Are you Red Cross Ready?

Are you Red Cross Ready? Local Volunteer gets Utahns Prepared

September: It’s national preparedness month!

SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH (September 1, 2009) —During September, The American Red Cross is celebrating Preparedness Month… and one local volunteer who works hard to get Utahns prepared for disasters.

Kathy Luke of Sandy has volunteered with the American Red Cross for more than ten years. While living in Washington D.C., Luke attended several classes at the Red Cross and brought her knowledge with her when she moved to Salt Lake. Between both cities, Luke has taken 37 classes and now teaches two. Luke helps people affected by disasters, gives community presentations and teaches local disaster volunteers how to be prepared. Luke is an excellent example of someone who is Red Cross Ready!

Utahns can take a wide array of health & safety and disaster preparedness classes at their local Red Cross Chapters. The Red Cross also offers workplace training, to help keep businesses and their employees Red Cross Ready and safe in an emergency.

During September there will be a wide array of ongoing efforts in preparedness statewide, including disaster & sheltering training for volunteers, community disaster education presentations and more. Call your local Red Cross for details.

President Obama has designated September 11, 2010 as a national day of volunteering. He is encouraging all Americans to get out and volunteer, and your local Red Cross chapter is a great place to help! To get started volunteering and become more prepared for disasters in Utah, just visit our website at www.utahredcross.org. Your local chapters are training business and individuals year round how to be Red Cross Ready. Click on the Be Prepared Link and find lots of great information on being prepared for a list of disasters, making a plan, even printing off checklists! Also, check “Across Utah” on the website to find phone numbers and links for Red Cross offices throughout the state.

When your local chapter isn’t preparing the community for disasters and emergencies, they are responding to disasters right here in Utah. The Greater Salt Lake Area Chapter responds to up to 200 incidents each year, some of them render multiple families homeless.

How People Can Help:

Help people affected by disasters by donating to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, or your local Chapter. On those rare occasions when donations exceed Red Cross expenses for a specific disaster, contributions are used to prepare for and serve victims of other disasters.