Red Cross Urges Area Residents to Prepare for Severe Weather

Free Emergency App can help Protect Families and Households

The American Red Cross is urging Tennessee residents to prepare for severe weather. A front moving into the area on Friday night is expected to bring higher temperatures and severe weather for the area Saturday, with the potential for large hail and even tornadoes.

“Preparation is the best protection,” said Sarah Basel, Regional Director of Communications. “By taking a few simple steps ahead of time, you can help ensure that all of your household members know what to do and where to go when severe weather occurs.”

The free Red Cross Emergency App makes this easier by providing instant access to weather and emergency alerts, life-saving information and ways to contact family and friends in case an event occurs. The app covers 14 different types of disasters including floods and flash floods, tornadoes and thunderstorms and lets users customize more than 35 emergency alerts for themselves and where loved ones live. The app contains preloaded content so users can access guidance from Red Cross experts even without mobile connectivity, and allows users to easily toggle between Spanish and English.

“Family Safe” is a unique feature that allows the app user to notify loved ones who are in an area affected by an emergency or disaster and find out if they are safe. The recipient can instantly see the alert details as well as specific “what to do now” steps, and then respond with either “I’m safe” or “I’m not safe.” This feature works even if the recipient has not downloaded the Emergency App.

The app is available in app stores by searching for the Red Cross Emergency or by going to redcross.org/apps.

Whenever severe weather warnings are issued people should move to an underground shelter, basement or safe room. If that’s not possible, a small windowless interior room or hallway on the lowest level of a sturdy building is an alternative.

If the power goes out, people should:

·         Use flashlights instead of candles;

·         Keep refrigerator and freezer doors closed as much as possible; and

·         Make sure generators are placed outside the home and away from doors, windows and vents that could allow carbon monoxide to come indoors.

Additional safety tips on what to do before, during and after a variety of disasters and emergencies are located at redcross.org/prepare. People can also take Red Cross First Aid and CPR/AED courses so they’ll know what to do in case help is delayed. They can get information and register at redcross.org/TakeAClass.

Join Red Cross at the HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast on May 14, 2015

Each year, the Lifesaver Breakfast hosts Nashville’s most influential business and community leaders, sharing the mission of the American Red Cross and raising the financial funding resources necessary to provide their core humanitarian services. The event is typically held in March in collaboration with Red Cross Month, a month long celebration of everyday heroes who help those in need.

 

The Nashville Area Chapter of the American Red Cross postponed the HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast due to winter weather in the area. The breakfast, originally planned for Thursday, March 5, was rescheduled for Thursday, May 14.

 

“We are so thankful for the generous support of HCA/TriStar Health, Nissan and all of our wonderful sponsors and community partners this year,” said Harry Jacobson, event Chairperson. “The Lifesaver Breakfast would not happen without the support of our community, and we look forward to celebrating with them in May.”

 

The HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast will be held on Thursday, May 14 at 7:30 a.m. at the Omni Hotel in downtown Nashville. Steve Forbes, Chairman & Editor-in-Chief of Forbes Media, will be this year’s keynote speaker.

 

For more information on the HCA/TriStar Health Lifesaver Breakfast, please contact Mandy Peebles at 615-290-6804 or visit www.lifesaverbreakfast.org. To make a donation, visit www.crowdrise.com/NashvilleLifesaverBreakfast.

 

Thank you to all of our sponsors!

 

Title Sponsor 

HCA

 

Legacy Sponsor
Nissan

 

Presenting Sponsors
Asurion
Dollar General
Franklin American Mortgage
Ingram
Jan & Harry Jacobson
CCA
Delta Dental

 

Supporting Sponsors
BCBS Tennessee
Community Health Systems
Informatics Coproration of America
Kroger
MaryEllen & Tom Rodgers
Pinnacle Financial
Vanderbilt Bone & Joint
Acadia
SunTrust
GE Capital Healthcare Financial Services
Aegis Sciences
Lifepoint
Fred Detweiler
Cheryl L. Read & Associates
Regina & Peter Rousos
Cardiovascular Care Group

 

Event Sponsors

Delek Holdings Elena & Barney Byrd First Tennessee Bank Haven Behavioral Health Jack B. Turner & Associates NorthStar Real Estate Advisors, LLC Parallon Riley, Warnock & Jacobson Rogers Group Susan & Greg Lanigan Tom Black Regions Bank Ernst & Young Nationwide Club Managers Association of America - Volunteer Chapter Vanderbilt University UPS OIA Corizon Health Burr & Forman Nacarato Volvo Trucks

MNAA Brown & Brown CAT Financial Catherine & Gary Wilson JP Morgan Chase Lipman Brothers Lovell Communications Zurich Ozburn-Hessey Logistics Bass, Berry & Sims Leisa Gill BancorpSouth Waller Landsden Dortch & Davis New York Life Warren Beck Standard Candy Co. Reliant Bank CareCore Lipscomb University

 

 

Regional Executive Corner with Joel Sullivan - April 2015

Let’s Celebrate Our Volunteers

The American Red Cross of the Nashville Area is honoring its volunteers and the work they do in the community during National Volunteer Month.

