Philadelphia – Thanks to a partnership between the Allstate Foundation and the American Red Cross Eastern Pennsylvania Region, 1,500 commuters are now more prepared for a disaster after local Allstate agency owners and Red Cross team members handed out as many free disaster starter kits at Philadelphia’s 30th Street Station on Thursday afternoon.  

The American Red Cross also received a $20,000 Allstate Foundation Helping Hands Grant® to support relief efforts. Disasters affect nearly one million people each year, yet 85% of Americans are unprepared for one.

“Natural disasters can strike anywhere, at any time,” said Jim Flynn, Allstate field senior vice president in the Northeast Region. “The fact is, most people aren’t prepared for one. We’re working to change that in the Philadelphia region by teaming-up with the American Red Cross. And, should the unthinkable happen, your local Allstate agent is here to help you, your family and your community recover.”  

The American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania will use the $20,000 grant to help people affected by disasters and countless other crises. Specifically, funds will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small, providing food, shelter, relief supplies, emotional support, recovery planning and other assistance at no cost to those in need. 

“Every eight minutes, someone affected by a disaster is helped by donations to the Red Cross,” said Guy Triano, Regional CEO for the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania. “Donations like this one from The Allstate Foundation are key to saving lives because they fund nearly 100 percent of our disaster relief activities.” 

To help Philadelphia-area residents prepare for a disaster, the American Red Cross and The Allstate Foundation recommends these important safety tips: 

• Build a basic disaster preparedness kit. Your kit should contain these basic supplies:  
• Water (one gallon per-person, per-day)  
• Ready-to-eat, nonperishable food for family members and pets 
• A battery-powered or hand-crank radio  
• Flashlight and batteries  
• First-aid kit  
• Whistle (to signal for help, if needed)  
• Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape  
• Antiseptic and plastic garbage bags with ties for sanitation 
• Wrench or pliers  
• Local maps to locate emergency services and shelters 
• Prescription medication(s)    

Create a household emergency evacuation plan. Your plan should include the following information: 

• Emergency contact names and phone numbers – mobile and landline. As an extra precaution, everyone in your family should program “In Case of Emergency,” or ICE, contacts in their mobile phones 
• A family meeting place in your neighborhood and an alternative meeting place in the region 
• Personal details for each family member, including date of birth, important medical information and recent photos 
• Addresses and phone numbers of the places family members frequent on a regular basis like work or school 
• Contact information for medical providers, including your doctors, pharmacist or veterinarian  Important medical and insurance information, including photocopies of your medical insurance card(s)  

The strength of a community comes from each person who lives in it. By raising your hand to help your community prepare for a potential disaster, by taking training, joining a preparedness group or helping to educate your neighborhood, you can help people respond to and recover from an emergency.  Visit https://www.redcross.org/local/pennsylvania/eastern-pennsylvania/about-us/locations/southeastern-pennsylvania.html for information on volunteer opportunities with the American Red Cross and upcoming training and certification classes.