Below is a post from Red Cross Chat - in case you missed it regarding what the Red Cross is doing in Virginia after the tornado.

Tornadoes in Southeastern Virginia

• The Suffolk Chapter of the Red Cross will be offering supply assistance.
• Southeastern Virginia Chapter has deployed an Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) to provide canteening services.
• We have disaster assessment teams gathering damage info.
• We have Health Services staff on standby.

See the link below:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanredcross/

Thanks again to everyone involved, including Prairie Soul Studios.

Look for it to air on TV soon!

Earthquakes strike suddenly, without warning. Earthquakes can occur at any time of the year and at any time of the day or night. On a yearly basis, 70 to 75 damaging earthquakes occur throughout the world. Estimates of losses from a future earthquake in the United States approach $200 billion. Forty-five states and territories in the United States are at moderate to very high risk of earthquakes, and they are located in every region of the country. California has experienced the most frequent damaging earthquakes; however, Alaska has experienced the greatest number of large earthquakes—many of which caused little damage because of the area’s low population density at the time.

The most widely felt sequence of earthquakes in the contiguous 48 states was along the New Madrid Fault in Missouri, where a three-month long series of quakes from 1811 to 1812 included three with estimated magnitudes of 7.6, 7.7, and 7.9 on the Richter Scale. These earthquakes were felt over the entire eastern United States, with Missouri, Tennessee, Kentucky, Indiana, Illinois, Ohio, Alabama, Arkansas, and Mississippi experiencing the strongest ground shaking.

Much of the damage caused by earthquakes is predictable and preventable. We must all work together in our communities to apply our knowledge to enact and enforce up-to-date building codes, retrofit older unsafe buildings, and avoid building in hazardous areas, such as those prone to landslides. We must also look for and eliminate hazards at home, where our children spend their days, and where we work. And we must learn and practice what to do if an earthquake occurs.

If you are at risk from earthquakes, you should:

• Discuss with members of your household the possibility of earthquakes and what to do to stay safe if one occurs. Knowing how to respond will help reduce fear.
• Pick “safe places” in each room of your home and your office or school. A safe place could be under a piece of furniture, such as a sturdy table or desk, or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases, or tall furniture that could fall on you
• Practice drop, cover, and hold on in each safe place. Drop to the floor, take cover under a sturdy piece of furniture, and hold on to a leg of the furniture. If suitable furniture is not nearby, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.
• Keep a flashlight and sturdy shoes by each person’s bed.
• Talk with your insurance agent about earthquake protection. Different areas have different requirements for earthquake protection. Study the locations of active faults, and, if you are at risk, consider purchasing earthquake insurance.
• Inform guests, babysitters, and caregivers of earthquake plans. Everyone in your home should know what to do if an earthquake occurs, even if you are not there at the time.

For general preparedness, every household should create and practice a Family Disaster Plan and assemble and maintain a Disaster Supplies Kit. In addition, every household should take earthquake specific precautions and plan and practice what to do in the event of an earthquake. For more information on disaster preparedness feel free to contact the Rock River Chapter at: (815) 963-8471 or rockriver.redcross.org.

Gail J. McGovern, a successful business executive and proven nonprofit fundraiser, was today named President and CEO of the American Red Cross. McGovern, who held top management positions at AT&T Corporation and Fidelity Investments, has experience running large organizations in competitive industries, and a track record for improving business performance and service delivery to the public. Currently, she teaches marketing at the Harvard Business School.

“Gail McGovern brings outstanding leadership skills from the private sector, coupled with a deep commitment to volunteerism,” said Bonnie McElveen-Hunter, Chairman of the Board of the Red Cross. “With a passion for our noble mission and the people we serve, Gail will ensure excellence in all areas of Red Cross service. On behalf of the entire Board of Governors, who voted unanimously to approve her selection, we warmly welcome Gail to the American Red Cross family.”

“It is an honor to be asked to lead the American Red Cross, the helping hand to so many people in times of disaster and crisis,” said McGovern. “I am humbled and inspired by this incredible humanitarian network of thousands of volunteers, workers, and supporters serving their neighbors in communities across our Nation and world. I look forward to joining them and am committed to the long-term growth and success of the Red Cross and its life-saving mission.”

McGovern has been recognized twice by Fortune magazine as one of the most powerful and influential women in corporate America. She spent 24 years (1974-199 at AT&T where she began as a computer programmer and rose through the ranks to the second largest job in AT&T, Executive Vice President of the Consumer Markets Division. In that position, she had direct responsibility for residential long distance and internet services, servicing 75 million customers, generating $26 billion in revenue and overseeing 40,000 employees.

