Preparedness in the 21st Century
Each year as we enter the north Atlantic hurricane season (June 1 to November 30) people in vulnerable parts of the country begin to worry anew if their community will be impacted this time around by a record-breaking storm. With a dramatic rise in populations along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts and increasing concern over the impact climate changes may make to a storm's severity, the fear of another catastrophic hurricane has become very real issue for the public.

Through advances in the science of meteorology and computer based models, storm forecasting has improved over the past century. Maximum sustained winds are used to measure each storm's strength using the Saffir-Simpson Hurricane Scale which classifies hurricanes from a Category 1 storm at the lowest to a Category 5 at the highest. However, these terms are often relative as a lower category storm can cause more damage if it strikes a vulnerable area and brings other hazards like flooding.

Historically, the Red Cross emphasized an organized system of relief and recovery as the hallmarks of its disaster work. However, over time, the organization and the nation is realizing the wisdom of taking steps to prepare for disasters well before the warnings are issued. And because of the still unpredictable nature of hurricanes and their aftermath, the Red Cross has once again asked the public to shoulder some responsibility by taking a few basic steps to prepare for an emergency.

Preparedness is nothing new to the Red Cross. Over the course of the organization's history it has come to mean different things. In the early years preparedness was an internal issue. Did Clara Barton and her team of workers have enough food, blankets and cash to help a community get back on its feet? Later, the idea spread to the local chapters. Did they have the training and resources to respond to any emergency?

Finally, in recent years, there has been a renewed emphasis on personal preparedness. Do members of the public have enough water, fist aid supplies and non-perishable food to survive a catastrophe? If an evacuation is ordered will they have an alternate place to stay and enough gas and food to endure a traffic backup? According to a survey conducted in 2004, only one in ten American households has a family emergency plan, a disaster kit, and training in first aid and CPR.

This series of historical articles will describe evolution of our hurricane preparedness efforts through some of the most infamous storms on record.

Part I: The Clara Barton Era
In the face of modern day hurricane seasons, we seldom take time to reflect how far we have come in our ability to predict and prepare for the worst. In the early years of the American Red Cross, there was no government system or agency in charge of disaster preparedness and relief, (FEMA would not be established until 1979) evacuation plans were unheard of, electronic communications such as telephones and telegraphs and storm forecasting were inconsistent and still in their infancy.
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Part II: The 1920s and the Rise of the Red Cross Chapter
Following World War I, the American Red Cross experienced extraordinary growth among its chapters nationwide. From a total of only 107 chapters in 1914, the number leaped to its all-time peak of 3,864 in 1918.
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Part III: The 1950s and the Decade of Disaster
During the "Atomic Age," America reached new heights of prosperity brought on by the post-war rise of business and industry. The population grew rapidly as a result of the "baby boom," and more communities were established along hurricane-vulnerable coastal areas.
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