On Saturday my family and I participated with Hope Worldwide in the Red Cross and HOPE Worldwide Martin Luther King Day Fire Safety and Disaster Prep Fair. We began by hearing from Ms. O’Shaughnessy from the Red Cross in regards to how people could best prepare in case they ever had a personal fire so that the Red Cross could help them in the best ways.
We were taught how to be a partner in disaster recovery. If you need the assistance of somebody from the Red Cross, you need to be in a position that they can help you. Below are a few ways that you can help them help you in times of disaster:
-Stay current: When you move, make sure that you update your state ID or driver’s license with your current address. If you can’t prove that you live in the place that you were burned out, then the Red Cross will have trouble helping you.
-If you are the lease owner, also make a copy of your apartment lease. Put the copy somewhere safe (i.e. in the cloud or at your work office). Also, make a copy of your paystub and keep that in a safe place.
-Keep important phone numbers on paper. Don’t just trust your cell phone!
These are the main things that the Red Cross (as responders) ask that we do in order to work with them/ be the best partners in case disaster recovery is needed.
If you enjoyed this post, don’t miss future ones! Please be sure to sign up for my biweekly email updates. (If you like getting updates as they post, you can follow me on Facebook or Twitter.) Thanks!