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Together, we can save a life
Twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week, Red Cross trained disaster team members are on call to respond to emergencies. The Red Cross helps the victims with their unmet, disaster caused, emergency needs for shelter, food, clothing, and more, so they can begin the difficult task of putting their lives back together.
Aaron Van Wellbaum, Disaster Services Coordinator
Pager # - 217-266-7607
Ruth Bales, DSHR
Effingham County
Joyce Howald, DSHR
Cumberland County
The Effingham Service Center provides disaster services to Effingham, Jasper, Clay, Fayette, and Cumberland Counties 24 hours a day. We ensure disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, mitigation, and response that will provide the victims with quality services in a uniform, consistent and responsive manner. We also work with local government, businesses and agencies identifying resources and roles, sharing information, and finding ways to ensure a coordinated & efficient response to any disaster that strikes.
WATCH
or WARNING:
Besides knowing
what to do in various situations, you should know
the difference between a watch and a warning:
A TORNADO WATCH simply means conditions are favorable for tornadoes to develop.
A TORNADO WARNING means a tornado has actually been sighted. Realize that tornadoes can be deadly and devastating storms, with winds up to 260 miles per hour.
If a tornado WARNING is issued for your area: Seek shelter immediately!
Plan
to Survive!
A thunderstorm is brewing, so you turn on the television in time to hear a tornado warning issued for your area. You and your family seek shelter immediately.
Since you've practiced your family's tornado drill several times, everyone knows where to go; they quickly and without panic gather in the basement. There, you tune in the battery-operated radio from your emergency kit and listen for further weather updates while waiting out the storm.
...It's a textbook-perfect survival plan. But you should be aware that most times it simply doesn't work that way.
Even if you are at home, you can't always rely on weather reports to warn you of an approaching tornado, because conditions change so quickly. Tornadoes can occur without warning, or you may be out of range of emergency sirens.
THE PLAN At Home: The safest place to be during a tornado is underground, preferably under something sturdy like a work bench. If there's no basement or cellar in your home, a small room in the middle of the house - like a bathroom or a closet - is best. The more walls between you and the outside, the better.
THE PLAN In A Mobile or Manufactured Home: Residents in mobile homes, even those with tiedowns, should seek safe shelter elsewhere at the first sign of severe weather. While mobile homes can be attractive alternatives to traditional homes, they also may be more vulnerable to damage from high winds. Go to a prearranged shelter or talk to a friend or relative ahead of time to see if you can go to their house when the weather turns bad. If you live in a mobile home park, talk to management about the availability of nearby shelter. If no emergency plan exists, consider setting up a neighborhood information program. Hold briefings on safety procedures as tornado season approaches. As a last resort, go outside and lie flat on the ground with your hands over your head and neck. Be alert for flash floods that often accompany such storms.
THE PLAN In your automobile: Tornadoes can toss cars - even large trucks - around like toys. Never try to outrun a tornado. If you see a funnel cloud or hear a tornado WARNING issued on the radio or by siren, get out of your vehicle and seek a safe structure or lie down in a low area with your hands covering the back of your head and neck; keep alert for flash floods.
THE PLAN At work or school: Be aware of emergency shelter plans in office buildings and schools you and your family frequent. If a specific shelter area does not exist, move into interior hallways or small rooms on the building's lowest level. Avoid areas with glass and wide, freespan roofs.
THE
PLAN At a store or shopping mall: If
you can't get into a basement or designated shelter, move to the center
of the lowest level of the building, away from windows, and lie flat.
Plan to Survive!
Are you prepared for a disaster?
Pack at least
three-day supply of food and water in a handy place.
Choose food that are easy to carry, nutritious and ready-to-eat.
In addition, pack these emergency items:
• Medical supplies and first aid manual
• Hygiene supplies
• Portable radio, flashlights
• Extra batteries
• Shovel and other useful tools
• Household
liquid bleach to purify drinking water
(the only active ingredient should be 5.25% hypochlorite,
16 drops per gallon, or 8 drops per 2-liter)
• Money and matches in a waterproof container
• Fire extinguisher
• Blanket and extra clothing
•Infant
and small children's needs
(if appropriate)
• Manual
can opener
After the Tornado Passes...
* Watch out for fallen power lines and stay out of the damaged area.
* Listen to the radio for information and instructions.
* Use a flashlight to inspect your home for damage.
* Do not use candles at any time.
The Mission of the American Red Cross
"The
American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization, led by
volunteers, that provides relief to victims of disasters and help people
prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. It does this through
services that are consistent with its congressional charter and the
principles of the International Red Cross Movement."
The major source of funding for any Red Cross chapter is private donations
So please remember to give to your local American Red Cross.
© Copyright The
American Red Cross South Central Illinois Chapter. All Rights
Reserved.
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web site designed by: Janetta Forbes
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