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Red Cross Offers Disaster Preparedness Tools

The American Red Cross offers tools to help families and individuals prepare for disasters. A new free online site offers help for organizations-schools, businesses and non-profits.

LaMoine Valley chapter Program Director Kayla Daudelin says some disasters can't be avoided. She says the Insurance Information Institute says 40% of businesses fail after a natural or manmade disaster.

The first step to prepare is taking the self-assessment test.

She says, “If you don't spend the time now, you're going to spend way more time later. It's better to take 15 to 20 minutes to do the questions and try to figure out the preparedness than to wait and then it's too late.”

Daudelin says the plan will help develop procedures to back-up data, for staff safety and recovery.

She says the plan should be regularly updated and staff need to be trained in procedures on a regular basis.

She says, ”People are only going to do what they've learned. And if they haven't learned it, they're not going to do it in an emergency. That training is extremely important.”      .

Daudelin says the site information is confidential.

The website address is www.readywaiting.org