Preparation Urged as Tropical Storm Don Approaches

TYLER — All along the Texas Gulf Coast, residents and emergency officials are gearing up for the first tropical storm of the year. While a coastal community may seem far from East Texas, The American Red Cross says families here should be preparing too by creating a family communications plan.

According to a Red Cross news release, “Personal preparedness can help keep people safer during an emergency. Having an up to date family communications plan can alleviate fear and provide peace of mind. In preparation for Tropical Storm Don, and subsequent storms, it’s important to speak to your loved ones about their evacuation plans in advance of landfall. Coastal areas often flood after major rainmakers, but inland flooding followed by evacuations is just as likely. So regardless of geography, all Texans should know who they’re going to call in the event of a major crisis.

The Red Cross says a communication tool that families can integrate into their plan is the Red Cross Safe and Well website. You can go to http://www.redcross.org to access it. The news release continues, “This public website allows those affected by disaster to register themselves as ‘safe and well’ by posting standard messages that indicate they are at a shelter, home, or hotel and will make contact when they are able. Concerned family members who know the person’s phone number or a complete home address can search for the posted messages. In addition to bringing peace of mind to those outside of the disaster area, use of this tool helps mitigate congestion of public and cellular telephone lines and reduces the burden on emergency responders.”

Red Cross officials add, “Now is the time to become familiar with Safe and Well. It’s also the time to reach out to loved ones along the coast to be sure you know their evacuation plans and to inform them about the Safe and Well website. Tropical Storm Don is the first potential Texas landfall of the year, but he may not be the last in what has already shaped up to be an active hurricane season. It is important to note that the Safe and Well website safeguards the registrant’s privacy. Standard messages are enough to provide peace of mind, but the site does not reveal the registrant’s specific location or contact information.”

Red Cross officials add that you can go to http://www.sanoysalvo.org for a Spanish version of the Safe and Well website. People without access to a computer, without electricity or in need of help from an interpreter can call the Red Cross at 1-800 RED CROSS to register. For more information on hurricane preparedness and Safe and Well, contact the Smith County Chapter of the American Red Cross at 903-581-7981, visit http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800 RED CROSS.