Red Cross Urging Preparedness as Tornado Season Arrives

American Red Cross
Thursday, 25 April 2002

Disaster Workers Responding to Three Destructive Storms In Just Over a Week

The American Red Cross is continuing to provide vital relief for victims of three devastating tornadoes in the past 10 days in Missouri, Illinois and Texas. These storms signal the beginning of a destructive and deadly spring tornado season, and the Red Cross is urging families in tornado-prone communities to follow some simple preparedness tips that can save lives.

The latest round of storms has the Red Cross responding in three southeast Missouri counties after severe storms and tornadoes damaged more than 250 homes yesterday afternoon. Red Cross disaster relief volunteers were on the scene immediately providing food, clothing, emergency medication and emotional support, and they are working with affected families to provide for other emergency needs including furniture, household items and more.

The Red Cross is also assisting victims of the season's first deadly tornado Sunday in southern Illinois that killed one man near Wayne City and affected 40 families, as well as another 230-plus families displaced by an April 16 tornado in Fort Worth, Texas.

"The past few days show just how unpredictable and destructive Mother Nature can be, so it is imperative that families take steps to prepare for the severe weather that spring always brings," said Dr. John Clizbe, vice president, American Red Cross Disaster Services. "Taking heed of Red Cross disaster preparedness information can literally be a lifesaver for your family."

The Red Cross recommends that families prepare for tornado season using the following safety tips:

Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit Containing:

- a first aid kit and essential medications.

- battery-powered radio.

- flashlight and extra batteries.

- canned food and manual can opener.

- bottled water for each family member.

Prepare a Home Tornado Plan:

- Pick a place where family members can gather, away from windows. It could be a basement or a center hallway, bathroom or closet on the lowest floor. Keep this area uncluttered.

- If you are in a high-rise building and don't have enough time to go to the lowest floor, pick a place in a hallway in the center of the building.

- Share this plan with all family members, and practice twice a year.

When a Storm Threatens:

- Listen for storm warnings on your local TV and radio stations and follow advisories.

- If outside, try to get inside a sturdy building. If a building is not available, crouch in a ditch or low-lying area that is not subject to flooding.

- If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head to safety. (Contrary to folklore, it is not safe to get underneath a highway overpass.)

Reduce High Wind Damage to your Home:

- Consult with a professional about ways to reduce potential damage to your roof and garage doors.

- Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased or damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through.

- Move or secure lawn furniture, outdoor decorations or ornaments, trash cans, hanging plants and anything else that can be picked up by wind and become a projectile.

Prepare your Business:

- Have a Disaster Supplies Kit on hand, including a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone alert feature. Keep it on and when the signal sounds, listen for information about severe weather and protective actions to take.

- Back up computer data frequently and keep a backup tape off site.

- Use UL-listed surge protectors and battery backup systems.

- Consult with your insurance agent about precautions to take for disasters that may directly impact your business – including business continuity insurance.

- Keep phone lists of your key employees and customers with you, and provide lists to key employees.

- Arrange for programmable call forwarding for your main business line(s). Then, if you can't get to the office, you can call in and reprogram the phones to ring elsewhere.

For more information on preparing for disasters, please visit the American Red Cross online at www.redcross.org or contact your local American Red Cross chapter.

For more than 100 years, the American Red Cross has been dedicated to helping make families and communities safer at home and around the world. A humanitarian service organization with nearly a million volunteers, the American Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to victims of nearly 70,000 disasters nationwide, from residential fires to tornadoes. The Red Cross last year trained nearly 12 million people in lifesaving skills and provided direct health services to 2.5 million people. The American Red Cross assists the relief efforts for international and conflict victims and helps over 8,500 U.S. military families, transmitting 4,000 emergency messages a day.

For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org