Members have expressed concern about another attack on our great city, and possibly somewhere in the tri-state area. To help you and your family be prepared, we’ve summarized information developed by the American Red Cross. We hope this will help give you an idea of how you might prepare your family and home.

We have been notified of alerts and threats daily and these issues certainly increase our level of stress. The American Red Cross of Greater New York has a web site with many recommendations for you to consider in preparing for an unexpected disaster due to Mother Nature or even terrorism.  We urge you to review the following web site: http://www.nyredcross.org/health_safety/healthsafety_terrorism.htm

The Red Cross details how you can reduce the stress that you may feel now and even later if another emergency should arise. This may be accomplished by preparing yourself and your family with action to reassure them if such an event occurs.

The Red Cross asks you to first find out what can happen. Then, discuss it with your family and develop a disaster plan together. As a group you will become aware of issues that different members of the family may have and, in fact, deal with issues in a more pragmatic manner than if you were to design it all by yourself.

To create your own family emergency communications plan, there are many steps to follow. Here are a few suggestions:

1 - Choose an out-of-town family contact.

2 - Make sure every household member has the means to communicate with them.

3 - Establish a predetermined family meeting place.

4 - Plan for your pets.

5 - Assemble a disaster supplies kit including some essential supplies to make your family comfortable. Include "special needs" items such as infant formula, medications, clothing, battery powered radio and extra batteries, canned food and opener, bottled water and tools. Some cash and copies of important family documents should also be included.

6 - Give up-to-date information about any medical needs you may have to trusted colleagues, family, etc.

The Red Cross web site has many more details on how to assemble a disaster supplies kit. http://www.nyredcross.org/health_safety/healthsafety_disastersuppl.htm

If you have children in elementary or high school, be sure that the school has updated information about how to reach you.

If Disaster Strikes …

A - Remain calm and be patient.

B - Follow the advice of local emergency officials.

C - Listen to your radio for news and instructions.

D - Call your family contact.

E - You may have to evacuate an area, avoiding roads blocked for your safety.

F - If local authorities ask you to leave your home, you should heed their advice, and, take your disaster supplies kit with you.

G - Stay away from downed power lines.

H - Call your family contact and tell them where you are going.

Another useful preparation includes learning some basic first aid. To enroll in a first aid course, contact a local American Red Cross. In an emergency situation, you need to tend to your own well being first and then consider first aid for others immediately around you, assisting injured people to evacuate a building if necessary.

People who may have come into contact with a biological or chemical agent may need to go through a decontamination procedure and receive medical attention.

It is important to be prepared for an emergency and to know how to give emergency care.

For more information about the specific effects of chemical or biological agents, the following Web sites may be helpful:

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention: www.bt.cdc.gov

U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: www.hhs.gov

Chemical Emergency Preparedness and Prevention [EPA]: www.epa.gov/swercepp

For First Aid Training, and Much More:

http://www.nyredcross.org/health_safety/index.htm

Resource: American Red Cross for Greater New York http://www.nyredcross.org