Hurricane Irene is headed toward the East Coast and the American Red Cross is mobilizing disaster workers and equipment along much of the eastern seaboard to help those in the path of this powerful storm

Locally, the Southeastern Michigan Region of the American Red Cross has sent 12 volunteers to help prepare the East Coast for the storm. Volunteers from Washtenaw County, Lenawee County, Monroe County and the Detroit area are on their way to areas of Virginia and Boston. The Red Cross will send more volunteers from the area if needed.

"The Red Cross is moving volunteers, vehicles and supplies, getting ready for a response effort that spans nearly the entire East Coast," said Gail McGovern, president and CEO of the American Red Cross. "While we're getting ready at the Red Cross, we want everyone in the storm's path to get ready as well by getting a disaster kit, making a family emergency plan, and listening to local officials regarding evacuations."

Dozens of shelters are being prepared all along the East Coast. People can find open Red Cross shelters by viewing an interactive Google map at www.redcross.org or by downloading the free Red Cross shelter app for their iPhone from the iTunes store. A mobile-friendly version of the Hurricane Safety Checklist is now available for smart phone users to download at www.redcross.org/mobile.

Hurricane Irene has caused significant damage in the southern Bahamas and the Bahamas Red Cross is managing shelters and helping people displaced by the storm. A regional disaster management expert is headed to the Bahamas today to assist with disaster assessment and response. In the Turks and Caicos Islands, the Red Cross is mobilizing volunteers as flooding, damage to homes and impassable roads are left in the storm’s wake. The United Nations is reporting hundreds of homes have been damaged and it is difficult to communicate with many localities.

American Red Cross disaster preparedness starts long before a hurricane makes landfall, beginning with keeping supplies and equipment on stand-by all year to help people in need. On average, the Red Cross spends about $450 million on disaster relief every year. If someone would like to support Red Cross disaster efforts, they can make a donation to American Red Cross Disaster Relief by visiting www.redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS, texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation, or sending contributions to their local Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.

• Hurricane Irene could affect many parts of the East Coast later this week and American Red Cross chapters all along the Atlantic Coast are getting ready.
• Trained Red Cross disaster relief workers are being mobilized to prepare shelters and relief supplies for a full East Coast response.
• More than 80 mobile feeding vehicles and trucks equipped with communications technology are already moving towards North Carolina, where Irene is predicted to make landfall.
• Red Cross workers in Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands are working with government partners to assess the damage caused as Irene passed over the region on Monday causing power outages and flooded roads. Four Red Cross shelters opened on Sunday are now closed as residents have returned home to begin cleaning up.
• Just as the Red Cross is preparing for Hurricane Irene, the first hurricane of the Atlantic Hurricane season, people along the coast need to get ready too.
• Residents along the coast should take the threat of Irene seriously and finalize hurricane plans and update their emergency supply kits.
• The Red Cross recommends three quick steps to take now to be prepared for emergencies like hurricanes – build a kit, make a plan and be informed.
• Emergency kits should contain a three-day supply of water for each person, along with food that doesn’t require refrigeration, flashlights, a battery-operated radio and a first aid kit. A full list of suggested items is available on redcross.org.
• It’s also important for businesses and schools to prepare for Irene by making sure warning or alert systems for employees are in order and contact information is up-to-date. More information on being prepared is available at readyrating.org.
• Hurricane Irene could cause powerful rip currents and dangerous surf for the East Coast. The Red Cross advises anyone visiting beaches to swim only on lifeguard protected beaches and within designated swimming areas.
• If caught in a rip current, remember to remain calm and avoid fighting against the current. Instead, swim out of the current in a direction following the shoreline.
• If unable to swim out of the current, float or calmly tread water. If possible, yell for help and draw attention to yourself.
• Visit www.redcross.org for more preparedness and safety tips.
• Red Cross work starts long before a hurricane makes landfall. In fact, we keep a variety of supplies and equipment on stand by year round to be ready to help people in need.
• In an average year, the Red Cross spends about $450 million on disaster relief throughout the United States and around the world. This includes sheltering, feeding and relief supplies for the approximately 70,000 disasters we respond to every year.
• This amount also includes the costs to be ready to respond to any disaster by maintaining those things that help the Red Cross to get assistance to people in need.
• For example, we have 26 warehouses stocked with disaster relief supplies, more than 60,000 trained workers, and more than 320 mobile response vehicles ready to respond year round. If we didn’t maintain these resources 24/7, we couldn’t get help to people in a timely fashion.
• Hurricane season comes on the heels of what was a busy spring for the Red Cross with 46 relief operations across 31 states helping people affected by devastating floods, tornadoes and wildfires.
• The Red Cross deployed nearly 14,000 people who worked tirelessly to open 287 shelters, serve 3.5 million meals and snacks, hand out 1.8 million relief items, and provide 81,000 mental health and health consultations.
• Our work continues in North Dakota where thousands of homes were destroyed by floodwaters. Red Cross workers are ensuring that everyone has a safe place to stay and a warm meal as recovery efforts progress.
• Please click, text or call to donate to the Red Cross to help people affected by disasters. Every single donation brings hope to those in need.
• You can help people affected by disasters like floods and hurricanes, as well as countless crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster Relief.
• Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and other assistance in response to disasters.
• Visit www.redcross.org, call 1-800-RED CROSS or text the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation.
• Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.