Still time to prepare as Tropical Storm Alberto heads toward Florida
WASHINGTON, June 12 /PRNewswire/ -- As Tropical Storm Alberto heads
toward Florida, the American Red Cross urges residents in the predicted
path to stay tuned to weather forecasts and begin completing preparedness
measures now. The first named storm of the 2006 Atlantic hurricane season
unexpectedly gained strength, causing authorities to issue evacuations
along the Gulf Coast.
Working with local emergency management officials, the Red Cross has
shelters opened in more than 15 counties in Florida for those who may have
to evacuate low lying areas. Emergency response vehicles are moving toward
the area, with communication vehicles on standby to respond.
"It is imperative for coastal residents to immediately take the
necessary actions that will help keep them and their loved ones safe," said
Heidi Taylor, national preparedness expert for the American Red Cross.
ACTIONS FOR COASTAL RESIDENTS TO TAKE NOW:
* Make a plan and prepare to evacuate. Plan your evacuation route by
using maps and identify alternative routes. Since the telephone system
may go down, develop a family communication plan by designating one
out-of-town contact that you can call. Ask that contact person to let
your other loved ones know you are okay. If you have a vehicle, keep at
least a half tank of fuel in it at all times in case you need to
evacuate.
* Take your disaster supplies kit when evacuating. Include bottled water,
non-perishable food, flashlights, battery-operated radio with extra
batteries, prescription medications, bedding, first aid kit, and maps
in your kit. Be sure to take official documents such as your driver's
license, Social Security card, insurance policies, wills,
deeds and birth and marriage certificates.
* Prepare your home for high winds. Bring lawn furniture, trash cans,
hanging plants, or anything else that can be picked up by the wind
inside. Secure your home by closing the windows and doors and protect
them by using hurricane shutters or installing pre-cut plywood.
* Bring your pets with you; do not leave them at home. Also, understand
that only service animals are permitted in shelters. Plan how you will
care for your pets and bring extra food, water and supplies for them.
* Monitor the media reports. Watch TV, listen to AM/FM or NOAA weather
radio and check the Internet often for official news, and evacuate when
advised to do so.
* Call or e-mail your out-of-town contact to let them know where you are
going and when you expect to get there. Remember to call your contact
when you have arrived at your destination. Leave a note telling others
when you left and where you are going. Check with neighbors who may
need a ride or other assistance.
* Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flooded road, turn
around and go another way. If your car stalls and you are caught on a
road with flood water rising rapidly around you, get out of the car and
climb to higher ground.
IF YOU ARE NOT ADVISED TO EVACUATE:
* Stay indoors, away from windows. Be aware that the calm "eye" is
deceptive; the storm is not over. The worst part of the storm will
happen once the eye passes over and the winds blow from the opposite
direction. Trees, shrubs, buildings and other objects damaged by the
first winds can be broken or destroyed by the second winds.
* If your electricity goes out, use flashlights in the dark and never use
candles. Turn off electrical equipment you were using when the power
went out. Avoid opening the refrigerator and freezer.
* Do not run a generator inside a home or garage. If you use a generator,
connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the
generator. Do not connect a generator to a home's electrical system
unless you have a power transfer switch installed.
In affected areas, monitor local media for information and locations of
American Red Cross evacuation shelters.
For more information, including a downloadable checklist of hurricane
safety tips, visit http://www.redcross.org.
The American Red Cross has helped people mobilize to help their
neighbors for 125 years. Last year, victims of a record 72,883 disasters,
most of them fires, turned to the nearly 1 million volunteers and 35,000
employees of the Red Cross for help and hope. Through more than 800 locally
supported chapters, more than 15 million people each year gain the skills
they need to prepare for and respond to emergencies in their homes,
communities and world. Almost 4 million people give blood -- the gift of
life -- through the Red Cross, making it the largest supplier of blood and
blood products in the United States. The Red Cross helps thousands of U.S.
service members separated from their families by military duty stay
connected. As part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Movement, a global network of more than 180 national societies, the Red
Cross helps restore hope and dignity to the world's most vulnerable people.
An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in
humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government
agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.
SOURCE American Red Cross
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Related links:
http://www.redcross.org
CONTACT:
Public Affairs Desk, +1-202-303-5551 for
American Red Cross
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