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Sign
up now for the first ever Cypress Gardens
Paradise
River Float-A-Thon
July 19, 2008
8 a.m. - 12 p.m.
Cypress Gardens
Winter Haven
Space is Limited!
Pre-Register now to
Reserve Your Spot to Float!
Float for the Red Cross! - by Phil Attinger
Read
about it in Orlando Attractions Magazine or
News Chief — Lazy Float to benefit the Red Cross
Home
Fires reach an all-time high
Use Red
Cross fire safety tips to prevent home fires
and injuries
Visit http://www.redcross.org/services/prepare/0,1082,0_242_,00.html
http://www.cruzrojaamericana.org
Fires kill more Americans and affect more households each year than all natural disasters combined. Stay safe and well. Check and maintain smoke
alarms, Keep working fire extinguishers in your home and learn how to
use them, and develop and practice a home fire escape plan, so every family
member can escape quickly
and safely.
- Did you know Polk County saw 70 people affected by home fires in March 2008 alone?
- Did
you know Highlands County had more than twice as many families affected
by local home fires this year than last year?
- Did you know that both counties combined have helped more than 250 families affected by local disasters since July 2007?
Now is the time to Be Red
Cross Ready
Get
Red Cross safety tips to prevent most causes of fires:
Download a
free copy of Adobe Reader to view  PDF
files on our web site.
Read about Fire
Prevention Week (October 2007).
Listen to Sara
Evans and Patti
LaBelle talk about home fire prevention.
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Babysitting Boot Camp returns on July 28-30
 Summer
is here now.
What better time to learn life-saving skills and building on
the opportunity to help your community by providing child care for family, friends,
and neighbors?
The next Babysitting
Boot Camp is just around the corner. Whether you live in Polk or
Highlands County, there is a camp serving you. Space is limited. Sign
up now.
- July 28-30 — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — 147 Avenue A, NW, Winter Haven. Call (863) 294-5941
- Aug. 11-13 — 9 a.m.-4 p.m. — 147 Avenue A, NW, Winter Haven. Call (863) 294-5941
- Aug. 16 — 8:30 a.m.-5:30 p.m. — 106 Medical Center Ave., Sebring. Call 863) 386-4440
Learn
more about Red
Cross Babysitting Training or watch
the video.
PolkVoice
- Sign Up for the Summer Red Cross Babysitting Boot Camp
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National Disasters:
Costs to reach $30 million
Generous donations help replenish Red
Cross National Disaster Relief Fund, but more is needed to meet cost for wildfires, floods, and tornadoes.
WASHINGTON, Friday, June 30, 2008 — The American Red Cross is mounting its largest relief effort since the response to Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma in 2005, surpassing the Southern California wildfires in 2007.
Red Cross response to massive flooding across the Central United States, combined with ongoing relief operations for tornadoes and other disasters since April 1, will cost the organization at least $30 million, according to latest estimates.
At the same time, a badly depleted Disaster Relief Fund means that the organization is borrowing funds to make up the difference between this cost and donations made to the fund. The Disaster Relief Fund allows the Red Cross to provide desperately needed immediate emergency assistance to victims of all disasters, small and large.
To date, individuals and companies have graciously contributed more than $13 million in donations and pledges. Others wishing to support the Red Cross with this and future disaster responses are encouraged to call 1-800-REDCROSS, or visit www.redcross.org to make a donation.
Many of you have answered the call and have pledged your support.
Good work everyone! Let’s keep it up! Here are some numbers to motivate you:
- $25 provides 5 blankets at an emergency shelter.
- $350 will provide emergency food and shelter for 25 disaster victims for one day.
- View the Information Graphic on Flickr.
he Red Cross is not a government agency, and relies on individual donations
to run its chapters. Any help you can give in these difficult times
will be appreciated. If you have given to the Red Cross before or have
never donated to the American Red Cross, now is the time. We need you.
Please help your Red Cross, so we can be there to help you.
Donate.
Red
Cross Chat — We're Making Progress
View the Information Graphic on Flickr.com.
Bay
News 9 — American Red Cross: Disaster Funds are depleted
News
Chief — Nonprofit groups face challenges in tight economy
Visit RedCrossChat.org to learn about the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, complete with Diagram.
