Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to disaster.

Talk:  Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live.  Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.  Designate alternates in case someone is absent.  If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they were deployed.  Include the local emergency military base resources that may be available.

Plan:  Choose two places to meet after a disaster:  One place that is outside of your home, in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire. Another place that is outside of your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

Learn:  Each responsible adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water, and gas.  Ask your local fire department to show you how to use a fire extinguisher.

Tell:  Inform everyone in the household where emergency supplies are kept.  Make copies of the information for someone to carry with them.  Keep the information updated.

Practice:  Run practice home evacuation drills twice a year.  Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes in case main roads are impassable or gridlocked.

Include your Pets:  If you must evacuate, take your animals with you.  If it is not safe for you to remain in your home, it is not safe for your pets.

Support your Community:  Volunteer in your community and give blood.  More than one million people in the United States volunteer in their communities.  Volunteers come from all walks of life, backgrounds, and vary in age.  Red Cross volunteers help people in emergencies.  They translate for non-English speakers so that everyone can receive Red Cross services, teach first aid classes and organize blood drives.  They connect members of the armed forces stationed overseas with their families during major family events.  People like you make these vital community services possible.   

Give blood:  Blood is needed in times of an emergency, but the ongoing need is also great.  Every two seconds someone in America needs a blood transfusion. These include people such as cancer patients and accident victims. Your blood donation means so much to the individuals who need it, and you can help make a lifesaving difference by giving blood.

During times of crisis and every day, each blood donation has the potential to help save as many as three lives. Whole blood has a shelf life of only 42 days, so it is important to be a regular and frequent donor.  It is important to have an adequate blood supply available at all times.  You can support your community blood supply by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visiting www.redcrossblood.org and making an appointment to donate blood today!

Planning ahead will help you have the best possible response to disaster.

Talk:  Discuss with your family the disasters that can happen where you live.  Establish responsibilities for each member of your household and plan to work together as a team.  Designate alternates in case someone is absent.  If a family member is in the military, also plan for how you would respond if they were deployed.  Include the local emergency military base resources that may be available.

Plan:  Choose two places to meet after a disaster:  One place that is outside of your home, in case of a sudden emergency, such as a fire. Another place that is outside of your neighborhood, in case you cannot return home or are asked to evacuate your neighborhood.

Learn:  Each responsible adult in your household should learn how and when to turn off utilities such as electricity, water, and gas.  Ask your local fire department to show you how to use a fire extinguisher.

Tell:  Inform everyone in the household where emergency supplies are kept.  Make copies of the information for someone to carry with them.  Keep the information updated.

Practice:  Run practice home evacuation drills twice a year.  Drive your planned evacuation route and plot alternate routes in case main roads are impassable or gridlocked.

Include your Pets:  If you must evacuate, take your animals with you.  If it is not safe for you to remain in your home, it is not safe for your pets.

Support your Community:  Volunteer in your community and give blood.  More than one million people in the United States volunteer in their communities.  Volunteers come from all walks of life, backgrounds, and vary in age.  Red Cross volunteers help people in emergencies.  They translate for non-English speakers so that everyone can receive Red Cross services, teach first aid classes and organize blood drives.  They connect members of the armed forces stationed overseas with their families during major family events.  People like you make these vital community services possible.   

Give blood:  Blood is needed in times of an emergency, but the ongoing need is also great.  Every two seconds someone in America needs a blood transfusion. These include people such as cancer patients and accident victims. Your blood donation means so much to the individuals who need it, and you can help make a lifesaving difference by giving blood.

During times of crisis and every day, each blood donation has the potential to help save as many as three lives. Whole blood has a shelf life of only 42 days, so it is important to be a regular and frequent donor.  It is important to have an adequate blood supply available at all times.  You can support your community blood supply by calling 1-800-GIVE-LIFE or visiting www.redcrossblood.org and making an appointment to donate blood today!