Families Urged To Establish Communication Plan As Hurricane Frances Approaches

MEDIA NOTE: The American Red Cross is available 24 hours a day as a resource for you and your news crews. Contact the Red Cross Public Affairs Desk at (202) 303-5551 to request a representative for an interview. Red Cross experts are on the ground in Florida and are available to talk about disaster preparedness and response as Hurricane Frances approaches.

WASHINGTON, Thursday, September 02, 2004 — With indicators that Hurricane Frances could be a much larger storm than previously thought, the American Red Cross urges those with family members in the path of the storm to establish an emergency communication plans now before it makes landfall.

Immediately following Hurricane Charley, the Red Cross fielded nearly 20,000 calls from people seeking information on family members and loved ones. The Red Cross urges anyone in the path of the storm or those with relatives in potentially affected areas to set up a communication plans now.

Those families who had plans in place during Hurricane Charley were able to reach their loved ones much more quickly. Setting up a communication plan ahead of time will help make sure you and your family can connect as easily and quickly as possible.

How can family members stay in touch during an evacuation?

• The American Red Cross recommends that families designate an individual outside the potentially affected area to serve as a family point of contact.
• This person should have all family emergency phone numbers and contacts at all times.
• If family members are evacuated, the Red Cross recommends that they stay in contact with the designated individual. Perhaps set up a specific time to try and reach that contact.
• If contact is lost with an immediate family member in an affected area who may have been evacuated, the family should contact its local American Red Cross chapter and request the chapter begin a disaster welfare inquiry.

With Hurricane Frances ready to strike as early as Friday afternoon, the American Red Cross is working to set up shelters in safe locations as quickly as possible. People in Hurricane Frances’ pathway are encouraged to call 866-GET-INFO to get information on shelter locations. 1-866-GET-INFO needs to remain open for those in the immediate area seeking information on shelters and emergency care. Please note that shelters are not equipped to handle family pets. Contact your local humane society or make alternate arrangements with those outside of the evacuation area.

For more information regarding tropical storm and hurricane preparedness information, visit more of our disaster readiness online resources at www.redcross.org or contact your local Red Cross chapter.

Currently our national blood inventory levels are lower than ideal and we will have to see how much this massive hurricane impacts our ability to collect and distribute blood. However, as always, it is important that Americans continue to make an appointment to donate blood by calling 1-800-GIVE LIFE.

All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of hurricanes like Charley and Frances and thousands of other disasters across the country each year by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to those in need. Call 1-800-HELP NOW or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish). Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users can make a secure online contribution by visiting www.redcross.org.