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Storms are coming!
 The
Red Cross is ready.
Are
you?
Be Red Cross Ready
Before.
During.
After. |
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Hurricane predictions reinforce need to prepare
Prepare a portable disaster kit in 12 steps
Get a WaterBOB™ to store fresh water
A Mother’s Guide to Preparedness
Amanda Christopher/American National Red Cross
Predictions for an active 2008 hurricane season have left
many families wondering what they can do to help protect their loved ones from
a hurricane
and the high winds, flooding and tornadoes that may accompany them.
Even if you don’t live in the direct path of a hurricane,
the severe winds, lightning, and tornadoes that accompany them can affect you.
The
Red
Cross
recommends
that by taking three basic preparedness actions you can get “Red
Cross Ready” for disasters and other emergencies 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a
plan
and 3) Be informed.
Hurricane season has begun. There is no better time
to prepare.
Read more....
RedCross.org — A Mother's Guide to Preparedness
American Red Cross Hurricane Safety Tips
Frequently-asked Questions
Click
here for American Red Cross severe weather safety tips.
Click
here for American Red Cross wildfire safety tips.
¿Está preparado para un huracán?
Preguntas con frecuencia hechas
Related news:
BayNews9 — First
responders test skills during hurricane drill
The
Ledger — Unflappable Emergency Chief Lets State Sleep Better
CLICK
BELOW to tell family you are 'Safe and Well'
If
you make one call to family before, during, or after a disaster, have them register
you on the American Red Cross "Safe and Well" web site: disastersafe.redcross.org. Click
the graphic above to visit the site.
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 News Log:
Also, read Polk Red Cross news at our other blogs:
PolkRedCross.PolkVoice.com (General News)
polkarcinfo@wordpress.org (Disaster
News)
Red Cross feeds firefighters at Pallet Recycling fire
 LAKELAND,
FL (July 6, 2008 ) — Local Red Cross volunteers rolled out to feed and hydrate Polk County firefighters who doused a blaze at Pallet Recycling's facility on Sunday night.
Six Red Cross workers rolled out to provide dinner, snacks and cold
drinks to the firefighters who had battled a blaze at the wood recycling
facility off Maine Street in Lakeland.
Every firefighter, right down to Battallion Chief Jeff Calcutt, thanked
the Red Cross for keeping their energy up to finish the job. Red Cross
support helps ensure large fires stay under control, saving nearby
residents from harm.
PolkARCInfo.WordPress.com — Red
Cross feeds firefighters at Pallet fire
The
Ledger — Fire Chars Pallets at Lakeland Recycling Facility
Bay
News 9 — Pallets catch fire in Lakeland
House Fires reach all-time high in Polk County (Bay News 9)
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Read more news items at PolkARCInfo.WordPress.com,
or check our on-site Archives. |
Be our 'Eyes After a Storm:' Join the Community Disaster Assessment Program
Each year, residents from local communities learn and
retrain how to prepare for major storms, assess damage after disasters,
and report that damage to the Red Cross. It helps the American Red Cross
gather a quick, clear picture of widespread damage in the area, and then
provide assistance where it's needed.
Training is free. Communities are invited to send up to four representatives: Year-round
residents who are physically able to survey and report damage as soon as safely
possible after a storm. Class size is limited. Please
phone, fax, or mail in reservations as soon as possible.
- Call
(863) 294-5941, Fax 293-9626
- Fax
(863) 293-9626
- E-mail linda@polkredcross.org
- Visit
147 Ave. A, NW, Winter Haven.
Read
more...
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Get
American Red Cross CPR & First Aid training
Would you know what to do
in an emergency?
Learn
now.
American Red Cross Polk County Chapter Health & Safety
Department
— (863) 294-5941 or visit the main office
at 147 Ave. A, NW, Winter Haven.
Highlands County Service Center
— (863)
386-4440, or visit 106 Medical Center Drive in Sebring.
See our course listings
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Do
you donate? 
The American Red Cross collects 50 percent of America's blood supply.
In Florida, however, most local chapters do not collect blood, but work with local blood banks to promote blood drives to ensure a supply for disasters.
Four blood banks cooperate with the American Red Cross Polk County Chapter and Highlands County Service Center. For information, contact your local blood bank.
