Free Online Tutorial Now Available at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady to Help Families Get Prepared in Three Easy Steps

According to an April 2007 poll conducted by the American Red Cross and Harris Interactive, only seven percent of the population has taken what the Red Cross considers the three steps necessary to prepare for a disaster or emergency: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed. With June as the first month of hurricane season, the Red Cross encourages people to take its new, free online tutorial available at http://www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady.

The tutorial will show visitors exactly how to complete each of the three steps: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed. The American Red Cross recommends:

  1) Families assemble or buy a disaster kit containing at least three days
     of supplies in an easy-to-carry container, like a backpack. It's also
     important to check that stock every six months and replace expired
     items.
  2) As part of your family plan, each person should know how to reach
     family members and where to meet if they can't go home.
  3) Families should learn about what types of disasters or emergencies are
     most likely to occur where they live, work and play, and take first aid
     and CPR courses -- a vital component of disaster preparedness.

"Even though hurricanes primarily affect coastal states, every region of our country is vulnerable to disasters of some type like flooding, severe storms, high winds, power outages, tornadoes, earthquakes, or wildfires," said Red Cross preparedness expert Darlene Sparks Washington. "Every family, no matter where they live, can benefit from following the preparedness actions of Be Red Cross Ready: get a kit, make a plan, and be informed."

"Preparing for a potential emergency or disaster doesn't require a lot of time or expensive equipment and training. In fact, to help Americans prepare the Red Cross has developed a free online tutorial," continued Washington. "To view the tutorial just visit www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady and in less than twenty minutes you'll learn exactly how you can become Red Cross Ready by getting a kit, making a plan, and becoming informed."

Harris Interactive conducted the online survey of more than 2,500 respondents during April 10-16, 2007. Results also demonstrate that:

  -- 90% of Americans who have a disaster kit feel prepared. Yet, only 28%
     actually have a kit.
  -- 60% of American households own a pet, yet only 37% have a plan for
     their pets during a disaster.
  -- 69% of Americans living in hurricane-prone states don't have a disaster
     supplies kit, and 60% don't have an evacuation plan.
  -- 64% of Americans have no evacuation plan, even though 27% have had to
     leave home for at least one night because of a disaster or other
     emergency.

The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters; taught lifesaving skills to millions; and helped U.S. service members separated from their families stay connected.

Source: American Red Cross

Web site: http://www.redcross.org/