American Red Cross Urges Families, Businesses to Prepare in Wake of Changing Threat Levels

Public Should Follow Precautions for Their Specific Threat Level at www.redcross.org

WASHINGTON, Sunday, August 01, 2004 — Following today’s announcement that the terror threat level has been raised to “High/Orange” for the financial sector in New York City, northern New Jersey, and Washington, D.C, the American Red Cross is urging individuals, families, and businesses across the nation to make appropriate preparations according to the Red Cross recommendations for the Homeland Security Advisory System, available at www.redcross.org.

Each level of Red Cross recommendations includes completing the identified actions at the lesser threat levels. Reviewing and practicing your Personal Disaster Plan, taking a Red Cross CPR/AED and first aid course, and being alert to suspicious activity and reporting it to authorities are recommended throughout the system. Specific to today’s announcement, the following is a summary of recommended actions for “Orange” and lower levels:

• Individuals
  • Review your Personal Disaster Plan.
  • Ensure your Disaster Supplies Kit is stocked and ready.
  • Develop alternate routes to/from work/school and practice them.
  • Exercise caution when traveling.
  • Have shelter-in-place materials on hand and review the procedure in Terrorism: Preparing for the Unexpected, a Red Cross brochure.
  • If a need is announced, donate blood at blood collection center (1-800-GIVE LIFE).
  • Provide volunteer services and take advantage of additional volunteer training opportunities.
• Families
  • Review your Family Disaster Plan with all family members.
  • Check items in your Disaster Supplies Kit and replace items that are outdated. Be sure to include necessary items for family members with special needs, like young children or seniors.
  • If not known to you, contact your child’s school to determine their emergency notification and evacuation plans.
  • Ensure the emergency communication plan is understood and practiced by all family members.
  • Discuss children’s fears concerning possible terrorist attacks.
• Businesses
  • Review emergency plans, including continuity of operations and media materials on hand.
  • Ensure that the emergency communication plan is updated and includes the purchase of needed emergency equipment as detailed in the Red Cross Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry.
  • Determine any need to restrict access to the business or provide private security firm support/reinforcement.
  • Contact vendors/suppliers to confirm their emergency response plan procedures.
  • Ask the local Red Cross chapter to provide a Terrorism: Preparing for the Unexpected presentation at your workplace for employees.
  • If need is announced, contact nearest blood collection agency about organizing a blood drive.
• Neighborhoods
  • Check on neighbors who are elderly or have special needs to ensure they are okay. Review their disaster plan with them.
  • If a need is announced, contact nearest blood collection agency and offer to organize a neighborhood blood drive.
• Schools
  • Review the school’s emergency plan that was developed using the Red Cross Emergency Guide for Business and Industry.
  • Ensure all emergency supplies are stocked and ready.
  • Offer Masters of Disaster “Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Tragic Events” lessons in grades K-12.
  • Prepare to handle inquiries from anxious parents and media.

To download the full versions of the Red Cross Recommendations for the Homeland Security Advisory System, visit www.redcross.org, where you can also find a wide variety of free publications in a variety of languages to help citizens prepare for terrorism and natural disasters. To donate blood or host a blood drive at your business, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE.

Governed by volunteers and supported by community donations, the American Red Cross is a nationwide network of nearly 900 field units dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Led by 1 million volunteers and 36,000 employees, the Red Cross annually mobilizes relief to families affected by more than 70,000 disasters, trains almost 12 million people in lifesaving skills and keeps U.S. military families connected worldwide. The Red Cross is the largest supplier of blood and blood products to more than 3,000 hospitals across the nation and also assists victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. Marsha J. Evans is the President and CEO of the American Red Cross.