The American Red Cross has been mobilizing resources in preparation for when Francine makes landfall along the Gulf states on Sept. 11.
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00:00Francine is now moving through the Gulf towards Louisiana and the American Red Cross is moving to
00:05and getting in place ahead of the storm. American Red Cross spokesperson Stephanie Fox joins us
00:10again from Baton Rouge. Stephanie, last time we were talking to you we were dealing with big
00:14impacts from Debbie and you guys are on the move now helping those folks along the Gulf Coast.
00:20Yeah, we certainly are. We have been mobilizing over the last several days,
00:24be that workforce and supplies. Ahead of me I can see a handful of 18-wheelers that are
00:30stocked to the brim with food as well as shelf-stable meals, snacks, cots, cleanup kits,
00:38things that folks need in the immediate aftermath of an impact from a disaster like what we're going
00:44to be expecting to see from Francine. We've also been ensuring we're in close contact with our
00:48local officials to understand what the needs of the communities are ahead of the disaster,
00:53what it's going to be while the storm is making impact, and how things are going to look in the
00:58aftermath. And every storm is different, we know that. So what is the Red Cross most concerned
01:04about with this storm's potential? We really, really want to ensure that folks are taking
01:11the threat of this storm seriously, that whether it's considered a tropical storm, a cat one,
01:16a cat two, the hazards are going to be the same and they're going to be significant depending
01:20on where you are in the impact area. So please do not travel later today once the tropical storm
01:27force winds you reach your area. Stay hunkered down, listen to local officials. There are many
01:32parishes that have already issued mandatory evacuation orders. Some have offered for folks
01:37to leave if they feel a bit more comfortable, but please listen to local officials and ensure
01:42that you are following and heeding their directions. All right, let's look ahead. How is the Red Cross
01:46planning after landfall and then for tonight and even the days to come?
01:52So just like everyone else, the Red Cross will be hunkering down when the worst of the weather does
01:57start to impact the region. As soon as it is safe to do so, we're going to be out in communities
02:02assessing damage, providing shelter, providing meals, coordinating with those local officials
02:07to determine where are the hardest hit areas, and where are folks going to need us most, and what
02:11are those needs going to be. We understand that when we're looking at the impacts of something
02:16like a hurricane, there's going to be water, there's going to be wind, there's going to be
02:20flooding. So we want to make sure that we are prepared to respond to all of those hazards,
02:25no matter where they will be, from the coast all the way up into adjoining states as well,
02:29not just here in Louisiana, but Arkansas, Missouri, Mississippi, as we look at the
02:34long-term forecast for this tropical system. So the Red Cross will be here for as long as it takes.
02:39We were here long before and we'll be here long after. Oh, behind you in the warehouse, we see
02:44all of the supplies, so people may be wondering how they can help the American Red Cross.
02:49Who needs the assistance? What I can ask folks to do right now is actually to manage and create
02:56their own emergency preparedness plans. This month is National Preparedness Month, so before a storm
03:02hits is the absolute best time for folks to get involved to ensure that they have their emergency
03:07kits, they have their communication plans, they are assessing what those specific needs are going
03:11to be for their individual households. Do you have pets? Do you have folks with mobility or
03:16access issues? Do you have elderly folks in your home? What are the needs of your family going to
03:21be? And then, of course, consider volunteering for the Red Cross. There are so many opportunities
03:25to get involved, whether you're deploying to longer, larger events like this or you are
03:32staying in your own home community. There's so many different ways to get involved.
03:36Stephanie Fox with the American Red Cross. Thanks again for joining us.