INDIAN RIVER COUNTY — Gov. Rick Scott declared a state of emergency in Florida Friday morning in preparation for Tropical Storm Erika which includes the 13 counties of the American Red Cross South Florida Region.
The staff and volunteers of the Red Cross have been monitoring the storm and making preparations with the possibility of opening shelters on Saturday. Red Crossers across the region have been mobilized to help if and when the time comes.
“The next 48 hours are critical in the formation and trajectory of Tropical Storm Erika. We are watching it closely but strongly encourage South Florida to prepare,” said Carlos Castillo, Regional Disaster Officer. “Be Red Cross Ready: build a kit, make a plan and stay informed.
BUILD A KIT
It should contain a three-day supply of water (one gallon, per person, per day), nonperishable food, a flashlight, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, extra batteries, a first aid kit, a 7-day supply of medications, a multi-purpose tool, sanitation and personal hygiene items and copies of important personal documents. The Red Cross also recommends having at least two weeks worth of emergency supplies at home.
MAKE A PLAN
It is important that everyone in the household helps put the emergency plan together and knows what they should do if something occurs. Household members may not be together when a disaster happens.
STAY INFORMED
Listen to a NOAA Weather Radio or local media outlets for critical information about the storm and download the Red Cross Emergency App. This free app provides information on what to do before, during and after emergencies. The preloaded content in the apps gives people access to vital information to use during emergencies, even if they can’t connect to the internet. Users can find it in smartphone app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small. We respond to nearly 70,000 other disasters every year, from home fires to hurricanes and more. Learn more about how Disaster Relief donations have helped people affected by previous disasters including home fires.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org/southflorida or visit us on Twitter at @SFLRedCross. Become a red cross volunteer www.redcross.org/volunteer.
