The American Red Cross of Upstate South Carolina serves Greenville, Abbeville, Anderson, Greenwood, Laurens, McCormick, and Pickens Counties.

Friday, November 17, 2006

Total Devastation States North Carolina Newspaper Headline

North Carolina's second deadliest tornado in 50 years tore through the state in the early morning of November 16, 2006. According to the Wilmington Morning Star, the twister killed at least eight people including two young children.

The 1,000 foot wide twister carved a path of devastation more than half a mile wide and nearly a mile long, heaving homes from foundations, flipping cars and scattering debris and bodies across the countryside 20 miles west of Wilmington.

This was the scene observed by two Upstate South Carolina Chapter volunteers who were deployed to Wilmington to assist with shelter operations and logistical support.

As more information becomes available on the Red Cross operations in North Carolina, it will be posted on this site.

Thursday, November 02, 2006

Americans Unmoved Toward Personal Preparedness

By Brian Scoles

Recently, I came accrossed some startling information that I just have to write about in hopes that it will evoke a response from those who read this blog.

According to a report published by Peter D. Hart Research and Public Opinion Stratagies, Americans, both personally and as a nation, lack the initiative to prepare themselves and their families for natural disasters or terrorist attacks. This comes on the heels of the tragic events of September 11, 2000 and Hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Americans have readily accepted the changes that have occurred since 9/11 in everything from air travel to entering public buildings or doing business on the Internet. We readily accept being searched and scanned for our safety, yet we fail to undertake the most simple personal precautions and disaster planning to protect ourselves, our family, and our community in the event of a disaster or attack. Why is it that although the nation has adapted to increased security in daily lives, Americans have not personalized the realities of these threats enough to take more personal preparedness actions?

Are we so complacent as a society that we think another tragedy will not strike us? Apparently that is the case. The Hart report states that 54 percent of Americans don't think another disaster is likely to happen.

That's not to say American's hearts weren't touched by what they saw during the terrorist attack and the hurricanes, people donated financially in record proportions. But, donating money to enable someone else to care for the victims and getting actively involved to the point of personal preparedness are very different things.

Why are you unprepared? Why do you think others don't prepare? I'd like to hear from you.