How Can You Be A Force Of Nature?

by Carmen Wright, volunteer contributor

As we have all experienced in the last few weeks, weather patterns in Texas can be unpredictable. Prepare yourself for all the severe weather we see here in North Texas—tornadoes, droughts, flooding, and even snowstorms—by joining the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) campaign to  “Be a Force of Nature” by taking the following steps:

STAY INFORMED:

•    Visit www.weather.gov
This site has it all: an interactive map of the U.S. that provides forecast for the entire country or just your little corner of Texas; active alerts so you know what is going on right now; maps showing air quality and rainfall; maps of weather history; radar of current weather systems and other data.

•    Check out STATE OF THE CLIMATE
I admit I did not know this site existed, but now that I know I’ve turned into a complete weather nerd. It provides helpful summaries, maps, and graphs of weather trends in the U.S. You can read the report for January 2015 and see how we started the year or go back and see national monthly percent area for drought since 1900!

•    Follow weather on Social Media
Let’s be honest; if you can have time to follow tweets for #foodiebandnames (one of my favorites is Nine Inch Kales), then you have time in your life for helpful tweets from the National Weather Service and NOAA.

•    Get the Red Cross Tornado App
Get real-time tornado alerts and warnings on your phone, take a quiz to see how prepared you are, get access to 63 years of tornado history, and learn what to do before, during and after a tornado.

PREPARE YOURSELF:

•    Make a disaster supply kit
At the very least this should include one gallon of water per person per day for three days, flashlight, three-day supply of non-perishable food, whistle, first aid kit, battery powered or hand-cranked radio, a NOAA radio, extra batteries, wrench or pliers, local map, moist toilettes, manual can opener, and cell phone with charger.

Have a Family Emergency Plan
 Being prepared is great, but make sure you have communicated plans to family members on where to go for safety, how you will contact each other, how you will find each other, and what you will do in different situations.  Also consider your bigger family: your community. If your work, school, or place of worship does not have an emergency plan, volunteer to help create one. Finally, don’t forget to include your pets in your plans!

LIVE LONG and BE PREPARED! 

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Severe Weather Looming – Are You Prepared for Spring Threats?

by Sydney Holt, volunteer contributor

Forecasters are predicting the possibility of a significant multi-day severe weather outbreak this weekend, Saturday, April 26 and Sunday, April 27. Follow @RedCrossDFW on Twitter for real-time updates, and encourage your friends and loved ones to prepare a Survival Kit (instructions below) while keeping an eye on the sky!
Hot, cold, hot, cold, Dallas-Fort Worth weather can’t seem to make up its mind this year. As is typical of spring, cold air continues to hang around, significantly increasing the threat of severe weather in the metroplex.

Below are a few tips for helping you get Red Cross Ready as the spring season ramps us! 

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.

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Severe Weather Awareness Week: 5 Tips to Stay Safe During Severe Weather

Photo Courtesy of redorbit.com

by Catherine Carlton, volunteer contributor

Severe weather has threatened nearly every part of the country already this year. The American Red Cross has steps you can take to help stay safe if dangerous storms threaten their neighborhood.

Step one: Refresh your household disaster plans. Jim Cantore, The Weather Channel meteorologist and member of the American Red Cross Celebrity Cabinet, offers tips on what to do now to be ready when emergency strikes.

Step two: Download the free Red Cross tornado app for mobile devices. The tornado app puts everything you need to know to stay safe in a tornado at your fingertips.

Step three: Thunderstorms are most likely to happen in the spring and summer, during the afternoon and evening. However, like tornadoes, they can happen anywhere, at any hour of the day. Watch for storm signs and go inside. If you are outside or driving, there are things you should do to remain safe. Information about what to do before, during and after a thunderstorm is available on this web site.

Step four: Spring can be a time of year for flooding. People should be prepared to evacuate at a moment’s notice and head for higher ground when a flood or flash flood warning is issued. Other safety steps include

Step five: The Red Cross first aid app (DOWNLOAD APPS FOR MOBILE DEVICES) puts expert advice for everyday emergencies at someone’s fingertips. The shelter finder lets someone know where Red Cross shelters are open. The free apps can be downloaded from the iTunes or Google Play stores by searching for American Red Cross.

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Severe Weather Awareness Week: FOX 4’s Jennifer Myers Offers Six Safety Tips

Photo courtesy of greatblogabout.com

by Kay Pinkerton, volunteer contributor

Sunday, March 2 marks the beginning of Severe Weather Awareness Week in Texas.  The purpose of SWAW is to inform and equip people with knowledge when severe weather threatens.

