Red Cross Opens Safe and Well Website for California Earthquake

WASHINGTON, Tuesday, Residents in California affected by today’s earthquake are urged to register themselves and their loved ones on the Safe and Well website, to let family and friends around the country know of their status. Safe and Well is an easy way to assist people seeking to locate those who’ve registered their status during this emergency. Letting your family know that you are safe during an emergency can bring great peace of mind.

“At the American Red Cross we want to make difficult situations like this a little bit easier by giving families and friends a resource to get this important information,” said Joe Becker, Senior Vice President, Disaster Services. “Knowing that those we care about are safe is a relief that allows people to focus on what to do next.”

The Safe and Well website is easy to use:

* Visit RedCross.org, and click on the Safe and Well link
* If you are currently affected by the earthquakes, click: “List Myself as Safe and Well”, enter your pre-disaster address and phone number, and select any of the standard message options
* If you are concerned about a loved one, click “Search” and enter the person’s name and pre-disaster phone number OR address. If they have registered, you will be able to view the messages that they posted.
* If you don’t have internet access, you can call 1-800-RED-CROSS (1-800-733-2767) to register yourself and your family. Follow the prompts for disaster information.

Please note that the Safe and Well site safeguards the privacy of the disaster victim. Although these messages will be viewable by friends or family members who conduct a successful search, the site does not reveal a specific location or contact information. Personal information entered into the Safe and Well Web site will not be sold or shared with other organizations. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission.