Are You Prepared for a Hurricane?

Whether you just moved near the coast or you’ve lived there all your life, the fact remains the same: June 1st marked the beginning of the Atlantic hurricane season, and everyone must prepare.

The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) predicts an active to extremely active season. NOAA estimates that 14-23 named storms, 8-14 hurricanes and 3-7 major hurricanes will occur during the 2010 Atlantic hurricane season, officially beginning June 1 and ending November 30.

More than 35 million Americans live in regions most threatened by Atlantic hurricanes. Instead of waiting for the first storm to make its appearance, the American Red Cross urges families to prepare now.

Steps you can take to be prepared include:
- Build a disaster supply kit or check the kit you prepared last year. Include a three-day supply of water and ready-to-eat non-perishable foods. Don’t forget a manual can opener, battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries. Your kit should also have a first aid kit, prescription and non-prescription medications, and copies of important documents. You can also shop the Red Cross store for emergency preparedness kits and supplies.
- Prepare a personal disaster and evacuation plan. Identify two meeting places—one near your home, and one outside your area in case you can’t return home. Make plans for your pets. Select an out-of-area emergency contact person.
- Be informed. Know what a hurricane WATCH means. If a hurricane WATCH is issued:
- Listen to weather updates from your battery-powered or hand-cranked radio.
- Bring in outdoor objects such as lawn furniture, hanging plants, bicycles, toys and garden tools. Anchor objects that cannot be brought inside.
- Close all windows and doors.
- Cover windows with storm shutters or pre-cut plywood.
- If time permits, and you live in an identified surge zone, elevate furniture or move it to a higher floor to protect it from flooding.
- Fill your vehicle’s gas tank.
- Check your disaster supply kit to make sure items have not expired.

If a hurricane WARNING is issued:
- Listen to the advice of local officials, and leave if they tell you to do so.
- Secure your home by unplugging appliances and turning off electricity and the main water valve. If you are not advised to evacuate, stay inside, away from windows, skylights and glass doors.
- Do NOT use open flames, such as candles and kerosene lamps, as a source of light.
If power is lost, turn off appliances to reduce damage from a power surge when electricity is restored.

Get more information on how to prepare for the 2010 hurricane season.

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies nearly half of the nation's blood; teaches lifesaving skills; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at http://blog.redcross.org.

March is Red Cross Month

With March proclaimed as Red Cross Month, the American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter plans to recognize and thank supporters and volunteers all month long whose efforts enable the Red Cross to respond to disasters down the street, across the country and around the world.

“The American Red Cross works tirelessly to be there with help and hope when people need it most–and we are grateful for the public support that enables us to continue our work – here at home and abroad,” said Patricia Thomson, Chisholm Trail Chapter Chief Executive Officer. “Our community and our nation depend on the American Red Cross in times of need, and the Red Cross depends on the support of people in America to achieve its mission.”

“During Red Cross Month, we want to recognize the valuable supporters whose generosity makes the work of the American Red Cross possible,” Thomson added. “In addition, Red Cross Month is a great time for people to get involved with the American Red Cross, such as donating blood; signing up for a CPR, first aid or another lifesaving skills course; giving a financial gift that can really save the day when the next disaster strikes, or getting involved as a volunteer.”

The American Red Cross provides shelter, food, comfort and hope to survivors of nearly 70,000 disasters each year; helps prepare communities for emergencies; is the largest single provider of the nation’s blood; teaches lifesaving skills to more than 5 million people a year; supports military members and their families, and provides international humanitarian aid.

The American Red Cross touches the lives of millions of people every year through its network of 34,000 employees and more than 600,000 volunteers in more than 2,000 locations across the United States and more than 30 countries around the world.

“The American Red Cross has responded following the Haiti earthquake in January, working to turn despair into hope,” Thomson said. “The Red Cross is there in Haiti now – and we are also here each day across the country for families who need us.”

Although major disasters such as earthquakes, hurricanes and wildfires capture national media headlines, the day-to-day work of the American Red Cross often takes place in local communities. In the past year, the Chisholm Trail Chapter responded to 510 local emergencies, assisted 1,200 military families, trained 13,500 people in lifesaving skills and provided transportation services to 4,612 individuals.

President Franklin D. Roosevelt issued the first Red Cross Month proclamation in 1943, recognizing the American Red Cross as a true reflection of the humanitarian and volunteer spirit and calling on Americans to “rededicate themselves to the splendid aims and activities of the Red Cross.” Every president since that time has recognized the work of the American Red Cross with a Red Cross Month.

American Red Cross Delivers Critical Supplies to Haiti

In an operation that has involved more emergency response teams than any other single-country disaster in global Red Cross history, the American Red Cross has so far spent or committed more than $67 million to meet the most urgent needs of earthquake survivors in Haiti.

The American Red Cross is currently focusing on three areas through its emergency responders and partners:

- Sending food to those in need, including 3 million pre-packaged meals and funding for World Food Program efforts that will enable them to feed up to 1 million people for a month.
- Providing clean drinking water, including 3.5 million liters distributed to date in 68 settlements. Each day, the Red Cross is distributing enough water for 100,000 people.
- Distributing shelter items, such as blankets, tarps, sleeping mats and tents, to families who have been left homeless.

The Red Cross is also meeting the health needs of Haitian survivors and providing support to Haitian families in Haiti and the US. This includes providing relief supplies, shipment of blood products, family linking services and providing Red Cross volunteers to the USNS Comfort, which have been in Haiti for one week.

To date, 79 percent of the funds have been committed or spent on food and water; 18 percent on shelter items; and the remainder on health and family services.

More than 49 flights carrying Red Cross aid have arrived in Haiti. Additional planes, ships and trucks carrying Red Cross humanitarian assistance are en route. For example, 15 trucks of relief supplies recently arrived from Santo Domingo. A new Red Cross warehouse with more than 50,000 square feet of capacity is also now operational in Port-au-Prince, which means that relief supplies have a safe place to be stored ahead of distribution.

Although the current focus is on addressing urgent needs, the American Red Cross is also looking ahead and applying experience gained after the 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami. For the past five years, the American Red Cross has been working with partners in Southeast Asia to construct water and sanitation systems, provide emotional support and health care, build shelters, restore livelihoods and prepare communities for the next disaster. The American Red Cross plans to offer a similar level of support in close collaboration with Red Cross partners and other international and local aid organizations in Haiti.

People can donate in support of the relief effort in Haiti at www.chisholmtrail.redcross.org or by calling 817-335-9137 x244. Mobile donors can text “Haiti” to 90999 to make a $10 contribution. A $10 donation made through mobile giving can provide a family with two water cans to store clean drinking water, basic first aid supplies or a blanket appropriate to the climate.

Red Cross Continuing to Push Aid to Haiti Amid Difficult Conditions

In the aftermath of Tuesday’s earthquake, Red Cross responders are working around the clock in Haiti to ensure aid reaches survivors. The American Red Cross has dozens of disaster specialist in Haiti assessing the damage, addressing urgent needs and establishing the foundation for long term recovery.

An Outpouring of Support

So far, the American Red Cross has received $37 million in donations, breaking records for pledges to the Red Cross.

First Lady Michelle Obama released a Public Service Announcement asking people to join her in supporting the Red Cross relief efforts in Haiti:

“The images from Haiti are heart-breaking – homes, hospitals and schools destroyed; families searching for loved ones; parents trying to feed their children. But we can all do something. We can help the American Red Cross as it delivers food, water and medicine that can save lives.”

How to Help

While the American Red Cross appreciates the heartfelt offers to travel to Haiti or donated household items, what the Red Cross needs most are financial contributions – whether by check, online or by phone.

You can make a donation to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at www.redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief. You can also donate $10 to Haiti relief by texting “HAITI” to 90999.

Please consider supporting your community’s needs by volunteering with your local Red Cross; some chapters are in need of local volunteers to staff call centers and other activities in support of response.

Red Cross offers Tips on How to Stay Warm during Frigid Temperatures

With extreme weather conditions fast approaching the North Texas area, the Chisholm Trail Chapter urges everyone to be safe and prepare as much as possible. Follow these basic tips from the American Red Cross and have a safe and warm winter.

HEAT YOUR HOME SAFELY
· All heaters need space! Keep things that can burn, such as paper, bedding or furniture, at least 3 feet away from heating equipment, fireplaces and stoves.
· Place portable space heaters on a hard, level, nonflammable surface. Do not put space heaters on rugs or carpets, near bedding or drapes, and keep children and pets away. Look for a model that shuts off automatically if the space heater tips over. Do not use heating equipment to dry wet clothing.
· Never use the stove or oven to heat your home.
· Never leave portable heaters, wood burning stoves or fireplaces unattended. Turn them off before leaving or going to bed.
· Keep the fire in the fireplace by using a glass or metal screen large enough to catch sparks and rolling logs.

CUT DOWN ON YOUR HEATING BILLS
· Eliminate drafts. Use either insulating tape or caulking strips to surround windows and door moldings. Cover your windows with plastic sheeting. If you have storm windows or storm doors, get them up to keep the cold out.
· Make sure heat vents aren’t blocked by furniture.
· Turn down the thermostat.
· Close off any rooms that aren’t in use and close heat vents or turn off radiators in those rooms.
· Insulate your light switch and outlet plates with foam pads. Cold air can seep into the house through them.
· Use heavy curtains to keep cold air out. Open them during the day to let the sun help warm your home and close them at night. Use fabric snakes or old carpets in front of windows and doors to help eliminate drafts.
· Turn off vent fans in the kitchen and bathroom when they are no longer needed.
· Set ceiling fans to blow air down.

DON’T FORGET FIDO AND YOUR NEIGHBOR
· Dress in several layers of lightweight clothing. Don’t forget gloves or mittens, and a hat, preferably one that covers your ears.
· Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep feet warm and dry and to maintain footing in ice and snow.
· Don’t forget pets – bring them indoors. If that’s not possible, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water.
· Check on people who require special assistance such as elderly people living alone, people with disabilities and children.

Fort Hood Holiday Gift Drive a Huge Success!

The Chisholm Trail Chapter hosted a holiday gift drive on Saturday, December 12, 2009 to support the service members stationed at Fort Hood. American Red Cross volunteers and supporters arrived with more than 100 gifts for infants, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers. The group spent Saturday morning wrapping and preparing the gifts for children of Fort Hood families. American Red Cross longtime supporter TXU Energy also participated in the event by providing gift bags that included items such as fluorescent light bulbs, LED night lights, and energy conservation tips for the holiday season.

Members of the Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders came up with the service project idea and were heavily involved with the planning of the event. Tiffany Circle members Alice Puente, Lou Martin, Sheri Beatty, and Katie Kalpakis all attended the event, along with local Congresswoman Kay Granger.

“We were very pleased with the event and we now have more than 100 toys to deliver to families in Fort Hood,” said Chisholm Trail Chapter Chief Executive Officer Patricia R. Thomson, Ph.D. “We are so amazed by the amount of support we received from Chisholm Trail Chapter volunteers, donors and board members and we are thankful to them for making this event a success.”

American Red Cross Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle members Katie Kalpakis and Lou Martin and board member Barbara Smyers will deliver more than 100 wrapped gifts to the 2-1 Air Defense Artillery Battalion in Fort Hood on Wednesday, December 16, 2009. This project was a great way to show our support and welcome the holiday season. Way to go Red Crossers!

Chisholm Trail Chapter Hosts Fort Hood Holiday Gift Drive!

Some Red Crossers are more eager to give than to recieve this holiday season. Chisholm Trail Chapter leadership society members will host a holiday gift drive on Saturday, December 12, 2009 at our chapter office to show their support of service members stationed at Fort Hood. These American Red Cross supporters will be donating and wrapping gifts for infants, toddlers, school-aged children and teenagers.

Members of the Chisholm Trail Chapters Tiffany Circle Society of Women Leaders came up with the service project idea and have been heavily involved with the planning of the event. They will be joined by other local American Red Cross supporters for this service project that will benefit the Fort Hood community. “The American Red Cross has been providing support to service members, veterans and their families for more than 100 years, and this project is an extension of our commitment to those who serve,” said Alyson Barber, Service to the Armed Forces Manager.

“It is such a joy to be able to help these families in some small way,” said Alice Puente, Chisholm Trail Chapter Tiffany Circle Co-Chair. “They have been through so much this year and deserve to have a wonderful holiday.” The Tiffany Circle Society is a powerful leadership network of women who give their time, talent and treasure in support of the American Red Cross.

Tiffany Circle members Lou Martin and Katie Kalpakis will join Chisholm Trail Chapter Board Member Barbara Smyers to deliver the gifts to Fort Hood following the event.

Let's all exhibit the spirit of the Red Cross this holiday season and give to others any way we can! For more information on how you can help support our military members, visit www.chisholmtrail.redcross.org or contact us at 817-335-9137.