Joining Fidelity Investments in 1999, McGovern oversaw all retail distribution channels in 85 locations. A year later, she became President of Fidelity Personal Investments and was responsible for 4.5 million customers, $500 billion in assets, and 10,000 employees.

McGovern became a member of the Harvard Business School faculty in June 2002. In 2007, she was appointed to the chaired position of the MBA Class of 1996 Professor of Management Practice and teaches in the MBA and Executive programs.

Over the years, much of her volunteer time has been devoted to nonprofit fundraising. As a member of the Board of Trustees and co-chair of the Campaign Executive Committee at The Johns Hopkins University, McGovern and her colleagues kicked off a $2 billion, seven-year campaign. The development team exceeded that goal two years ahead of schedule and has now increased the goal to $3.2 billion.

Her fundraising activities also include events for Children’s Hospital Boston, Dana Farber, and the United Way of Boston. She also serves on two for-profit boards: the Board of Directors of Hartford Financial Group and DTE Energy.

Born in 1952, McGovern received her Bachelor of Arts in Quantitative Sciences from The Johns Hopkins University in 1974. She received an MBA from Columbia University in 1987. She currently resides in Boston with her husband and 18 year old daughter.

McGovern will start with the American Red Cross on June 23, taking over from Mary S. Elcano, who is serving as Acting President and CEO. Ms. Elcano will return to her position as General Counsel and Corporate Secretary. In addition, the Red Cross recently announced that Jeffrey T. Towers, a veteran fundraiser with more than 25 years experience in the non-profit sector, will become Chief Development Officer for the organization. In this role, Towers will be responsible for the overall fundraising efforts of the charity.

Preparedness & Response Manager

• Provide coordination and support for chapter’s emergency response systems and personnel for both small and large-scale disasters. Effectively manage all disaster planning, preparedness, education, response and Homeless Shelter activities. Ensure provision and staff support of daytime Disaster Action Team response, the Chapter’s capability to respond to disasters after hours and weekends and support the staff with client casework management. Maintain inventory and restocking of emergency response materials and supplies. Serve as Emergency Homeless Shelter support and liaison.
• Bachelor’s degree or equivalent work experience.
• Two years experience in emergency services or community services related work. Experience working closely with volunteers strongly desired. Strong computer skills including Word, Excel and PowerPoint.
• This position reports directly to the Emergency Services Director.
• Bi-Lingual in Spanish is desired but not required.

Click the link below for the full job description and who to contact:
http://rockriver.redcross.org/index.php?pr=Preparedness__Response_Manager

In the wake of weather reports concerning excessive rainfall, flooding concerns have arose in the northern areas of the Rock River Valley. With potentially more rain projected, and the Rock River noticeably on the rise in certain areas, it is important to have a disaster plan in place:

Know What to Expect

• Know your area’s flood risk–if unsure, call the Rock River Chapter, emergency management office, or planning and zoning department.
• If it has been raining hard for several hours, or steadily raining for several days, be alert to the possibility of a flood.
• Listen to local radio or TV stations for flood information.

Reduce Potential Flood Damage By –

• Raising your furnace, water heater, and electric panel if they are in areas of your home that may be flooded.
• Consult with a professional for further information if this and other damage reduction measures can be taken.

Floods Can Take Several Hours to Days to Develop

• A flood WATCH means a flood is possible in your area.
• A flood WARNING means flooding is already occurring or will occur soon in your area.

Flash Floods Can Take Only a Few Minutes to a Few Hours to Develop

• A flash flood WATCH means flash flooding is possible in your area.
• A flash flood WARNING means a flash flood is occurring or will occur very soon.

Igor Kasyanyuk, a Harlem High School Student, won our button design contest for Rock’n for the Red. He was awarded a brand new laptop donated by American TV & Appliance. See video footage, a picture and the winning design below.

Tony Gasparini & Igor

This button will be used for admission, just $5 and 100% goes directly back into the Rock River community, to Rock’n for the Red Just 21, 2008 at Davis Park in Rockford, Illinois.
Featuring:

• Omega Battalion
• The Tom Mac Group
• Harlan Jefferson
• The Frontiers
• The Moment
• The Moon Dogs

Thanks to Thomas S. Ciciura and Prairie Soul Studios for donating their time and expertise to get this momentous project done. Tom has worked with and been mentored by Steven Spielberg, Robert Richardson, Mel Gibson, George Clooney, Steven Soderbergh, Michael Mann, and Robert Altman to just name a few.

Tom took our idea from a brainstorming session, a storyboard, and script and made it real.

Thanks to all of the actors and volunteers involved it wouldn’t of been possible without you. Watch it below.