Red Cross prepares for hurricane
Posted on Friday, August 29, 2008
NORTHWEST ARKANSAS — The Northwest Arkansas Red Cross Chapter office in Tontitown has already begun preparations for providing backup support to the regions potentially affected by hurricane Gustav, according to a press release from the Red Cross chapter.
“ Our (emergency-response vehicle ) has been slated for relocation to Louisiana for pre-stationing before the storm, and we have placed all of our local disaster volunteers on notice that activation is probable, ” Carmen Newberry, emergency services director, said in the release.
Newberry stressed that now is the time for anyone interested in becoming a disaster volunteer to get trained.
The local office also stresses ensuring that families with loved ones in Gustav’s path establish a communication plan for contacting their loved ones should the storm hit their area. The general rule is to designate one family member to be contacted after the storm passes and allow that person to forward the information to additional members of the family. This allows those affected to keep their families informed without compromising their need to secure assistance once the storm passes.
Anyone needing more information can log onto the local chapter Web site at www. nwarkansasredcross. org or contact the office at (479 ) 306-4688.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. Anyone can help the victims of thousands of 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 victims of disaster.
Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to American Red Cross Chapter, P. O. Box 789, Tontitown, AR 72770; or to the National American Red Cross, P. O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013. Internet users may make a secure online contribution at www. redcross. org.
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