Red Cross Responds to Tropical Storm Barry

Download Free Red Cross Apps to Put Vital Information at Your Fingertips

WASHINGTON, Friday, July 12, 2019 — Ten million people are in the path of Tropical Storm Barry, the first tropical storm to threaten the U.S. this year. The storm poses a triple flooding threat to Louisiana with the potential for almost two feet of rain, a storm surge that could go as high as six feet and rivers already dangerously high. The American Red Cross is getting ready to respond and urges people in the region to get prepared now.

The Red Cross is working with partners to mobilize trained volunteers, shelters, relief supplies, vehicles and other equipment to help people along the Gulf Coast. As the storm passes, the Red Cross is preparing to provide shelter for thousands of people until they can return home or find other places to stay.

The Red Cross has shelters open and is working with local officials to determine what other help will be needed after the storm comes ashore. Mandatory evacuations are already in effect in some areas. Anyone who needs a safe place to go can call 2-1-1, visit redcross.org or download the free Red Cross Emergency App. People should follow their local state or parish news for additional information.

We encourage people who plan to stay in a Red Cross shelter to bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

Red Cross shelters are open to everyone in need, regardless of race, religion, gender identity, sexual orientation or citizenship status. All disaster assistance is free. We don’t require people to show any kind of identification to enter a shelter — just their name and pre-disaster address.

HOW YOU CAN HELP

The Red Cross works 24/7 to be ready to respond to disasters of all sizes. Help people affected by disasters like storms and countless other crises by making a gift to American Red Cross Disaster Relief. Please click, text or call to donate to the Red Cross to help people affected by disasters big and small. Visit redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS, or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.

MAJOR FLOODING EXPECTED

Barry is predicted to make landfall on the Louisiana coast tonight or Saturday, moving into the lower Mississippi Valley on Sunday. Close to two feet of rain could swamp the region, already soggy from storms earlier this week. Another threat is the Mississippi River which is usually at about eight feet at this time of year and is more than 15 feet high.

People should know the difference between a watch and warning. A watch means that a flood or flash flood is possible in your area, while a warning means that flooding/flash flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.

If you are in the path of this storm, be prepared to evacuate. Leave the area if local officials tell you to do so. Don’t return home until officials say it is safe. Stay informed - tune into your local radio, NOAA radio or news channels for the latest updates. Flooding is almost certain to occur, and people can follow these safety steps:

• Listen to local area radio, NOAA radio or TV stations for the latest information and updates.
• Be prepared to evacuate quickly if directed and know your routes and destinations. If someone needs to find a shelter they can call 2-1-1 or visit redcross.org/shelter.
  
• Pack your emergency kit. Include a gallon of water per person, per day – 3 days for evacuation, 2-week supply for home. Also pack a 3-day supply of non-perishable food, a flashlight, battery or hand crank radio, extra batteries, first aid kit, medications, sanitation and personal hygiene items, cell phone with charger, family and emergency contact information, extra cash, a map of the area and items for babies, anyone with special needs and your pets.
• Make sure everyone in your household knows what to do if a flood watch or warning is issued.
• Keep insurance policies, valuables and other important documents in a safe deposit box or a safe place not likely to be damaged in a flood. Take pictures and keep copies of important documents and files on a flash drive that you can carry with you.
• Don’t forget your pets. Prepare a pet emergency kit for your companion animals.

During a Flood

• Move immediately to higher ground or stay on high ground. Evacuate if directed. Avoid walking or driving through flood waters.
• Avoid contact with floodwater. It may be contaminated with sewage.
• Avoid already flooded areas and areas that are subject to sudden flooding such as dips, low spots, canyons, washes etc. Stay away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains.
• Do not attempt to cross flowing streams or water covered roads.
• If caught in a flash flood, try to get to higher ground and stay there. Just six inches of fast-flowing water can knock you over and two feet will float a car.
• Turn around and find another route if you come upon floodwater, rapidly rising water or barricades.
• Don’t allow children to play in or near flood water. It may be contaminated with sewage.

More information, including a flood safety checklist in several languages, is available here.

DOWNLOAD APPS People can download the Red Cross Emergency App for instant access to weather alerts for their area and where loved ones live. How to handle certain medical situations and a hospital locator are included in the First Aid App in case travelers encounter any mishaps. Both apps are available to download for free in app stores or at redcross.org/apps. The content in these apps is available to view in Spanish.

CORPORATIONS HELP The generous donations from members of the Red Cross Annual Disaster Giving Program (ADGP) and the Disaster Responder Program enable the American Red Cross to prepare communities for disasters big and small, respond whenever and wherever disasters occur and help families during the recovery process.

ADGP $1 Million members are: American Airlines; Anheuser-Busch Foundation; Anthem Foundation; Bank of America; Caterpillar Foundation; The Clorox Company; Costco Wholesale; Delta Air Lines; Enterprise Rent-A-Car Foundation; FedEx; The Home Depot Foundation; LDS Charities; Lilly Endowment Inc.; Lowe's Companies, Inc.; Mazda North American Operations; Microsoft Corp.; Nationwide Foundation; State Farm; Verizon; VSP Global; Walmart and the Walmart Foundation; and The Walt Disney Company.

ADGP $500,000 members are: Altria Group; AmazonSmile; Aon; BMW of North America; Capital One; Cisco Foundation; Citi Foundation; CSX; Darden Foundation; Delta Dental Community Care Foundation; Discover; Energy Transfer/Sunoco Foundation; Ford Motor Company; Fox Corporation; General Motors; Grainger; HCA Healthcare; Humble Bundle; IBM Corporation; International Paper; The J.M. Smucker Company; Johnson Controls Foundation; LHC Group; Merck Foundation; Mondelēz International Foundation; New Balance Foundation; Nissan; PepsiCo Foundation; Procter & Gamble Company; PwC Charitable Foundation; Sands Cares; Southwest Airlines; Target; TD Ameritrade; The TJX Companies, Inc.; United Airlines; UPS; The USAA Foundation; The Wawa Foundation; and Wells Fargo.

Disaster Responder Program members are: 7-Eleven Cares Foundation; Adobe; AdvoCare International L.P.; American Express; Assurant; AstraZeneca; AT&T; AvalonBay Communities, Inc.; Avangrid Foundation; AXA Equitable Life Insurance Company; The Ball Foundation; Barclays; CarMax; Choice Hotels International; Cox Enterprises; DICK’S Sporting Goods; Duke Energy; Edison International; Entergy Corporation; GE Foundation; Harbor Freight Tools Foundation, LLC; Hewlett Packard Enterprise Foundation; HP Foundation; Ingersoll Rand Foundation; John Deere Foundation; The Kraft Heinz Company Foundation; Land O’Lakes, Inc.; Mastercard; Medtronic Foundation; Neiman Marcus Group; Northrop Grumman Corporation; Northwestern Mutual and the Northwestern Mutual Foundation; Old Dominion Freight Line; Prudential Financial; Rodan + Fields Prescription for Change Foundation; Ryder System, Inc.; Security Finance’s Lending Hand Foundation; Southeastern Grocers Home of BI-LO Harveys Winn Dixie; The Starbucks Foundation; Tata Consultancy Services; Toyota; U-Haul International; United Technologies Corporation; U.S. Bank; and Visa.