Contacting Family And Friends After A Disaster

In light of hurricane Katrina, the American Red Cross has released tips on how to best contact friends and family after a disaster. They recommend people follow these tips to help ensure that friends and family know that you’re safe.

• Call an out of town contact to let them know you are safe.
• Ask them to spread the word to your family and friends.
• Make sure your contact lives far enough away that they are not affected by the same storm.
• Rest assured that emergency responders are working as quickly as possible and are doing all that they can to help those affected.
• Remember that storms mean power outages and downed phone lines. Please keep trying and be patient.
• Phone lines are often overwhelmed after a disaster. Try sending an email if you can — sometimes email works when phones don’t.