Let them know you are Safe and Well

Safe and Well allows people in the affected areas to list themselves as “safe and well” online whether they are in a shelter, staying with friends, or if they are moving to another location. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.

You can either register yourself or search for a registered family member on Safe and Well by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Safe and Well can also be accessed from a smart phone by going to www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on either “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search Registrants”.

Communication is key before, during and after a disaster. Make certain you have a plahttp://www.blogger.com/img/blank.gifn with your family members that may be dispersed throughout the country before a disaster hits. Remember that communications may be overloaded or down completely after a disaster. Utilizing resources like Safe and Well, social media, and email can help you get a message to your loved ones quickly, but it is only effective if they know where to check for your updates in case of a disaster.

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Let them know you are Safe and Well

With the deadly tornado that struck Joplin, Missouri on Sunday afternoon, friends and family are desperately trying to make sure their loved ones are accounted for. With many disasters happening across the country, the Red Cross Safe and Well website is one way for people to check on loved ones in areas where disaster has hit.

Safe and Well allows people in the affected areas to list themselves as “safe and well” online whether they are in a shelter, staying with friends, or if they are moving to another location. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address. Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.

You can either register yourself or search for a registered family member on Safe and Well by visiting www.redcross.org or calling 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Safe and Well can also be accessed from a smart phone by going to www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on either “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search Registrants”.

Communication is key before, during and after a disaster. Make certain you have a plan with your family members that may be dispersed throughout the country before a disaster hits. Remember that communications may be overloaded or down completely after a disaster. Utilizing resources like Safe and Well, social media, and email can help you get a message to your loved ones quickly, but it is only effective if they know where to check for your updates in case of a disaster.

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Disaster Update: Tornadoes in the Midwest

People in Joplin, MO seeking immediate transportation to shelter can find information on the Joplin city web site.

The Red Cross is providing food, shelter and emotional support for the people whose lives have been disrupted by these tornadoes that devastated neighborhoods in Missouri, Minnesota, and other parts of the Midwest.

• Red Cross workers opened shelters in the damaged areas within hours and provided people with food and water and a safe place to stay.
• Red Cross emergency response vehicles in Missouri responded immediately and more vehicles are on the way to help distribute food, water and relief supplies in the affected neighborhoods.
• Red Cross workers are being deployed and relief materials, including personal hygiene items like toothbrushes and shampoo, tarps, coolers, rakes and other clean-up supplies, are now being sent to Joplin, Missouri.
• Trained health services and mental health workers are enroute to areas affected by the tornadoes to help people cope in the aftermath of these tragic storms.

People should register on the Red Cross Safe and Well website to let loved ones know they are safe. They can also call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767). People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.

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Frequently Asked Questions: Spring Storms and Tornadoes

How can I donate food and/or clothing, toys, etc. to victims of the disaster?
On larger relief operations we serve thousands of meals to victims of disaster and first responders every day. In order to ensure we meet health codes and are as efficient as possible, we are not able to accept donations of food from individuals. If you would like to donate food items, we recommend contacting your local food bank for information. If you’re interested in starting a food drive, it’s best to contact the food bank before you start collecting, so that you’re collecting exactly what is needed so that your donation can make the biggest impact in your community.

Donations like clothing and shoes require a lot of resources to sort, clean and distribute. Since our focus is on meeting the immediate needs of disaster victims, we work with agencies in the community, such as the Salvation Army and Goodwill Industries who are set up to process these types of donations. You can also call 211 for information on where you can take material items you have collected.

Why doesn’t the Red Cross accept donations of clothing and other small items?
Our primary focus after a disaster is getting help to large numbers of people in a short amount of time. We try to focus our workers on that goal and often don’t have the resources that it takes to sort, process, store and transport small donations.

In addition, we want to be consistent in the help we give to disaster victims and cash donations allow us to purchase large quantities of goods that help us do that. Financial donations also help us meet any specific needs a disaster client might have.

Will the Red Cross replace groceries or food lost because of a power outage?
Red Cross feeding services at shelters and through mobile feeding efforts are meant to ensure that no one goes hungry after a disaster. Power outages are often widespread and sometimes affect hundreds of thousands of people. It would be nearly impossible—both logistically and financially—for the Red Cross to replace groceries for that many people.

