SEATTLE, April 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the
Northwest's 2018 wildfire season on the horizon, local Allstate
Agents, in partnership with the Red Cross, will be giving away
4,500 disaster kits starting Monday, April
16, across the Northwest to better prepare families and
local communities.
"Although it might be the last thing on your mind, a disaster
could occur in any community at any time across the Northwest,"
said Allstate spokesperson, Frank
Clouser. "Many people—85 percent, in fact—aren't prepared.
Allstate is here to help Northwest communities prepare and be less
vulnerable in the event of a sudden disaster. Creating an emergency
kit for you and your family is step one."
This is especially relevant for Northwest residents as
Idaho, Oregon, and Washington are on the top 10 "Most Wildfire
Prone States," according to the Insurance Information Institute.
The three states alone have nearly half a million households that
are at a high or extreme risk from wildfires. And in 2017, nearly
5,000 fires took place across the three states, burning 1.8 million
acres.
Residents who wish to donate supplies to the Red Cross, or pick
up a disaster preparedness starter kit, can stop by any
participating Allstate Agency in the Northwest for more
information.
To help local residents prepare for a disaster, The Allstate
Foundation recommends three important safety tips to help
communities be aware of the risks in their lives and to protect
themselves and their loved ones.
Step One: Build a basic disaster preparedness kit. Your
disaster preparedness kit should contain these basic supplies:
- Water (one gallon per person, per day)
- Ready-to-eat, nonperishable food (for family members and
pets)
- Battery-powered or hand-crank radio
- Flashlight
- First-aid kit
- Whistle (to signal for help)
- Dust mask, plastic sheeting and duct tape
- Antiseptic and plastic garbage bags with ties (for
sanitation)
- Wrench or pliers
- Local maps (to locate emergency services and shelters)
- Extra batteries
- Prescription medication
For more information, download Allstate Foundation's brochure on
how you can prepare your family for a disaster. Resources are
available in English and Spanish.
Step Two: Create a household emergency evacuation plan. A
household emergency plan should include the following
information:
- Emergency contact names and numbers – mobile and landline (As
an extra precaution, everyone in your family should program "In
Case of Emergency," or ICE, contacts in their mobile phones so
emergency personnel can contact them if needed)
- Family meeting place in your neighborhood and an alternative
meeting place in the region
- Personal details for each family member (date of birth,
important medical information, recent photos)
- Addresses and phone numbers of the places family members
frequent on a regular basis (work, school)
- Contact information for medical providers (doctors, pharmacist,
veterinarian)
- Important medical and insurance information, including
photocopies of your medical insurance card(s)
- Check out Digital Locker: Digital Locker is a free app open to
everyone that lets you create an inventory of your home's items and
stores your information securely. The app has simple, step-by-step
instructions to help you quickly set up your account and start
adding items. You can take pictures of the items in your
home or upload existing ones. Digital Locker also
totals the cost of all items in your locker and keeps your private
information safe in our cloud based technology.
- For a fill-in-the-blank household emergency plan and cards to
download, print and keep close at hand, visit
www.ready.gov/make-a-plan.
Step 3: Help your community get ready for a disaster. The
strength of a community comes from each person who lives in it. By
raising your hand to help your community prepare for a potential
disaster, you can help people respond to and recover from an
emergency situation. Contact your local Red Cross to gain more
information on how to prepare your community in the event of a
disaster.
About the American Red Cross
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional
support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the
nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides
international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and
their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that
depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to
perform its mission. For more information, please visit
redcross.org or find Red Cross on Facebook and Twitter.
About The Allstate Foundation
Established in 1952, The Allstate Foundation is an independent,
charitable organization made possible by subsidiaries of The
Allstate Corporation (NYSE: ALL). Through partnerships with
nonprofit organizations across the country, The Allstate Foundation
brings the relationships, reputation and resources of Allstate to
support innovative and lasting solutions that enhance people's
well-being and prosperity. With a focus on building financial
independence for domestic violence survivors, empowering youth and
celebrating the charitable community involvement of Allstate agency
owners and employees, The Allstate Foundation works to bring out
the good in people's lives. For more information, visit
www.AllstateFoundation.org.
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SOURCE The Allstate Foundation