Crime & Safety

Red Cross Urges Residents to Prepare for Floods, Tornadoes

Download the Red Cross tornado app to receive warnings.

The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch through Thursday evening for much of the region.

Some localized areas could receive 4-6 inches of rain and isolated tornadoes by
Thursday night.

The American Red Cross is urging all residents on Florida's west coast to prepare now.

"By preparing together for floods, we can make our families safer and our communities stronger," said Linda Carbone, CEO of Florida's West Coast Region. "We can help you and your family create a flood preparedness plan now, before our community is threatened by excessive rainfall."

As with any disaster, preparation can be the difference between life and death. The Red Cross recommends that individuals and families prepare for floods by:

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  • Creating and practicing a Disaster Plan: Talk to everyone in your household about what to do if a flood occurs. Decide where you would meet and who you would contact in case of flooding. Assemble and maintain an emergency preparedness kit. Be prepared to evacuate your family and pets at a moment's notice. Listen to area radio and television stations for possible flood warnings and reports of flooding in progress.
  • Assembling an Emergency Preparedness Kit: Kits should contain a first aid kit and essential medications, foods that don't require cooking or refrigeration and manual can opener, bottled water, flashlights and a battery-powered radio with extra batteries, copies of important documents and other emergency items for the whole family.
  • Heeding Flood Warnings: Listen to your local radio and TV stations for updated flood information.  A flood WATCH means flooding or flash flooding is possible in your area. A flood WARNING means flooding or flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area. When a flood or flash flood warning is issued for your area, head for higher ground and stay there.
  • Relocating During Flood Warnings: Stay away from flood waters. If you come upon a flowing stream where water is above your ankle, stop, turn around and go another way. If you come upon a flooded road while driving, turn around and go another way. If you are caught on a flooded road and waters are rising rapidly around you, get out of the car quickly and move to higher ground.
  • Red Cross Tornado App: The American Red Cross Tornado App is available in English or Spanish and gives iPhone, iPad and Android smart phone and tablet users instant access to local and real-time information, so they know what to do before, during and after a tornado. The free app includes a high-pitched siren and "tornado warning!" alert that signals when a NOAA tornado warning has been issued. This feature allows users to make critical decisions and to take actions to help keep themselves and their loved ones safe even in the middle of the night. An "all clear!" alert lets users know when a tornado warning has expired or has been cancelled.  The Tornado App, along with other apps, can be found in the Apple App Store and the Google Play Store for Android by searching for American Red Cross or by going to redcross.org/mobileapps. People can go to redcross.org/tornado for more safety tips.

For more information on flood preparedness, visit www.redcross.org or
www.cruzrojaamericana.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS. 


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