A new survey found that 72 percent of Americans do not have a disaster plan in place, and 74 percent do not have a disaster supplies kit stored safely in their home. The "Preparedness" survey was conducted by phone among 1,021 adults across the nation on December 19-22, 2002. The survey, conducted by Harris Interactive, has a 3 percent margin of error.
Simple emergency preparedness kits and other safety and security items can be purchased online at www.safetyandsecuritycenter.com. "We know from our research that American families simply are not adequately prepared to deal with emergencies," said Marsha J. Evans, president and CEO, American Red Cross. "While this reality has always been an area of concern, today's environment makes it a call to action.
"The new program that the Red Cross has announced today is an example of the type of partnership that is needed if we hope to make true national preparedness a reality," Evans continued.
At the cornerstone of the educational campaign is an all-new guide, "Together We Can Become Safe Families." This comprehensive workbook outlines the critical steps every family should follow to be prepared for all types of emergencies. The guidebook addresses preparedness from a general perspective to have the greatest effect on helping keep America's families safe. "To be better prepared for emergencies, families need to start with the basics," said Evans.
