a checklist on what you can do to build a plan for your home and pets can be found at www.redcross.org.

Helpful Checklists from RedCross.org

• Thunderstorms (PDF)
• Tornadoes (PDF)
• Pet Safety (PDF)

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Workplace Preparedness – planning means your home away from home too!

You have your disaster preparedness plan at home and you practice it regularly with your family. Your weather radio, your emergency kit and your safe room are all ready to go. But think about the number of hours you are away from home every single day either at work or school or driving to and from work, school or errands. You may know how to take care of yourself when you’re at home, but did you ever make a plan for these situations?

The tornado that ripped through Joplin, Mo. on Sunday occurred before 5:00 p.m. In Alabama, it was about 3:00 p.m. when some of the deadliest tornadoes struck that state. If you only plan for home, you are only planning for half of the time you could be caught in a disaster.

Severe weather tips at work:

• Know your emergency plan at your place of work. You should know the safe shelter area for your office and the safest route to get to it from any area in the building.
• Your workplace should have someone designated to call for emergency services, coordinate moving people to safe areas, and to take a headcount of all employees. Be sure everyone knows who to turn to in emergency situations.
• Emergency kits should be positioned based on the layout of your building and locations of safe rooms. All kits should include basic necessities such as a weather radios, flashlights, extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, and first aid kits.
• Get training so that at least one person (depending on the number of people in your office) has current CPR certification and First Aid training. All employees should know the person or persons to contact to respond for CPR and First Aid needs.

Severe weather on the road:

• If you are driving, try to safely exit the roadway and park. Stay in the vehicle and turn on the emergency flashers until the heavy rain ends. Avoid touching metal or other surfaces that conduct electricity in and outside the vehicle.
• Do not park under overpasses during severe weather. It can make you harder to see and someone could easily crash into your vehicle. In a tornado, an underpass is one of the most dangerous places you can be.
• If you are outside and cannot reach a safe building, avoid high ground; water; tall, isolated trees; and metal objects such as fences or bleachers. Picnic shelters, dugouts and sheds are NOT safe.
• Keep all emergency contact information on you at all times including local police and fire, your family, and your out-of-town family contact from your family communication plan.
• In case roads are closed or inaccessible, take time now to learn alternate routes and ways to get where you need to go. There are often multiple ways to reach a destination.
• Keep a local map with you in case you need to walk or take another form of transportation.
• While commuting, carry with you a small flashlight, dust mask and a pair of protective gloves. Keep an emergency kit in your car that includes a weather radio, flashlight, extra batteries, water, non-perishable food, emergency blanket, and first aid kit and emergency signals such as flares or a signaling flag.

More information is available at www.redcross.org for tips on workplace, school and commuter safety. Plan now to get employees trained in First Aid and CPR before a disaster by registering them for a class at your local Red Cross chapter.

Helpful Resources on RedCross.org

• Prepare Your Workplace and Employees
• Commuter Safety
• Train Your Employees (First Aid & CPR info)

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Japan Was Prepared, Are We?

The unthinkable happens.
As the earthquake rocked the shores of Japan, its people - including elderly, children and the vulnerable - only had a few minutes to evacuate before the large tsunami hit. Within this short time-span, many lives were lost and much property was irrevocably damaged.

The best laid plans.
This massive earthquake followed by a tsunami is something that even the most prepared country in the world did not expect. It is well-known that Japan has in place early-warning systems, strict building codes, and citizens that are heavily-versed in escape routes. Even with all this, Japan is still suffering after-effects of unimaginable proportions.

Let us take heed.
As the Japanese experience proved, even the best thought-out plans do not unfold as expected. What are our plans? Are we ready for a mega-disaster? Perhaps it is time for us to prepare.

Related Links

• With severe weather in the forecast, make a plan
• Tsunami Relief telethon
• Locating loved ones in Japan

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So What's in Your Disaster Kit?

We want to see what you keep in your disaster supply kit! We keep Dallas Cowboys plasticware in ours. No reason to forget about America's team, even in a disaster!

Pop on over to our Facebook page and post a photo of the oddest, funniest or most useful thing you keep in your kit. The photo with the most "likes" by midnight on March 11 will receive a special gift from us in honor of "March is Red Cross Month".

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With Severe Weather in the Forecast, Red Cross Urges North Texans to Make a Plan and Build a Kit Now

The irony that it’s National Severe Weather Awareness Week isn’t lost on anyone looking at tomorrow’s North Texas weather forecast. The calendar may still read February, but Mother Nature is already preparing to fire things up. That’s why the Red Cross is urging all North Texans to assemble disaster supply kits and make plans now.

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.
  
  
• Log on to www.redcross.org to download free tips on getting prepared for severe weather.
  
  
• 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.

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.

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Red Cross Readies for National Severe Weather Awareness Week

Once again, it's time to think spring! Along with thoughts of pretty flowers and warmer temperatures, we also need to be thinking about Spring Storm Season! During National Severe Weather Awareness Week, pledge to take action to prepare your family. Follow the quick tips in this video, and then go to www.redcross.org for more customized ideas!

From all of us at the American Red Cross, we wish you a happy and safe spring season!

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Hermine Reminds Us that Preparedness Is Crutial

Last week many North Texas residents could have taken a boat to work rather than a car. The tornadoes and flash flooding that struck Dallas and surrounding counties was what some called the wrath of Tropical Storm Hermine that brought inches of rain and strong winds to our cities.