And if you are able, please give.
BloodNet
Lakeland/west Polk Co.
Florida's Blood Centers Highlands Co.
Florida Blood Services Lakeland RMC
Blood Banks of Mid-Florida Medical Services Winter Haven/east Polk Co.
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Ride for the Red
Need gear? Get it here!
If you didn't get it on the last Ride, order a Ride for the Red T-shirt, Lapel Pin, or Kick Stand Coaster HERE!
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A
Red Cross Moment
'The Best Cup of Coffee I Ever Had'
Allan Richards of Auburndale recalls
Red Cross coffee on a cold morning after the 1997 flood in North
Dakota
Read
on....
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Severe
Weather Information
Florida' s Hazardous Weather Outlook
Learn more at WFLA News Channel
8 (Feb. 13, 2008) — National Weather
Service watching storms
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Homeland
Security Advisory System
Since March 2002,
the United States has lived under one of five levels of possible
terrorist threat. To answer citizens' questions about what
each one means, the
American
Red Cross
has developed
a set of guidelines:
Download
a free copy of Adobe Reader to view
PDF files on
our web site.
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Beware
of scams
During a disaster,
plenty of people will solicit donations in the name of the American Red
Cross.
Sometimes, they aren't actually working with us.
Don't
become the victim of a scam. Click the link below to learn about some of the most recent scams.
To avoid scams completely, donate at www.redcross.org or through your local chapter.
Read
more...
http://polkcountyfl.redcross.org/scams.htm
Since 1881, the American
Red Cross has helped people who suffered from warfare, natural disasters, or emergencies.
Learn about our History from
our National Web site -- www.redcross.org.
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Learn about your Polk Red Cross chapter through our publications and related articles:
Annual Reports (pdf):
2005-2006
Annual Report
2006-2007
Annual Report
Newsletters
(pdf):
Highlands
County Jan. 2007
Polk
County Jan. 2007
Highlands
County May 2007
Polk
County May 2007
Highlands County Sept. 2007
Polk County Sept. 2007
Highlands County Jan. 2008
Polk County Jan. 2008
Highlands County May 2008
Polk County May 2008
Download a
free copy of Adobe Reader to view
PDF files on
our web site.
Non-Profit News (Blog Entry 35):
American Red Cross, Polk County style
How
well do you know the American Red Cross & your local Polk County
Chapter?
Find
out here.
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Be Red
Cross Ready
CLICK
ABOVE to Be Red Cross Ready for any disaster: Tornado, Hurricane,
Earthquake, Tsunami, Wildfire, Flood, or a House Fire.
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Show your support for the American Red Cross everywhere you go.
Visit your Florida
Department of Highway Safety & Motor Vehicles office or your local
Tax Collector's Office to register your vehicle with an official American
Red Cross supporter tag.
 Legacy
Society members
help ensure the future financial stability of this chapter. To find
out how you can become a Legacy Society member,
please call our Gift Planning Officer Ken
Fagan, toll-free, at 866-262-2755.
Send
Direct Local Donations to:
Polk County Chapter
147
Avenue A, NW,
Winter
Haven , FL 33881
(863) 294-5941 |
Highlands
County Service Center
106
Medical Center Avenue
Sebring,
FL 33870
(863) 386-4440 |
Credit
Cards (please call the numbers listed above):
When
calling, please give your name; address; phone number; credit card
type, credit card number, and expiration date; and please specify
whether you want funds to support the Polk County Chapter, the Highlands County
Red Cross, or the National American Red Cross Disaster Fund.
The
Polk County Chapter is one of four
in the Mid-Florida
Region, which also includes:
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If you can't find what you need,
please e-mail us.
Your input is welcome. |
Florida
is known for hurricanes, but wildfires, floods, and tornados
strike far more often. Home fires are the most common disaster. Learn how to
keep your
family safe and secure by making and practicing disaster plans.
Your
Family Disaster Plan
Your
Family Disaster Supplies Kit
Emergency
Preparedness Checklist
Food & Water
During an Emergency
Download a
free copy of Adobe Reader to view
PDF
files on our web site. Is your neighborhood Disaster
Resistant?
Contact American
Red Cross Emergency Services to schedule a free presentation: (863) 294-5941.
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