Red Cross Planning For The Next Storm

Floridians Urged to Prepare Now for Hurricane Ivan

WASHINGTON, Thursday, September 09, 2004 — As American Red Cross disaster workers continue to provide relief to victims of hurricanes Charley and Frances, they also prepare to help if Florida suffers the onslaught of a third hurricane.

The Red Cross urges residents to prepare for their own safety as it pledges continued assistance.

“With more than 3,000 relief workers in Florida helping to deliver assistance, we're confident that we will be able to meet the needs of this and upcoming disasters,” said Joe Becker, Vice President of Response, American Red Cross. “It's a monumental effort and we're committed to providing safety to those at risk to Hurricane Ivan, as well as to our own relief workers.”

The Red Cross urges Florida residents to prepare for their own safety and offers these preparedness guidelines:

• Prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan
  Identify evacuation alternatives. Choose several places - a friend's home in another town, a motel or a shelter. Get a good map and be familiar with your community's evacuation routes. Listen to local media broadcasts or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest storm conditions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. If it becomes necessary to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter, people should bring medications, extra clothing, pillows and blankets, and other hygiene and comfort supplies for all family members. Advance preparations should be made for pets. Contact local humane societies or emergency management agencies for the location of pet-friendly shelters.
• Assemble a Family Disaster Supplies Kit
  Emergency supplies should be assembled for all household members, including emergency medications, non-perishable food, a non-electric can opener, bottled water (at least three gallons per person), a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, extra clothes, important documents, cash and credit cards, a first aid kit and special items needed for infants, elderly or disabled family members and pets.
• Prepare for High Winds
  Trees should be made more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs and strategically thinning branches so wind can blow through. Permanent shutters on windows add protection to the outside areas of sliding glass doors. Garage doors and un-reinforced masonry should be strengthened. Anything that could be picked up by wind and become a projectile - including lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants - should be moved indoors or secured.

Additional disaster-related information is available on the Internet at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-866-GET INFO toll free.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of Hurricane Frances and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.