The Red Cross urges everyone in the path of Hurricane Michael to listen to local and state officials, obey evacuation orders and make final storm preparations now.

• Download the free Red Cross Emergency App to have real time information about the storm, open Red Cross shelter locations and hurricane safety tips at your fingertips. The Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.
• Turn on your TV/radio, or check your city/county website regularly in order to get the latest weather updates and emergency instructions.
• If told to evacuate, do so immediately. Do not drive around barricades, or through high water. Remember, if you encounter flooded roadways, turn around, don’t drown!
• Know how you’ll communicate with family members once the storm passes. You can call, text, email or use social media. Remember that during disasters, text instead of calling because phone lines are often overloaded.

• Anyone who plans to stay in a shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

• Fill your car’s gas tank in case an evacuation notice is issued.
• Build an emergency kit that contains supplies for about three days, to include a gallon of water per person per day, non-perishable food, a flashlight and extra batteries, a first aid kit, medications and copies of important documents. Other recommended items are available at redcross.org/kit. Remember items for young children such as diapers, and family members with special medical needs.

• If you already have a disaster kit, replenish any items missing or in short supply, especially medications or other medical supplies.
• Don’t forget your pets. Bring them indoors and maintain direct control of them. Prepare an emergency kit for your pets, including sturdy leashes or pet carriers, food and water, bowls, cat litter and pan, and photos of you with your pet in case they get lost. Full details are available on redcross.org.

Before the storm hits, find a place to store outside items such as lawn furniture, toys, gardening tools and trash cans to prevent them from being moved by high winds and possibly hurting someone.

• Protect windows with permanent storm shutters or invest in one-half inch marine plywood that is pre-cut to fit your doors and windows.
• Clear loose and clogged rain gutters and downspouts to prevent flooding and unnecessary pressure on the awnings.
• Remember that standard homeowners’ insurance doesn’t cover flooding but flood insurance does. Get information at www.FloodSmart.gov.

The Red Cross Safe and Well website is a free public reunification tool that allows people to register and post messages to indicate that they are safe, or to search for loved ones.

• The site is open to the public and available in Spanish. Registrations and searches can be done directly on the website. Registrations can also be completed by texting SAFE to 78876.
• To speak with someone at the Red Cross concerning a missing friend or relative who has a serious, pre-existing health or mental health condition, please call 1-800 RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767).

FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS

1. How do I find a Red Cross shelter?
2. Be safe. Listen to the advice of emergency officials. You can find shelters by calling 1-800-REDCROSS (1-800-733-2767), visiting redcross.org or by downloading the free Red Cross Emergency App. The Emergency App is available in app stores by searching for the American Red Cross or going to redcross.org/apps.

If you need to find a shelter, you can also check with your local officials for information on where to find a shelter. Monitoring your local media may also help.

Anyone who plans to stay in a Red Cross shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.

Some evacuation shelters may not have cots, food, running water or electricity; they are meant to safely house people for about 72 hours until the storm passes and weather conditions improve.

The Red Cross is not a government agency and does not require people to show any kind of identification in order to enter a shelter. We do ask our shelter residents to provide their names and pre-disaster addresses at registration. The Red Cross only uses that information to track the movement of our residents while they are in the shelter.

1. What help is available at the shelters?
2. Some evacuation shelters may not have cots, food, running water or electricity; they are meant to safely house people for about 72 hours until the storm passes and weather conditions improve.

The shelters are providing for the immediate needs of those affected, including a safe place to stay and food to eat. Anyone who plans to stay in a Red Cross shelter should bring prescription medications, extra clothing, pillows, blankets, hygiene supplies, other comfort items and important documents. Don’t forget to bring any special items for children, such as diapers, formula and toys, or for family members who have unique needs.