Hurricane Dean Threatens Mexican Coast

Hurricane Dean continues to track southward toward the Mexican coast. While this lessens the threat to Texas and Louisiana, many others now worry for the safety of their friends and families vacationing in the popular Mexican resort areas of Cancun and Cozumel.

The American Red Cross asks everyone to take three steps to Be Red Cross Ready – get a kit, make a plan and be informed. For those people seeking to evacuate the Mexican coast, this means paying attention to the instructions of the local authorities, monitoring the storm and securing transportation to a safe destination. As a concerned family member, you can also help.

As people evacuate from resort areas, the Red Cross encourages families back home to list the status of their loved ones on the Safe and Well site. By listing your loved one on the Safe and Well Web site, you can actually participate in the disaster relief effort and help to reassure other friends and family that your traveler is safe.

The Red Cross Safe and Well site is a tool that allows families to stay in touch immediately following a disaster. People who must evacuate the area can go online to www.redcross.org, list themselves and their family on the Safe and Well site and select a pre-scripted message that indicates their plans. Examples of messages include: “I am safe and well...,” “Currently at shelter.” and “Will make phone calls when able.” Loved ones who read these messages will gain peace of mind knowing that their families are out of harm’s way. Family members can also register their loved ones on the site.

The Red Cross encourages everyone to take advantage of this important service. Call your family members as they await evacuation, and offer to list them on Safe and Well. Immediately following a disaster, just the short message left on this site can be enough to give your friends and family peace of mind.

To register a family member on Safe and Well, visit www.redcross.org, or call 1-800-REDCROSS for assistance from a Red Cross agent.