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NATION’S TERROR THREAT LEVEL RAISED TO ORANGE; AMERICAN RED CROSS URGES FAMILIES, SCHOOLS, BUSINESSES TO PREPARE
Date:March 18, 2003
Contact:Candie Hayes - Director of Communications & Development - 609.951.2116
Erik Ahlgren, Communications Associate 609.951.2117

March 18, 2003, Princeton, NJ -- America’s terror threat level has been raised to “High/Orange” and the American Red Cross is urging families and individuals throughout central New Jersey to make appropriate preparations according to the Red Cross Recommendations for the Homeland Security Advisory System

Corresponding with the government’s color-coded system, the Red Cross has tailored specific emergency readiness information for families, individuals, schools, neighborhoods and businesses relating to each of the five threat levels.  Each level of the Red Cross recommendations includes completing the identified actions at the lesser threat levels.  Being alert to suspicious activity and reporting it to authorities, along with taking a Red Cross CPR/AED and first aid course, are recommended throughout the system.  The following is a summary of recommended actions for “Orange” and lower levels: 

Individuals
· Review your Personal Disaster Plan
· Ensure your Disaster Supplies Kit is stocked and ready. 
· Develop alternate routes to and from work or school and practice them. 
· Exercise caution when traveling. 
· Have shelter-in-place materials on hand and review the procedure in Terrorism: Preparing for the Unexpected, a Red Cross brochure. 
· If a need is announced, donate blood at blood collection center (1-800-GIVE LIFE). 
· Prior to volunteering, contact blood collection agency to determine their needs. 

Families 
· Review Family Disaster Plan with all family members. 
· Check items in your Disaster Supplies Kit and replace items that are outdated. 
· If not known to you, contact your child’s school to determine their emergency notification and evacuation plans. 
· Ensure the emergency communication plan is understood and practiced by all family members. 
· Discuss children’s fears concerning possible terrorist attacks. 

Neighborhoods 
· Check on neighbors who are elderly or have special needs to ensure they are okay. Review their disaster plan with them. 
· If a need is announced, contact nearest blood collection agency and offer to organize a neighborhood blood drive. 

Schools 
· Review the school’s emergency plan that was developed using the Red Cross Emergency Guide for Business and Industry. 
· Ensure all emergency supplies are stocked and ready. 
· Offer Masters of Disaster “Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Tragic Events” lessons in grades K-12. 
· Prepare to handle inquiries from anxious parents and media. 

Businesses* 
· Review the emergency plans, including continuity of operations and media materials on hand. 
· Ensure that the emergency communication plan is updated and includes the purchase of needed emergency equipment as detailed in the Red Cross Emergency Management Guide for Business and Industry. 
· Determine any need to restrict access to the business or provide private security firm support/reinforcement. 
· Contact vendors/suppliers to confirm their emergency response plan procedures. 
· If need is announced, contact nearest blood collection agency about organizing a blood drive. 
*Please refer to the Business Network section of the Central New Jersey Red Cross web site for information on emergency preparedness for businesses.

For more information on how to prepare for and respond to emergencies, please call 609-951-8550.  To download the full version of the Red Cross Recommendations for the Homeland Security Advisory System, visit www.redcross.org, where you can also find a wide variety of free publications in a variety of languages to help citizens prepare for terrorism and natural disasters.  To donate blood or host a blood drive at your business, please call 1-800-GIVE-LIFE. 

The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey is governed by volunteers and supported by community donations. We are dedicated to saving lives and helping people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.  Led by over 1,300 volunteers and more than 30 employees, our chapter annually mobilizes relief to families affected by disasters in central New Jersey and trains over 50,000 people in lifesaving skills.  The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey holds hundreds of blood drives annually -– supplying blood and blood products to hospitals throughout New Jersey.  Central New Jersey Red Cross volunteers also assist victims of international disasters and conflicts at locations worldwide. 


Together, we can save a life

 

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