How can the American people help during this difficult time?
People can help by making a donation to help the thousands of people affected by this disaster. They can donate by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

Does my donation really help? What will it be used for?
The donations we receive for Red Cross Disaster Relief are put to good use. 91 cents of every dollar is used to support disaster victims. Any donation, large or small, will help. For example, $3 can provide a comfort kit containing personal hygiene items for someone in a disaster. $6 can cover the cost of a blanket, $10 the cost of a hot meal. A $50 donation can cover the cost of food and shelter for a day, including three meals, blankets, comfort kits and the Red Cross expense of mobilizing them to the disaster area. For $150, someone’s donation can cover the cost of providing food and shelter to a family of four for a day they spend in a shelter.

What is the Red Cross doing to help people affected by these deadly Spring storms?
Red Cross workers are deploying from all over the country, and we are helping people today – and we will be helping them in the weeks ahead as they try to get back on their feet.

Our first priority is to provide food and shelter to the thousands of people whose lives were turned upside down by these storms. We are focused on providing safe shelter, feeding victims and emergency workers, providing mental health and emotional support services, providing basic first aid and health services, and distributing clean-up supplies and comfort items.

This is a severe and widespread disaster affecting a number of states, and many people are depending on the Red Cross and our government partners for assistance. Some areas are taking time to get to because of the destruction and impassible roads.

How does the Red Cross pay for the services it provides?
We rely on the donations of the American people to support our work. Financial contributions to American Red Cross Disaster Relief allow us to serve victims of more than 70,000 disasters a year. Every day, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 200 disasters ranging from house fires to tornadoes and massive hurricanes – each one devastating to the people involved.

I have friends and family in the affected area. Is there any way to find out if they are okay?
The Red Cross Safe and Well secure Web site is a way to find out how loved ones are in a disaster. The people in the affected area can let their loved ones know they are safe by registering as “safe and well” with a telephone number or address. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search the site for messages from their loved ones.

• To register, people should visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.
• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well Web site.
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.
• From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

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Red Cross Responds in 11 States to Spring Storms’ Aftermath

From the Deep South to the Northeast, the American Red Cross is at work in 11 states to help people devastated by the recent deadly tornadoes and floods.

Charley Shimanski, senior vice president of Red Cross Disaster Services, is in Tuscaloosa, Ala., where he witnessed the damage and explained the Red Cross response.

“Our hearts go out to those who’ve suffered from this tragic event and to those who’ve lost loved ones,” said Shimanski. “You can see the absolutely heart-wrenching damage that’s occurred here. The Red Cross has some key top priorities to meet the essential needs of the victims.”

“Our primary goal is to take care of those affected. First, we’re sheltering those whose homes have been destroyed by all this damage,“ Shimanski continued. “We’re also feeding those who have been displaced—and there are countless displaced because of the extensive damage. And we’re providing emotional support—a major concern because scores of lives have been lost.”



Ensuring people have a safe place to stay is a major priority. Red Cross shelters are currently open in Alabama, Georgia, New York, Tennessee, Missouri, Illinois, Mississippi, Indiana, Kentucky, North Carolina and Virginia.

More than 1,500 people spent the night in a Red Cross shelter Thursday night. In hard-hit Alabama, 12 Red Cross shelters are open across the state. Red Cross disaster workers, relief supplies, blood products and equipment have been sent into Alabama, along with more than 50 emergency response vehicles and 25,000 ready-to-eat meals. Red Cross nurses and mental health workers have also been deployed to help people cope with the aftermath of this disaster.

The Red Cross is working with its partners around the clock to help people in every affected state, and will continue to focus on making sure people have a safe place to stay, food to eat, emotional support, basic health services and relief supplies. The Red Cross will continue to be there in the coming weeks as they help residents get back on their feet.

“The devastation to this area is tragic,” Shimanski commented. “I’m humbled to see that Red Cross staff who have damage to their own homes and lives are here volunteering in shelters, helping their neighbors in this great time of need.”

For those who are affected by a disaster in the U.S., registering on the Red Cross Safe and Well website is a way for those in the disaster area to let loved ones know they are safe. Friends and family outside the disaster area can also visit the Safe and Well site to search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.

There are several ways to register or look for messages from those affected by a disaster:

• From a computer, visit www.redcross.org and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help.”
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell.
• Call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to register.

Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.

The Red Cross is able to respond quickly when emergencies happen with the help of corporations who are members of the organization’s Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP). ADGP members pledge donations on an ongoing basis to allow the Red Cross to pre-position supplies and be ready to take immediate action when disasters occur.