Last year, our volunteers helped 398 Nashville area families who faced home fires and other disaster situations. They trained 9,762 people in lifesaving skills and provided 1,865 services to military members, veterans and their families.

I invite the public to join us and become a Red Cross volunteer. Go to redcross.org/nashville to learn more about the many ways people can help and how to submit a volunteer application.

The Red Cross Home Fire Preparedness Campaign offers another way to volunteer and help reduce the number of home fire injuries and deaths in the area. Volunteers are going door-to-door in neighborhoods at high risk for fires to install smoke alarms and teach people about home fire safety.

During National Volunteer Month, I extend my sincerest thanks to the 7,404 local Red Cross volunteers who help us fulfill our mission here in the Tennessee Region. They help us fulfill our mission of alleviating human suffering during emergencies.

Letter from Heart of Tennessee Executive Director, Mike Cowles - April 2015

Is spring really here?  It’s hard to tell but I am sure looking forward to warmer weather.  As we all know, this is the time of year when the trees and flowers are putting on buds, the birds are singing a little earlier in the morning, the days are getting brighter, kids have been on spring break and storms are more likely to appear.  

Are you prepared?  

My family is prepared. We have a Rubbermaid tote on standby with flashlights and fresh batteries, bottled water, a small amount of snacks, a first aid kit, sleeping bags, propane camp stove, utensils and more.  No matter how prepared, there is always something we forget and I encourage each of you to take time this spring to put a kit together that will help you in case of emergency.  

Know where the safest place in your home is, and if you have children, show them where to go before and after a storm.  Make sure you know where your pets are and educate you neighbors on being prepared.  Getting to know your neighbors should be a priority so you can help each other when faced with a disaster.  My kids feel safe knowing that if “Mom and Dad” are injured or trapped they can go find a neighbor that can help.

One of the best things you can do for yourself and the community is to know your surroundings and to always be prepared for the unexpected.  Take some time this month and stop by our office and let us talk to you about the Red Cross and all the opportunities we offer.

Mike

Letter from Tennessee River Executive Director, Faye Anderson - April 2015

The Heart of a Volunteer

During the ice storm which occurred Thursday, March 5, 2015, Ed England, one of our volunteers from Dickson County, was taking calls as our Government Liaison.  One of these calls was for assistance for an elderly home-bound individual. He was given an overview from EMA concerning her needs and circumstances.  The closest family lived two hours away under ideal travel conditions, but all roads were treacherous to impassible. The home caregiver was unable to make it to her shift, and the caregiver from the previous shift was required to leave under the Provider's time-on-duty guidelines. We were asked if there was anything the ARC could do to help.  We had no shelters, ARC or independent, open in the area. The EMA stated they would provide transportation for this lady if we found a place for her, so Ed began reaching out to his resources in the area. 

He found a partner that was willing to extend a hand to help with the situation. They agreed to contact the facility the patient was familiar with to see if we could place her there temporarily until the roads were clear enough for the caregivers to travel. Luckily the call paid off and she was approved to be brought there for the weekend.  In addition, they agreed to pay all costs of the patient's stay, even though ARC could have paid for it under our Disaster guidelines. The patient was transported by EMS to the facility and we were able to play a part in extending our mission through the hands and hearts of other partnerships. 

When Ed spoke to the family he learned they had been trying to get this patient into assisted living for several months without success. They had trouble getting her approved and qualified.   During her stay, the patient's insurance company was contacted and they agreed to pay for all expenses. The facility was allowed to perform an evaluation. It showed that the patient not only qualified for assisted living, but it was now a necessity. The patient's insurance in return agreed to pay for an extended stay until a facility could be secured.

 Ed received a phone call from a very grateful family.  Through the efforts of the Red Cross and the partners that played a role in helping, she was safe and was now going to be enrolled full time into an assisted living facility.  This small act of kindness accelerated the process to get her evaluated quickly. The ARC and its partners did in a few days what her family had been trying to do for months.

Once again it shows how valuable our community partners and volunteers are to this organization.  We not only continue our mission helping those affected by disasters, but we go a step further by finding and building partnerships that will extend our mission. I am so proud of Ed, he didn’t stop until he knew she had been taken care of…now that shows the heart of a true volunteer!