Red Cross Responds After Tropical Storm Olivia
All Red Cross-supported County emergency evacuation shelters have been closed. In the coming days, Red Cross volunteers will be assessing damages in the hardest hit areas on Maui and Oʻahu and providing emergency assistance.
Below is a list of tips from the Red Cross for Evacuees Returning to their homes after a storm:
- After a flood, do not try to return to affected areas until officials say it is safe to do so.
- Once you are able to go home, look for loose power lines, damaged gas lines, cracks in the foundation or other damage before you enter your home.
- During cleanup, wear protective clothing, including rubber gloves and rubber boots.
- Watch out for wild animals that may have come into your home with the floodwater.
- If you smell natural or propane gas or hear a hissing noise, leave immediately and call the fire department.
- If power lines are down outside your home, do not step in puddles or standing water.
- Materials like cleaning products, paint, batteries, contaminated fuel and damaged fuel containers are hazardous. Check with local authorities for assistance with disposing these materials to avoid risk.
- Make sure your food and water are safe. Discard items that may have come in contact with flood water, including canned goods, water bottles, plastic utensils and baby bottle nipples. When in doubt, throw it out.
The Red Cross is encouraging the public to download their mobile apps to have safety and first aid information at your fingertips. The hurricane app features weather alerts, information on open Red Cross shelters, a toolkit with a flashlight, strobe light and alarm, and a one-touch “I’m Safe” button that lets you use social media outlets to let family and friends know you are okay. The apps can be downloaded online.
All Red Cross assistance to disaster victims is free. The Red Cross is not a government agency and it depends on public contributions to help others. Red Cross donations can be sent to 4155 Diamond Head Road, Honolulu, Hawaii, 96816, made online or on the phone at (808) 739-8109.