ADGP members include 3M, Altria, Aon, Cisco Foundation, ConAgra Foods, Costco Wholesale Corporation, Darden Restaurants, Inc., Dr Pepper Snapple Group, FedEx Corporation, GE Foundation, The Home Depot Foundation, John Deere Foundation, Kimberly-Clark Corporation, Kraft Foods, Lowe's Companies, Inc., Merck, Morgan Stanley, Nationwide Insurance Foundation, Northrop Grumman, Ryder Charitable Foundation, Southwest Airlines, State Farm, State Street Foundation, Target, The TJX Companies, Inc., UnitedHealthcare, UPS and Walmart.

The Red Cross depends on financial donations to help in times of disaster, both here in the United States and around the world. Those who want to help can make a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. To make a donation, visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

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An Easy Way To Bring Your Loved Ones Peace Of Mind

After a disaster, letting your family and friends know that you are safe and well can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. The Red Cross Safe and Well secure website is an easy way to let your loved ones know you are safe. To register, visit www.redcross.org and click on the “List Yourself or Search Registrants” link under “How to Get Help”.

• People in the affected areas can list themselves as “safe and well” on the site. Friends and family outside the disaster area can then search for messages from their loved ones by using a pre-disaster phone number or complete address.
  
  
• Disaster victims can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well website.
  
  
• From a smart phone, visit www.redcross.org/safeandwell and click on the “List Yourself as Safe and Well” or “Search for friends and family” link.From any phone call 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) and one of our operators can help you register.

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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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Tragedy Strikes. The Red Cross Responds.

As the events unfolded yesterday at Fort Hood, the largest military installation in the world, we were all reminded that life can indeed change in an instant. And when it does, we must all do our part to help those who are suffering.

At 2:40p.m., we got the first notification that a gunman had opened fire on the base. Like many of you, we were trying to determine exactly what had happened, how many people were involved and how we could help the U.S. Military as they dealt with this unspeakable tragedy. While we were busy setting up an operation, our thoughts were also with our American Red Cross workers who are stationed at Fort Hood.

Few people know that the American Red Cross and the United States Military have a long and rich history. In fact, serving military families was the initial reason the worldwide Red Cross Movement was created. The American Red Cross has upheld that tradition for more than 125 years.

Every day, the Dallas Area Chapter supports the military through a variety of programs. We work at the Military Entrance Processing Station in downtown Dallas. We conduct briefings to deploying service members and their families about how to access the Red Cross in case of a family emergency, and we provide an around-the-clock emergency communications system so that loved ones here can get word to those deployed when a crisis happens at home. Last year alone, we touched more than 16,000 military members from our local Red Cross chapter.

Yesterday was a painstaking day for all of us. We have a heart for the men and women who protect our country because we work side-by-side with them everyday. We knew we could help.

Almost immediately, the Red Cross shipped 63 units of blood and blood products to the trauma centers in the Fort Hood area. Another 150 units arrived on a Southwest Airlines flight last night, some going to Killeen and others staying here to keep our local hospitals operational.

An extended blood drive was established at our American Red Cross Blood Donor Center at 1 Medical Parkway in Farmers Branch. Donors came out until 11:00p.m. to roll up their sleeves. Today, we will continue collecting blood at that location until 8:00p.m. We expect a wonderful turn-out from people who want and need to help. For information on area blood drives, you can visit www.givelife.org or call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE to make an appointment.

More than 200 concerned people have utilized our Safe and Well service. Family and friends around the country were able to go to Safe and Well and search for their loved ones at Fort Hood, or to register someone as safe. This is an invaluable service that brings tremendous peace of mind after any emergency. If you ever need this service, go to www.redcross.org and click on the Safe and Well link.

We fielded many calls from people like you who wanted to know the best way to help the people of Killeen. For that, we are always grateful. It reminds us that we have an important job to do at the American Red Cross and we can’t do it without you.

Late yesterday, we got word that all of our Red Cross workers stationed at Fort Hood were safe and accounted for. It was an enormous sigh of relief for the Red Cross family, but we know that at least 13 other families won’t have the same happy ending. So, as a Red Cross chapter, as a community, as a nation, we will press on in doing all that we can to alleviate the suffering of our Texas neighbors and our friends in the United States Armed Services.

Thank you for your care, your concern and your desire to turn your compassion into action. As we deal with these unspeakable tragedies, we are comforted to have you at our side.

Sincerely,

Cheryl Sutterfield-Jones
Chief Executive Officer
American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter

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