Red Cross Offers Tool to Keep Families Connected During Evacuations

During an emergency letting your family know that you are safe can bring your loved ones great peace of mind. That's why the Red Cross has developed a communication tool to help families and individuals notify loved ones that they are safe during an emergency.

The Red Cross Web site now features a secure section called Safe and Well where people in the disaster-affected area can register their well-being and where friends and family elsewhere can access that information.

Disaster victims and people outside the impacted area can be a part of the communication process by doing the following:

• Visit the Red Cross Web site and click on Safe and Well.
• If you are in the affected area, list yourself as Safe and Well by calling 1(800) RED-CROSS or registering on the Safe and Well web site.
• If you hear from a loved one in the affected area, enter their information on the site to let people know they are Safe and Well.
• If you have phone or internet access, share that with your neighbors who don't. Invite them to use your computer access to place themselves on the site. Share your cell phone with your neighbors who may need to call 1(800) RED-CROSS for help listing their information.

As with any other Red Cross service or product, Safe and Well safeguards the privacy of disaster victims and protects their information according to privacy law standards. Messages - but not locations - will be viewable by friends and family. The Red Cross recommends that people affected should determine how best to communicate their contact information and whereabouts to family members. During the initial hours of this disaster it is important to stay connected with loved ones.