Whether in the form of thunderstorms, tornadoes or flash floods, severe weather can quickly develop.  By preparing now, you and your family can take immediate action when the clouds darken and weather alerts are issued.

Preparation is not only key -- it’s smart.

So how does one prepare for severe weather?  The American Red Cross asked KDFW FOX 4 Meteorologist Jennifer Myers for weather safety tips. 

Myers replied with the following:

•  Have a family plan. If you don't have a shelter, find someone who does and become “shelter buddies."
• Get a weather radio for your home.  You can also keep track of severe weather watches, warnings and updates with free weather apps such as FOX 4’s “WAPP”  [and the Red Cross Tornado App].
• Check weather conditions BEFORE you head out on the roads.  Roadways are among the deadliest places to be when a tornado hits. 
• Large outdoor events (concerts, baseball games, etc.) can be especially dangerous when severe weather strikes. Check the weather before you leave the house. If there is a chance of severe activity, keep your phone charged and check for weather updates.
• Stay away from flooded roadways. Period. You may have driven on the same road for years and the water looks only six inches deep.  Don’t be fooled.  The roadway could be washed out below, or hidden debris could leave you and your vehicle stranded.  Turn around, don't drown. 
• Constant vigilance. I can't stress this enough. Living in the great state of Texas comes with a price. Mother Nature can strike at any time. Check the weather. Check it often.

Everything is bigger in Texas  - especially its storms.  Be smart, stay prepared and keep an eye on the sky. Don't forget to check out RedCross.org for safety information on emergency weather situations.

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From the DFW Food Truck Foodie Blog: Tornado App Warns Food Truck Owners and Customers of Severe Weather

This post is re-posted from our friends at DFW Food Truck Foodie. The DFW food truck community have always been wonderful supporters of the Red Cross and we're glad our new app can make a difference with this unique group. Stay safe out there, foodies & food truckers! 

Red Cross App Warns Food Truck Owners and Customers of Severe Weather

Severe weather can happen within minutes, with little to no warning. When the severe storms that are common in Texas strike, the last place most people want to be is in or near a food truck.  In Spring of 2012, there were several times when trucks were out and storms popped up quickly. In one storm, several trucks sustained significant hail damage. On April 3, when at least a dozen tornadoes hit the Metroplex, I heard several stories of food trucks being out serving lunch and the owners not knowing that tornadoes were in the immediate area. One truck owner was traveling for business and the truck was being manned by employees. The first the owner knew of the danger was when he received a text from a family member asking if the truck was secure. The next few hours were chaotic as the owner tried to contact the employees and instruct them on how to secure the truck while keeping themselves safe since there was not time to get to their commissary.

Recognizing that many food truck owners,  their employees, and often times the customers may not have warning of impending storms, the Red Cross asked me to join with them to share information about their new smart phone app that tracks and warns about impending severe weather in the area. 

The free app, available in both English and Spanish, sends real time information about tornado activity in the area to iPhone, iPad and Android devices.  In addition to a high pitched alert warning, the app transmits an "All Clear" when the warning has expired.

Other features in the app include:

• Location-based NOAA tornado, severe thunderstorm and flood watch and warning alerts;
• Enhanced weather maps;
• One-touch “I’m safe” messaging that allows users to broadcast reassurance to family and friends that they are out of harm’s way;
• Simple steps and checklists people can use to create an emergency plan and share it with household members;
• Preloaded content that gives users instant access to critical action steps, even without mobile connectivity;
• Toolkit with flashlight, strobe light and audible alarm;
• Locations of open Red Cross shelters; and
• Badges users can earn through interactive quizzes and share on social networks.

I have been taking the quizzes and reviewing the checklists over the last few days. The App is full of information, some of which is new and some of which is a good reminder as we go in to the most volatile season of the year.

The Tornado App, along with other apps created by the American Red Cross, can be found 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.

The App monitors based on zip codes in both the US and Canada with the ability to monitor multiple locations simultaneously. I have set both my location and my out of town family's location for monitoring. I expect this App to be very beneficial to those working on food trucks, and their customers, who otherwise may not know how the weather is changing while they are serving; go download it now! 

Stay safe everyone! 

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When Lightning Hits the Same Place Twice: Preparing Your Family for a Second Round of Storm Clouds

By Lilly Watson

Tuesday’s forecast of thunderstorms quickly turned into devastation for many families in our area. Looking at this weekend’s forecast and seeing storm clouds on Sunday’s horizon is a nerve-wracking feeling for all of us, most especially those families still dealing with the destruction of Tuesday’s tornadoes. 

“To be completely honest, the absolute first feeling for many of these families is sheer terror,” Richard said. “There is a real concern about it all happening again. The second reaction is usually, ‘What can we do to prepare?”

