Tropical Storm Claudette Bears Down on Texas as American Red Cross Disaster Relief Funds Hit Critical LevelAmerican Red Cross Only two weeks after Tropical Storm Bill became the first named storm of the 2003 hurricane season to make landfall on the U.S. coast, Tropical Storm Claudette is now aiming toward Texas and may reach hurricane status. With Claudette just hours off the coast, the American Red Cross is urging residents to prepare while also making an urgent appeal to the public for financial donations to its Disaster Relief Fund. The fund, which allows the Red Cross to immediately provide help across the nation whenever and wherever disasters strike, has reached its lowest level in more than a decade, with a cash balance of only $1.5 million.  "The status of the Disaster Relief Fund has reached a critical level, and we are asking for the public's help so that we can continue to help disaster victims in the coming weeks and months," said Terry Sicilia, Executive Vice President, American Red Cross Programs and Services. "We are only at the beginning of hurricane season, and our fund is almost depleted – I can't stress the urgency of this situation enough. Please make a financial donation by calling 1-800-HELP-NOW or visiting www.redcross.org." The Disaster Relief Fund is not a reserve, but a working fund that must be replenished. Recent disasters – including apartment fires in Wisconsin and New York, Tropical Storm Bill, floods in Indiana, May's tornado outbreak, and January's Supertyphoon Pongsona – have taken their toll on the finances. This year, the Red Cross has spent more to help disaster victims than what has been received in funding. Since July 2002, the Red Cross has spent more than $85 million from the Disaster Relief Fund responding to 230 large-scale disasters, but raised only $26 million toward these efforts. "It's vital that residents in hurricane-prone areas make disaster preparations so they are ready for what these storms bring; however, it's equally crucial that the Red Cross is ready to respond with safe shelter, hot meals, clean-up supplies and emotional support, and we must have a healthy Disaster Relief Fund in order to be able to provide that help," Sicilia said. For those evacuating or affected by Claudette, the Red Cross toll-free nationwide information hotline, 1-866-GET-INFO, can give callers up-to-date shelter locations and evacuation guidelines; information on how to get Red Cross disaster help; tips on flood preparedness; and ways to reduce potential damage to homes. Additionally, those trying to locate family in affected areas can call the Red Cross hotline to check on the welfare of loved ones. Detailed information on flood, tornado and hurricane preparedness is available at www.redcross.org. Individuals and families are urged to share the following safety tips with their loved ones: Hurricane Preparedness 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. Get a good map and be familiar with your community's evacuation routes. Listen to local media broadcasts or NOAA Weather Radio for the latest storm conditions. If advised to evacuate, do so immediately. In case you have to evacuate to a Red Cross shelter, be sure to bring medications, extra clothing, pillows and blankets and other hygiene and comfort supplies for all members of your family. Be sure to also make advance preparations for your pets, which aren't allowed in shelters. Have emergency supplies set aside for all members of your household, including emergency medications, non-perishable food and a non-electric can opener, bottled water (at least three gallons per person per day), a battery-powered radio, flashlight and extra batteries, extra clothes, important documents, cash and credit cards, a first aid kit and other special items for infants, elderly or disabled family members and pets. Make trees more wind resistant by removing diseased and damaged limbs, then strategically removing branches so that wind can blow through. Install permanent shutters on your windows and add protection to the outside areas of sliding glass doors. Strengthen garage doors and unreinforced masonry. 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. Be alert to signs of flash flooding. Be ready to evacuate at a moment's notice. Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains. If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it and get to higher ground. Do not drive in floodwaters, and do not drive around barricades. ONLY if you have time, carry things that can be water-damaged to higher floors. Prepare a home tornado plan by picking 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. 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 a safer location. Contrary to folklore, it is not safe to get underneath a highway overpass.
For more information, or to contact American Red Cross, see their website at: www.redcross.org |
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