News Archives 2004
Contact: Mary Miller
American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter
(503) 528-5633 or (503) 705-2584
The Red Cross and Oregon Society of CPAs
Urge
Families to Prepare for Disasters as Tax Season Wraps Up
Tax season, spring cleaning and earthquake and tsunami awareness
month make April an ideal time to get prepared
PORTLAND, Ore. – April 8, 2004 – The American Red
Cross Oregon Trail Chapter, in partnership with the Oregon Society
of CPAs, has developed a new version of a comprehensive booklet
that helps families prepare for a wide range of disasters.
Called Together We Prepare Oregon, this 24-page
booklet now includes guidelines for collecting important financial
information and documents to be included in disaster supplies
kits and safe deposit boxes. As a public service through the end
of May, the Oregon Society of CPAs will mail the booklets to families
at no charge. Visit www.orcpa.org for more information.
The Oregon Society of CPAs provided the guidelines and made recommendations
to the Oregon Trail Chapter for the latest version of the booklet.
The organization will be distributing 10,000 booklets throughout
Oregon. “The end of the tax provides CPAs the opportunity
to encourage Oregonians to be proactive with preparing their finances
for the next tax season and be prepared in the event of a disaster,”
said Keith Meyers, chair of the Oregon Society of CPAs. “We
are making it easy for them to take one extra step, and prepare
for disasters that could happen here in Oregon.”
The booklet emphasizes the importance of having emergency cash
and provides suggestions on where and how to store it. Since ATM
machines may not be working after an earthquake, it is critical
to have some cash in a disaster supplies kit.
Some of the financial documents the Oregon Society of CPAs recommends
including in a disaster supplies kit and a safe deposit box are
copies of auto, flood, renter’s or homeowner insurance,
deeds, titles, wills, passports and the first two pages of income
tax returns for previous years.
“The Red Cross helps families recover from home fires about
every 32 hours,” said Bert Kile, executive director of the
American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter. “When our volunteers
help these families, they often have nothing but the clothes they
are wearing. If a family can evacuate from the home quickly and
grab their disaster supplies kit with important supplies and documents,
they will start rebuilding their livelihood more quickly.”
In addition to home fires, Oregonians face the everyday risk of
damage from an earthquake. It has been predicted by scientists
that an earthquake of a magnitude of 8.0 or greater could occur
at anytime. If an earthquake of this magnitude strikes Oregon,
it may take days or weeks for businesses, roads, and utilities
to be functioning. The American Red Cross Oregon Trail Chapter
suggests a number of steps to prepare for an earthquake:
- Discuss the possibility of an earthquake with family members
- Restock your disaster supplies kit to make sure there are adequate
supplies to survive for three days after a disaster. Some supplies,
such as flashlights and batteries, may have been used during the
winter storm in January
- Make sure disaster supplies kits are at home, work and in the
car. Go to www.PrepareOregon.org or call (503) 284-1234 to buy
additional Red Cross kits
- Secure bookcases and china cabinets to the wall to assure they
will not move or fall
- If an earthquake does happen to occur it is important to seek
a safe spot in your home under a sturdy table or a desk against
an interior wall away from windows in which you can DROP, COVER,
AND HOLD ON to protect yourself
Tsunamis are also a threat to the Pacific Northwest and according
to experts, one could hit land with less than a five minute warning.
Tsunami warning signs include strong earthquakes, a rapid rise
of coastal waters, or loud rumbling rocks being overturned by
water. With more families heading to the coast in the spring and
summer, it is important to review steps to prepare for and respond
to tsunamis.
- Determine the best evacuation route in the area you are staying.
Have a disaster supplies kit that can be easily accessed.
- If you should feel an earthquake near the coast it is important
to DROP, COVER, and HOLD ON. Once the shaking has stopped move
to higher ground.
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2004 Archives
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Oregon Trail Chapter volunteers respond to disasters every
32 hours on average.To assist the Red Cross in providing disaster
relief,
you can call (503) 284-1234.To prepare yourself and your family
for disasters, go to www.PrepareOregon.org.
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