New Red Cross tools

FORT WAYNE, Ind. (WANE) - The American Red Cross has launched a new collection of free, online tools to help businesses, schools and other organizations prepare for emergencies.

These enhancements to the Red Cross Ready Rating™ program offer specific steps that organizations can take to be better prepared.

The new features include:

·         An Emergency Response Plan Tool, which enables program members to build a customized plan to help their employees know their roles in the first 24-72 hours of an emergency;

·         A Next Steps report that recommends specific actions members should take and the level of effort required to execute them;

·         A Resource Center that includes preparedness tools including activities and exercises, so businesses, employees and students can better develop and practice preparedness plans;

·         A Ready Rating Store with emergency supplies at the click of a button;

·         An enhanced user experience that enables easier sign up and access to all tools available.

“Contingency planning is crucial,” said Kay Ostrum, CEO of the Red Cross of Northeast Indiana. “The new Ready Rating program components make it even easier for organizations to get started and to help improve the readiness level for those who already have plans in place.”

Emergencies like power outages, water main breaks and medical emergencies can disrupt daily operations. Disasters like tornados, floods, earthquakes and fires have the potential to cause workplaces to fold and schools to close. In an effort to better prepare for such events, Ready Rating members complete a confidential assessment of their current readiness level for emergencies and receive immediate, customized feedback with tips and resources for them to improve their readiness scores.

More than 1,300 businesses and organizations and nearly 450 schools are already Ready Rating members. Members have increased their assessment scores – some by as much as 42 percent. 93 percent of members rate the service as good to excellent.

The Ready Rating program is consistent with Private Sector or PS-Prep Standards developed by the Department of Homeland Security. More information about this valuable program and the new components can be found at readyrating.org .

_{This story provided by Northeast Indiana Chapter of the American Red Cross.}