Photos: Hattiesburg, MS 9.10.08

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Video and Photos: New Orleans Prepares 8.30.08

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Photo: Hattiesburg, MS 8.29.08

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Audio: Houston Area Preparations

Currently the Greater Houston Area Red Cross is working with other Red Cross Chapters within the State of Texas to identify which Red Cross shelter locations will be activated and what volunteers are available to staff shelters and other disaster relief functions in our area.

AmericanRedCrossHouston‘s Mobile post sent by AmericanRedCross using Utterz. Replies. mp3

Release: Red Cross Prepares for Gustav, Urges Others to Do the Same 08/29/2008

Red Cross Prepares for Gustav, Urges Others to Do the Same

[New Orleans] August 29, 2008 – The American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter has put its volunteers on standby and is mobilizing resources ahead of Gustav’s landfall and is asking that residents make similar preparations in advance of the storm. The Red Cross urges residents to take this storm seriously and prepare now, before evacuations take place.

Throughout the weekend, the American Red Cross is moving nearly 200 mobile feeding trucks into Louisiana, Texas, Mississippi and Alabama. Adding to supplies already pre-positioned along the U.S. Gulf Coast, the Red Cross is moving in more than 100,000 cots, 200,000 blankets and tens of thousand of hygiene kits and ready-to-eat meals. These supplies are being loaded onto 99 shelter support trailers and 35 local vehicles that are being deployed strategically throughout the region to enhance local resources.

Staff from Red Cross chapters throughout the country are arriving today to assist local volunteers in the preparations and imminent response. Southeast Louisiana Chapter employees and volunteers are preparing their homes and families for potential evacuations to ensure that while they are helping the community cope with the storm, that their loved ones are safe.

Follow their example, be Red Cross ready and prepare a Personal Evacuation Plan
The Red Cross distributed more than 140,000 additional Louisiana Citizen Awareness & Disaster Evacuation Guides throughout the community in the last 24 hours to help make preparing easier.

• Identify ahead of time where you could go if you are told to evacuate. Choose several places – a friend’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter. Don’t forget to have a plan for your pets.

• Keep handy the telephone numbers of these places as well as a copy of the Louisiana Citizen Awareness & Disaster Evacuation Guide for your region. You may need to take alternative or unfamiliar routes if major roads are closed or clogged.

• Listen to local radio or TV stations for status updates. If advised to evacuate, follow the instructions given by local authorities about when and where to travel.

• If asked to evacuate and you only have time for one phone call, contact a loved one and ask them to register you on the Safe & Well Web site (www.redcross.org). There the rest of your loved ones can gain peace of mind that you are safe, know where you have evacuated and ensure your family stays connected.

• Take these items with you when evacuating:
  • Prescription medications and medical supplies
  • Bedding and clothing, including sleeping bags and pillows
  • Bottled water, battery-operated radio and extra batteries, first aid kit, flashlight
  • Car keys and maps
  • Documents, including driver’s license, passport, proof of residence, insurance policies, wills, deeds, birth and marriage certificates, tax records, etc.

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The American Red Cross Southeast Louisiana Chapter has spokespersons available for English and Spanish media interviews. Please call the Public Affairs line (504) 915-9096 to inquire about opportunities to discuss hurricane preparedness, the American Red Cross readiness activities, coping with disasters and disaster anniversaries and other topics.

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La Cruz Roja se prepara para Gustav, insiste a los demás a hacer lo mismo.

[Nueva Orleans] 29 de Agosto de 2008 – La Cruz Roja Americana Capítulo Sureste de Louisiana ha puesto a sus voluntarios de reserva y está movilizando recursos por delante de Gustav y pide que los residentes hacen preparaciones similares antes de la tormenta. La Cruz Roja insiste a los residentes a tomar esta tormenta en serio y preparar ahora, antes de empezar las evacuaciones.

Durante el fin de semana, la Cruz Roja Americana se está moviendo cerca de 200 camiones móviles de alimentación en Luisiana, Texas, Mississippi y Alabama. Agregando a los suministros ya pre-posicionados a lo largo de los EE.UU. Costa del Golfo, la Cruz Roja se está moviendo más de 100,000 camas temporal, 200,000 ropa de cama y 10,000 artículos de higiene y comida listo para comer. Los suministros se están colocado en 99 remolques y 35 vehículos locales que se están desplegados estratégicamente en toda la región para mejorar los recursos locales.

Personal de la Cruz Roja capítulos en todo el país están llegando hoy para ayudar a los voluntarios locales en los preparativos y respuesta inminente. Capítulo Sureste de Louisiana empleados y voluntarios están preparando sus hogares y familias para posibles evacuaciones para asegurar que mientras ellos están ayudando a la comunidad hacer frente a la tormenta, que sus seres queridos están en seguridad .

