Wilmington, DE -  November 15, 2006 – Tornadoes are nature’s most violent storms. Spawned from powerful thunderstorms, tornadoes can cause fatalities and devastate a neighborhood in seconds. With the developing weather conditions in the southeastern states and a prevalent tornado watch in our area, the American Red Cross offers the following safety tips to keep you and your family safe.

What to do when a tornado WATCH is issued—

• Listen to local radio and TV stations for further updates.
• Be alert to changing weather conditions.  Blowing debris or the sound of an approaching tornado may alert you. Many people say it sounds like a freight train.

What to do when a tornado WARNING is issued—

• If you are inside, go to the safe place you picked to protect yourself from glass and other flying objects. The tornado may be approaching your area.
• If you are outside, hurry to the basement of a nearby sturdy building or lie flat in a ditch or low-lying area.
• If you are in a car or mobile home, get out immediately and head for safety (as above

After a tornado passes—

• Watch out for fallen power lines and stay out of the damaged area.
• Listen to the radio for information and instructions.
• Use a flashlight to inspect your home for damage.
• Do not use candles at any time.

To learn about the three-steps (make a plan, build a kit and get informed) to be “Red Cross Ready, prior to a disaster, please visit www.redcrossdelmarva.org.

As part of the Red Cross “Ready” network, CEO Peninsula on Disaster Assignment in Wilmington, North Carolina:

Margi Prueitt, CEO of the American Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, has been placed on national disaster assignment in response to the recent devastation caused by tornadoes which ripped through Wilmington, North Carolina earlier today. As a member of the Disaster Services Human Resource (DSHR) team, Ms. Prueitt will be working with the Organization Support (OS) team, serving as a liaison with the American Red Cross Public Affairs and Fundraising employees and volunteers.

While local Red Cross chapters, such as the Red Cross of the Delmarva Peninsula, form the cornerstone of the organization’s response to disaster, if the disaster is so large that it exceeds the capacity of a chapter and its community to respond, such as the tornados and severe weather conditions in the southeastern states, the Red Cross activates its broader network of people and resources. The American Red Cross Disaster Services Program is a nationwide system of disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education and mitigation, chapter readiness and disaster response throughout the United States and its territories. The Red Cross also works in partnership with other agencies and organizations that provide services to disaster victims such as shelter, food, clothing and medical care for victims.

You can help the victims of thousands of disasters across the county each year, disasters like those affected by the tornadoes in the southeastern states, by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, which enables the Red Cross to provide shelter, food, counseling and other assistance to victims of disaster. The American Red Cross honors donor intent. If you wish to designate your donation to a specific disaster please do so at the time of your donation.