Richard’s biggest advice to families asking this question is to remember their family safety plan. If families do not have a safety plan, the time between storms is when one should be put in place. 

“Parents will be very concerned about their children,” Richard explained. “and it is extremely important that we help them feel safe.” 

Richard went on to explain the ways that Red Cross mental health workers prepare families, especially those with children, on how to stay safe and feel secure at the onset of a second series of storms. 

• Make a family safety plan. Involve children at every age level in these preparations, with their tasks and involvement depending on their age. Keep an open dialogue about what is expected and what you are doing to stay safe. 
• Red Cross mental health workers do not recommend that adults tell children that it will not happen again, since there is no way of knowing what will or will not happen. Letting children know that parents are doing everything possible to stay safe is honest and also comforting. 
• Put things in the safety kit that are nostalgic and/or important to children, such as a favorite stuffed animal or photo. These can be just as important to children as medications or financial documents can be for adults.
• Children tend to worry about other people. Try to keep contact with family, friends and neighbors as you prepare for storms and after they hit. This can be difficult, but it thankfully becomes easier through mobile phones, email and Skype. 
• Include family religion and/or spirituality in your conversations if that is an important part of your family’s dynamic. 
• Nothing can shatter a routine faster than a tragic disaster. Routine, however, is a powerful coping skill and important to children. Attempting to maintain any semblance of a routine can be immensely comforting to a child. 
• Many children want to be physically close to their family or adults after a disaster. Being open to this closeness instead of punishing a child for being “clingy” can be a very comforting feeling for a child. 

I asked Richard what last piece of advice he would give to every parent in a disaster situation if he was able to. His response was simple: never be shy about asking for help, especially in a situation such as this. 

“When a child sees a parent asking for help and not being afraid to get assistance, they will learn to be equally open with their parents.”

We cannot control where the weather goes, but the Red Cross does work to prepare families for disasters in all areas – including mental health and well being. To learn more about Red Cross mental health services, click here.

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Storms Roll In: We Roll Out

Just moments after the groundhog saw his shadow, Mother Nature is stirring up severe weather across the south and it could impact North Texas today and tomorrow with high winds, heavy rain and possible tornado touchdowns. It's important that we all do our best to prepare in advance of any severe weather. Here are a few tips that might help. Please pass these on and alert your friends and family to keep an eye to the sky today and tomorrow!

 Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado or straight-line windstorm. The safest place to be is underground, or as low to the ground as possible, and away from all windows. Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and keep this place uncluttered.

 If you live in a mobile home, 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.


 Check the supplies in your disaster kit to ensure that you have working flashlights with plenty of batteries. Candles are not recommended for emergency lighting.


Stay safe everyone!

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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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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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Prepare for Another Round of Severe Weather Across North Texas

Photo courtesy of NWS/NOAA

Over the last week, it seems every time you turn around there is yet another severe weather alert being issued. Today is no different as Dallas County has been placed under a Tornado Watch until 6:00 p.m. along with other areas in the Metroplex. While you should already have a plan in place for these severe weather dangers that continue to occur, if you don’t have a tornado plan yet the time to procrastinate is over. Take a few moments today to make sure you are ready to move to your safe place if the time comes. Here are some tips to prepare and some items you may need if severe weather threatens your neighborhood.

Know the Difference

Tornado Watch: Tornadoes are 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 a tornado is approaching. Acting early helps to save lives!

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

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.
  
  
• 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.

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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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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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Red Cross Shelters Opening

As heavy rain continues to fall across North Texas, several communities are beginning to experience some flooding. The Red Cross is opening shelters at the following locations:

Bowles Life Center
2750 Graham Street
Grand Prairie, TX
Opens at 2:30 p.m.

Rush Creek Christian Church
2401 SW Green Oaks Blvd.
Arlington, TX

If you are in need of a place to go, please visit the shelter nearest you.

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Severe Weather Forecasted for North Texas

It’s Spring Storm Season and chances for severe thunderstorms containing high winds, damaging hail and isolated tornadoes could bear down on North Texas by Friday. The time to prepare is now. We offer the following tips to keep families safe:

-Pick a safe place in your home where family members could gather during a tornado or straight-line windstorm. The safest place to be is underground, or as low to the ground as possible, and away from all windows. Make sure there are no windows or glass doors in your safe place and keep this place uncluttered.

-Check with your employer to determine where to seek shelter during the workday. Make sure your employer has a battery operated radio or a weather radio and essential supplies in the company safe room(s).

-If you live in a mobile home, 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 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. Do NOT drive to your child’s school or day care center during a severe storm outbreak.

