Published: Thursday, September 18, 2008
Fosters Daily Democrat

Are you Red Cross ready?

Many of us have seen the devastation that a natural or technical disaster can cause. Some of us only on the news but many in the Seacoast Area have experienced first hand the effects of floods and tornadoes.

We would like you to join the Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross during National Preparedness Month 2008 and become prepared for the unexpected. The Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross is implementing for the first time a program that we call “Be Red Cross Ready – It’s a SNAP”(Seacoast Neighbors Awareness and Preparedness).

During the month of September we will be kicking off a grassroots effort to visit all our 41 cities and towns in our chapter area at least once. Through the months of September and October volunteer and paid staff from the Great Bay Chapter will be attending farmer’s markets, road races, giving presentation at local libraries, parked in police and fire department parking lots, as well as local fairs and other events.

The goal is to make the Greater Seacoast more prepared for when the next disaster strikes. Whether it be a tornado, flood, hurricane, blizzard or a technological disaster, the Great Bay Chapter of the American Red Cross stands ready to respond and support the recovery of the citizens of the Great Seacoast.

In addition to visiting each community, we have partnered with Wal-Mart during National Preparedness Month 2008 and will have displays in all of the 7 stores in the Seacoast Area. The “Be Red Cross Ready” program includes 3 basic preparedness actions:
1. Get A Kit
2. Make a Plan
3. Be Informed
.
During “Preparedness Month” we will add the fourth action “Get Involved” to be online with the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. “Getting Involved” is a chance for people to give blood, volunteer and support the local Red Cross Chapter.

The first step to “Getting Involved” would be to watch for us to visit your city and/or town. Please don’t stop there! Come over and talk to us and pick up a brochure about preparedness. We can’t wait to me you!

The second step to “Getting Involved” would be to visit the National Preparedness Month Web page (http://www.redcross.org/preparedness/NPM/) where there is training and educational resources to “Be Red Cross Ready”.

There are special banners there that you can download to your website to show your support to the American Red Cross and everyone can make a “Pledge to Prepare” by selecting one item from the pledge form to do during the month.

Together We Can Make A Difference.