Maui Red Cross Volunteer To Help With Samoa Relief Effort

At least one Red Cross volunteer from Maui will be traveling to Samoa tomorrow to assist in relief efforts in the quake and tsunami damaged regions of American Samoa.  Other Hawaii Red Cross volunteers are on standby in anticipation of deploying to help those affected.

File Photo by: Talia Frenkel/American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross has a Disaster Relief Fund established for such disasters with contributions used to prepare for and serve victims.

If you would like to donate specifically to the American Samoa relief effort, please indicate so on your check or when you call, and your donor intent will be honored.  General monetary gifts without specific designations enable the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance to victims of all disaster.

Contributions to the Disaster Relief Fund may be sent to the Hawaii State Chapter at 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, HI 96816, or to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C., 20013.  Internet users can make a secure online donation by visiting www.redcross.org.  Call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) or 1-800-257-7575 (Spanish).

One of the most vital services the American Red Cross provides to families during a disaster is the peace of mind that comes from knowing that friends and family are safe and well.  The “Safe and Well” website is an easy to use internet tool that individuals affected by a disaster can let their families and friends know that they are safe.

How does Safe and Well Work?

Log onto the Red Cross website at www.redcross.org  and choose “List Myself as Safe and Well.”  You will be asked for your pre-disaster address and phone number.  You can select from a menu of pre-scripted messages that will be viewed by your loved ones such as “I am safe and well” or “Currently at a shelter” or “will make phone calls when available.”  If you are outside the disaster affected area and you hear from a loved one without access to a computer, you can register them yourself through the Safe and Well site.  That way, other loved ones can be reassured as well.  You can actually play a part in the disaster relief effort right from your own home.

If you are concerned about a loved one, visit the “Search” page, enter the person’s name and pre-disaster phone number OR address.  If your loved one has registered, you will be able to view the messages that they posted.  It’s that simple.

The Safe and Well site safeguards the privacy of the disaster victim.  Although the safe and well messages will be viewable by friends or family members, the site does not reveal a specific location or contact information.  It is up to the disaster victim to choose who will know his or her whereabouts and how best to communicate that information.

(Posted by Wendy Osher; Information provided by the American Red Cross)