Red Cross Mobilizing Volunteers and Supplies as Irene Strengthens

Red Cross Mobilizing Volunteers and Supplies as Irene Strengthens

Wilmington, NC, August 25, 2011 — In preparation for the effects of Hurricane Irene along the east coast, the Cape Fear Chapter of the American Red Cross will be holding a disaster volunteer briefing at 12:00pm today in the chapter training room located at 1102 South 16th St. All registered Red Cross volunteers and local media are invited to attend.

Hurricane Irene continues to move through the Atlantic strengthening to a category 3 storm; a Tropical Storm watch is now in effect for the Cape Fear area. The storm could affect a large swath of the East Coast beginning Saturday with high wind and potential flooding. American Red Cross chapters from Florida to Maine are getting ready to respond by mobilizing trained disaster relief workers to prepare shelters and relief supplies for a full East Coast response.

Within our Cape Fear Region and throughout North Carolina, hundreds of Red Cross volunteers are either on standby or are on the move. Dozens of mobile feeding vehicles and trucks equipped with communications technology are already moving towards North Carolina and Virginia where Irene is predicted to make the first landfall.

The Red Cross is working closely with Emergency Management officials, Department of Social Services and the Department of Public Health preparing to open evacuation shelters as necessitated by the weather conditions. If locating to a shelter, personal items to bring with you should include any medicines needed by members of the family, feeding formulas and diapers for infants, a pillow and blanket for each member of the family, a change of clothing, snacks, and books and simple toys for your children.

Just as the Red Cross is preparing for Hurricane Irene, people along the coast also need to get ready. Residents along the coast should take the threat of Irene seriously, finalize their hurricane plans and update their emergency supply kits. They include a three-day supply of water ready for each person, along with food that doesn’t require refrigeration, flashlights, a battery-operated radio and a first aid kit. A full list of suggested items is available at www.CapeFearRedCross.org.

People in potential evacuation areas should familiarize themselves with the Red Cross Safe and Well website by visiting www.redcross.org/safeandwell so they can let their loved ones know what their situation is due to the hurricane. The site can be also be accessed on a smart phone. People can also update their Facebook and Twitter status through the Safe and Well site. Affected residents should also download the free Red Cross shelter finder app in the Apple iTunes store.

Wednesday the Red Cross is released new survey results on how Americans use social media during disasters. With a hurricane threatening, the survey shows the importance of a family communication plan, and social media can be one part of that.

• The survey shows that the internet is the third most popular way for people to gather emergency information, behind only television and local radio.
• The survey showed that 18 percent of both the general population and the online population specifically saying they use Facebook for emergency information. People have high expectations that response groups are monitoring social media in times of disaster – and responding to cries for help.
  
• Four in five believe that response groups should be monitoring social media, and one in three believes that a request for help on social media should be responded to in less than an hour.
  
• Calling 9-1-1 is always the best first action to take when a person needs emergency assistance
  

For more information on how you can get better prepared for disasters such as hurricanes, visit www.CapeFearRedCross.org or contact the local Chapter at (910) 762-2683.

About the American Red Cross:
You can help people affected by disasters like floods and tornadoes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters. To make a donation, visit redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767). Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. To learn more about the work of the American Red Cross in the U.S. and around the world, please visit redcross.org.