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.

-BE RED CROSS READY. Follow 3 Action Steps for Preparedness—Get a Kit, Make a Plan, Be Informed. A free online education module is available to guide users through the three preparedness steps. The ten minute presentation, available in English and Spanish, includes a downloadable disaster supply kit checklist and emergency contact card.

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Buckle your seat belts, this may be a rough ride... at least I see a light at the end of the tunnel

I was engaging in my daily ritual of preparedness reading when I stumbled upon this article. It mentions that "a wetter-than-usual winter and a jet stream ripping over the part of the country known as tornado alley could lead to an active spring -- perhaps starting with the strong twister that nicked a small part of western Oklahoma town Monday night."

Wait... it's already tornado season?

Oh me! Oh my! Whatever shall we do?!

For starters, we should run out and buy a weather alert radio.

In yet another glorious partnership, CBS 11 and TXA 21 have partnered with Midland Radio Corporation to offer NOAA weather radios for sale at a reduced price at all 168 Dallas/Fort Worth area Walgreens stores. A portion of the purchase price from each radio sold through June 30 will benefit the local chapters of the American Red Cross.

"We're committed to keeping North Texans safe when severe weather strikes," said CBS 11's chief meteorologist, Larry Mowry. "Timely, accurate information can save lives. Weather radios are especially important when people are asleep, as overnight storms can do and spawn tornados."

I know - fabulous idea! Why didn't I think of it first?

So run out - preferable not in the torrential downpour some of us experienced today - and get your very own weather alert radio, master of preparedness.

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It's raining! It's pouring! But, somehow no one manages to get sleep here.

We are still celebrating National Preparedness Month and as the old saying goes, everything is bigger in Texas. That includes our thunderstorms. Last weekend, north Texas took a beating. Between constant flash flood warnings and record rain fall, the American Red Cross – Dallas Area Chapter was busy responding to calls and going to where help was needed. Of course, as always we offer some suggestions on how to stay out of the rain and safe during severe weather.

Prepare for a tornado
· Find a place where your family can gather on the lowest floor and away from windows in your home.

Get a disaster supplies kit that includes:
· A first aid kit
· Canned food and a can opener
· Three gallons of water per person
· Protective clothing
· Bedding or sleeping bags
· A battery-powered radio and flashlight; extra batteries
· Special items for infants or the elderly
· Written instructions on how to turn off electricity, water and gas in case instructed by authorities

Watch for the warnings
· Listen to your local radio station to stay abreast to the latest weather information
· Check the chapter’s Facebook and Twitter updates for the latest information pertaining to weather and shelters.

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Is It Time To Wrap Up?

Well, we're not closing shop just yet but we are starting to scale things back. The shelter at Bachman Recreation Center has closed.

One shelter remains open to assist storm victims: Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center at 3114 Clymer in Dallas. Last night, seven people spent the night there. We don't expect a population tonight, but we will be ready if we are needed!

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Long Day Ahead...

This afternoon, a small administrative group of Red Cross volunteers and employees gathered in the Disaster Command Center to assess the impact of recent storms so far on the community. While the situation is constantly evolving and the extent of damage is still unknown, the American Red Cross is preparing for a long day.

Teams are finally able to head out and assess damage. We anxiously await their reports.

In addition, the City of Dallas has asked that a second shelter be opened in anticipation of families being forced from their homes by flooding. The second shelter will be at the Bachman Recreation Center, 2750 Bachman Drive, Dallas, TX 75220. This shelter will be open at 4:30p.m.

The shelter at Zaragoza has opened and so far, no victims have arrived.

We will keep you posted!

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Red Cross Opens Shelter For Flooding Victims

The City of Dallas has requested that the Red Cross open a shelter/evacuation site for individuals affected by flooding. The shelter will be at the Jaycee Zaragoza Recreation Center, 3114 Clymer, Dallas, TX 75212.

A team of volunteers has gathered the necessary supplies and is heading to the location. We should be on the ground and operating by 2:00p.m.

Before heading out to help prepare the shelter, Will Williams, volunteer, gets a quick update from Anita Foster, public information officer.

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Red Cross Waits Out Storms

This morning Red Cross workers prepared to head out into the community to conduct assessments of the damage from last night's storms. As the vehicles were loaded up and ready to head out, the storms forced them back inside. The teams returned to the Dallas Area Chapter to wait out the storms.

For the past few hours, the Red Cross has been in its command center monitoring the weather and communicating with emergency management officers.

We stand ready to respond as soon as it is safe to head out.

People who need assistance can call the American Red Cross-Dallas Area Chapter at 214-678-4800.

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