Sige el ejemplo, Ser Cruz Roja listos y prepara un plan de evacuación personal.

La Cruz Roja distribuyó más de 140,000 Desastres Guías de evacuación en toda la comunidad en las últimas 24 horas para ayudar a hacer más fácil la preparación.

• Identificar antes de tiempo en donde usted podría ir si le dicen que evacue. Elija varios lugares – un amigo de la casa en otra ciudad, un motel o un refugio. No se olvide de tener un plan para sus animales.
• Mantenga a mano los números de teléfono de estos lugares, así como una copia de la Luisiana de sensibilización ciudadana y de evacuación de Desastres Guía para su región. Es posible que tenga que tomar alternativas o desconocidas si las rutas de las carreteras principales están cerradas o está obstruido.
• Escuche la radio local o las estaciones de televisión. Si se le pide a evacuar, siga las instrucciones dadas por las autoridades locales acerca de cuándo y dónde viajar.
• Si se pregunta a evacuar y sólo tienes tiempo para una llamada de teléfono, póngase en contacto con un ser querido y pidele que te registre en el Seguro y Bien sitio web (www.redcross.org). Sus seres queridos pueden tener la tranquilidad de saber que usted está seguro, sabrán dónde han evacuado y asegurarse de que su familia permanece conectado.
• Tome estos temas con usted cuando la evacuación:
  • Prescripción de medicamentos y suministros médicos;
  • Ropa de cama y prendas de vestir, incluyendo bolsas de dormir y almohadas;
  • Agua embotellada, radio que funciona con batería y luz de flash;
  • llaves de coches y mapas, y documentos, incluida la licencia de conducir, pasaporte, prueba de residencia, pólizas de seguros, testamentos, escrituras, partidas de nacimiento y certificados de matrimonio, registros de impuestos, etc.

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La Cruz Roja Americana Capítulo Sureste de Louisiana tiene personas disponibles para Inglés y Español para los medios de comunicación. Por favor llame a la línea de Asuntos Públicos (504) 915-9096 para solicitar información sobre oportunidades para discutir la preparación para huracanes, la Cruz Roja Americana está dispuesta actividades, hacer frente a desastres y aniversarios y otros temas. Esta línea será la mejor forma de llegar a Asuntos Públicos personal antes, durante y después de la tormen

Audio Report: Baton Rouge is Preparing for Gustav

Audio Courtesy Kendall Hebert, Baton Rouge Chapter of the American Red Cross

Mobile post sent by AmericanRedCross using Utterz.  Replies.  mp3

Checklist: A Hurricane Is Coming…

… Be Red Cross Ready. This checklist can help you prepare:

(Click the image to enlarge)

This PDF is also available in Spanish and French.

Tips for Families to Follow During a Hurricane Watch or Warning

During a hurricane WATCH:

• Listen for weather updates and hurricane progress reports via crank or battery-operated radio or television. Be prepared to evacuate if local officials advise it.
• Get a crank or battery-operated radio, flashlight and extra batteries.
• Ensure your disaster supplies kit has the items you need, including a three-day supply of food and water (one gallon per person per day), first aid kit, medications, copies of important documents, cash and clothing.
• Fill vehicles with fuel.
• Bring in lawn furniture, bicycles, toys, hanging plants, trash cans, garden tools and anything else that can be picked up by the wind.
• Secure your home by closing all windows and doors and then hurricane shutters. If you don’t have shutters, board up windows and doors with plywood.
• Remove outside antennas if possible and if it can be done safely.
• Turn refrigerators and freezers to coldest setting. Open only when absolutely necessary and close quickly. This will allow perishable food to last longer during a power outage.
• Store valuables and personal papers in a waterproof container on the highest level of your home. Hurricanes can cause water damage inside homes.
• If you have a manufactured or mobile home, check tie-downs. They may be less affected by high winds if they are tied down according to the manufacturer’s instructions.

During a hurricane WARNING:

• Keep the radio or television on and listen for updates as the hurricane can change direction, speed and intensity quickly.
• If you are advised to leave your home, do so immediately and take your pets with you.
• If you are advised to remain at home, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass doors. Stay in an interior room without windows and with as many walls between you and the outside winds as possible.
• Secure external doors and close all interior doors. Closed doors will help prevent damaging winds from entering rooms.
• Fill bathtubs and sinks with water to use later to flush toilets and wash up.
• If power is lost, turn off appliances to reduce power surge when electricity is restored. Do NOT use open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.

 

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For More information on how to prepare for Gustav, please reference the following resources:

• Hurricane Preparedness Information - Find answers to frequently asked hurricane-related questions.
• Preparedness Kits - Learn what you need in your disaster preparedness kit.
• Be Red Cross Ready - Get a kit. Make a plan. Be informed.