Check out this video captured by a Red Cross Volunteer who was a first responder during last week’s storms in a neighborhood hit hard by a tornado. It’s a good reminder that our lives can change in an instant. We must be prepared and educated on how to avoid what could be a fatal disaster.

For more information on tornado preparedness, visit www.redcross.org and click on the Preparedness and Getting Trained tab. To make a donation to support those affected by the recent storms and others, text REDCROSS to 90999 and donate $10.

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CBS11 and TX21 Keep the Red Cross Ready With $5,000 Donation

This past spring we announced that CBS 11 and TX21 were going to promote NOAA weather radios sales at area Walgreens stores to benefit the D/FW Red Cross chapters.

Well we're pleased to report that yesterday CBS 11 Chief Meteorologist Larry Mowry(middle), presented Jessica Dunn, Dallas Area Chapter (left), and Patricia Thomson, Chisholm Trail Chapter (right) with a check for $5,000. We are so excited and so grateful for their support!

We're also proud of the CBS 11 and TX 21 viewers that purchased weather radios.

September is National Preparedness Month, a time set aside for the last seven years to encourage Americans to prepare for emergencies in their homes, businesses and communities.

The American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter urges North Texas residents to make a renewed effort this month to prepare for emergencies such as fires, floods or storms. Our free online education program, Be Red Cross Ready, can walk you through the three key preparedness steps: getting an emergency kit, making an emergency plan and being informed.

You can start by purchasing a weather radio for your home, if you have not already done so.

Learn more about being prepared by visiting www.redcrossdallas.org/.

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Hurricane Earl Gains Strength

Today the U.S. National Hurricane Center upgraded Hurricane Earl to a Category Four storm. Earl is being called the second major hurricane of the 2010 Atlantic season and could swipe parts of the eastern region of the country including North Carolina in the next few days.

Earl formed into a hurricane on Sunday and has rapidly grown in strength and intensity as it has already swept across many Caribbean islands. It is now sustaining winds of more than 135 miles per hour and is expected to produce dangerous rip currents as it approaches the coast of the U.S.

This hurricane season is expected to be an active one. That’s why it’s important to prepare yourself, your family and home in the event of a hurricane. The Red Cross recommends listening to a NOAA Weather Radio for the most up-to-date and critical information from the National Weather Service (NWS). For more tips on how to be hurricane ready, please visit www.redcross.org and click the Preparedness and Getting Trained tab to find Fast Facts on preparing for a hurricane.

Also, should you be involved in a disaster such as a hurricane, The Red Cross offers the Safe and Well service that allows you to alert your loved ones of your safety and whereabouts. By listing yourself on the Safe and Well website, your concerned family and friends can search the list of those who have registered themselves as “safe and well” by clicking on the “search registrants” button. The results of a successful search will display a loved one’s first name, last name and a brief message.

For more information on these and other services provided by The Red Cross, visit www.redcross.org.

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We Turn To You

"For a shield, from the storm for a friend, for a love; To keep me safe and warm, I turn to you" When I hear this line from Christina Aguilera's 1999 song "I Turn To You," it makes me think of the work we do here at the Dallas Area Chapter. Day in and day out, victims of disaster turn to the Red Cross for help when life's storms take away all that they know.

Hurricane Katrina was quickly approaching the Gulf Coast when Denise and her six year old daughter raced away from their home to seek safe shelter at Reunion Arena, the Red Cross shelter set up in Dallas, Texas. Sadly, they soon learned that the hurricane destroyed everything they owned so they decided to start over in Dallas. The Red Cross, along with community partners, facilitated their transition by helping Denise find a job, an apartment and a school for her daughter.

Unbelievably, the family soon found themselves without a home again. Their apartment caught fire in the middle of the night. Denise said she felt completely helpless as they watched their lives disappear for the second time. Just like before though, she was not alone. The Red Cross was there to help as volunteers gave the family new clothes, meals, blankets, a few nights in a hotel and a teddy bear for the little girl.


When disasters happen, families turn to the Red Cross to provide a place to stay when they no longer have a home, to provide meals when they cannot eat and to provide a shoulder to cry on when they have nowhere to turn.


However, who does the Red Cross turn to for help? We turn to you, our community, and ask you to donate your time and money so we can help those whose lives have been ravaged by disaster. Just like Denise, we have needed to turn to you again and again for help and thankfully we have always found many of you willing to help each time.


In 2005, The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas saw the many needs that arose in the wake of Hurricane Katrina and they stepped up to help the Red Cross respond by making a generous donation. Then in 2008, when they saw how the Red Cross had to shelter 5,000 people in the Dallas-Fort Worth area during Hurricane Ike, they once again made a large donation to support relief efforts.


Now, two years later we are facing a tumultuous hurricane season. As NOAA forecasts 14 to 23 named storms, including 8 to 14 hurricanes, of which 3 to 7 could be major hurricanes, it is imperative that our community is prepared to offer help if needed. The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas recognizes this need as well and this time has provided another gift to ensure the Dallas Area Chapter is prepared in advance.

Without a doubt, the Red Cross could not be more grateful for companies like The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas that take the lead in helping our community deliver care to those impacted by disaster. Without their support, we would not have anyone to turn to as we try to sustain hope during times of tragedy.


Whether it is a community evacuating because of approaching hurricanes or a family of two forced from their home by a fire, the Red Cross promises to respond and because of generous donors like The Federal Home Loan Bank of Dallas and its member financial institutions, you can trust that when you turn to the Red Cross for help that it will be there.

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