Monroe County Chapter Urges Preparedness during Red Cross Month

March 1, 2008, Bloomington, IN -- Ninety-six percent of Americans agree that it’s important to prepare for a disaster, but only seven percent have taken the necessary steps to do so according to recent American Red Cross polling*. This March during Red Cross Month the Monroe County Chapter is encouraging residents to take three simple actions to get "Red Cross Ready" for disasters and other emergencies: 1) Get a kit, 2) Make a plan and 3) Be informed.

"Taking these basic preparedness actions can better prepare you for a variety of disasters from a power outage to a hurricane," said Sue Gulley. "During Red Cross Month as we honor the volunteers, donors and supporters who help make Monroe County a safer place to live, work and play, we invite everyone will join us in our mission by getting better prepared."

MONROE COUNTY CHAPTER RED CROSS MONTH ACTIVITIES

Be a Hero for the Red Cross by raising $1,000 for our local chapter. You can participate in our campaign during March and April by supporting someone you know who has pledged to be a Hero, purchasing a Red Cross square to be proudly displayed at our local chapter office, or doing your own fund raising event. Call 332-7292 for details on how you can become involved.

A free, online education module is available at www.redcross.org/BeRedCrossReady, to guide users through three action steps of "Be Red Cross Ready." It includes a downloadable disaster supplies kit shopping list, emergency contact card, and instructions for creating a family disaster plan. Brochures and community presentations can be ordered by contacting the Monroe County Chapter at 332-7292 or going to our newly designed website at www.monroe-redcross.org.

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. Almost 4 million people gave blood through the Red Cross, the largest supplier of blood and blood products in the United States. The American Red Cross is part of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs. The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work.

* Harris Interactive, on-line survey of 2563 respondents, fielded April 10-16, 2007, with a margin of error of +/-2% and Wirthlin Worldwide’s National Quorum of 1,001 adult Americans over the age of 18, June 4 - 7, 2004, Margin of error + 3.1 percentage point