NEWS SUMMARY:

• Tropical Storm Isaias is expected to hit the Gulf Coast as a hurricane over the weekend.
• The Red Cross is focused on identifying shelter locations, mobilizing trained disaster volunteers and readying relief supplies and emergency vehicles.
• People in the path of this storm should make their storm preparations now. Steps they should follow can be found here.

Tropical Storm Isaias is approaching the Gulf Coast, expected to grow to hurricane strength and bring heavy rain, dangerous winds and a storm surge to the region over the weekend. The American Red Cross is preparing to respond and urges people to pay attention to this storm and follow any instructions from officials.

Isaias is expected to bring dangerous weather to communities from Louisiana to the Florida Panhandle through the weekend. The storm could become a hurricane by Thursday and make landfall near Mobile Bay on Saturday. The system may produce widespread flooding, with up to 10 inches of rain possible along parts of the Gulf Coast and up to 5 inches extending into the Tennessee Valley and the Carolinas.

RED CROSS GETTING READY The Red Cross is working with state and local officials to coordinate the response from Louisiana to Florida. Red Cross disaster teams are focused on identifying shelter locations, mobilizing trained disaster volunteers and readying relief supplies and emergency vehicles.

STEPS YOU SHOULD TAKE TO GET READY  Have a plan to evacuate and a plan to shelter safely at home.

• Your evacuation plan should include knowing where you’ll go, how you’ll get there, and where you’ll stay. Your stay-at-home plan should focus on gathering the right supplies so that you can live safely without power, water, gas, phone or internet for a long time.
• Decide how you will reconnect with loved ones if you are separated or if the phone or internet is down. Write down important phone numbers on a contact card and carry it with you.
• Be able to monitor local weather and news reports even if the power goes out. Have a backup battery or another way to charge your cell phone, and a battery-powered or hand-crank radio. 
• Sign up for free emergency alerts from your local government.
• Gather critical supplies — food, water and medicine — and organize them into a three-day go-kit and a two-week stay-at-home kit. Include a month’s supply of medications and medical supplies If needed.
• If you have pets or young children, include items they will need.
• Keep your personal, financial and medical records in a safe place that’s easy to access (hard copies or securely backed up). Consider keeping a list of your medications and dosages on a small card to carry with you. 

DURING THE STORM, be prepared to evacuate immediately if local officials advise. Bring your go-kit and pets. Don’t return home until officials say it is safe.

• Follow evacuation routes and don’t try to take shortcuts because they may be blocked.
• Don’t walk, swim or drive through floodwaters. Turn around, don’t drown!
• If officials don’t recommend evacuating, take shelter in an interior room. Stay away from glass windows and doors.
• Move to higher ground before flooding begins.

DON’T FORGET TO: Download the free Red Cross First Aid app so you’ll know what to do if emergency help is delayed and the free Emergency app for weather alerts, open Red Cross shelter locations and safety steps for different emergencies. Choose whether you want to view the content in English or Spanish with an easy-to-find language selector. Find these and all of the Red Cross apps in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.