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American Red Cross Offers Shelter in Trenton
Potential Flooding Forces Residents to Evacuate

 
Date: June 28, 2006
Contact: Diane Concannon, Public Relations Director 609.951.2116; (cell) 609.206.4043
concannond@njredcross.org

Princeton, NJ – June 28, 2006 – The National Weather Service has issued a Flood Watch for our area and officials are evacuating Trenton areas prone to flooding. A shelter has been opened at:

Stokes School
Parkside and Homan Avenues
Trenton

The American Red Cross of Central New Jersey wants to point out three important steps that can be taken to help prepare for this type of emergency: Know the differences between Watches and Warnings; be prepared; and know when to act.

First, know the difference:

FLOODS can take several hours to days to develop.

  • FLOOD WATCH – means a flood is possible in your area
  • 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.

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

Second, be prepared:

  • Identify where you could go if told to evacuate. Choose several places – a friend’s home in another town, a motel, or a shelter.
  • Keep copies of insurance policies and other important documents in a safe place less likely to be damaged during a flood, such as a waterproof box, a safe-deposit box, or with a friend or relative across town. You may need quick easy access to these documents.
  • Fill your car’s gas tank, in case an evacuation notice is issued.
  • Assemble a Disaster Supplies Kit containing –
    -- First aid kit and essential medications
    -- Canned food and can opener
    -- At least three gallons of water per person
    -- Protective clothing, rainwear, and bedding or sleeping bags
    -- Battery-powered radio, flashlight, and extra batteries
    -- Special items for infant, elderly, or disabled family members
    -- Written instructions for how to turn off electricity, gas, and water if authorities advise you to do so. (Remember, you’ll need a professional to turn natural gas service back on.)

Third, know when to act:

  • When a FLOOD WATCH is issued – Move your furniture and valuables to higher floors of your home.
  • When a FLOOD WARNING is issued – Listen to local radio and TV stations for information and advice. If told to evacuate, do so as soon as possible.
  • When a FLASH FLOOD WATCH is issued – Be alert to signs of flash flooding and be ready to evacuate on a moment’s notice.
  • When a FLASH FLOOD WARNING is issued –
    -- Or if you think it has already started, evacuate immediately. You may have only seconds to escape. Act quickly!
    -- Move to higher ground away from rivers, streams, creeks and storm drains. Do not drive around barricades, they are there for your safety.
    -- If your car stalls in rapidly rising waters, abandon it immediately and climb to higher ground.

Additional information about Floods and Flash Flood Safety can be found on the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey web site at www.njredcross.org.

American Red Cross assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help too – volunteer your time, make a monetary donation, donate blood, and/or take a CPR course. For more information on the programs and services of the American Red Cross and to learn how you can get involved, contact your local chapter. For Middlesex, Mercer and Hunterdon counties, visit the American Red Cross of Central New Jersey web site at www.njredcross.org or call 609/951-8550.

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707 Alexander Road, Suite 101, Princeton, NJ 08540-6311 . 609-951-8550 . Fax: 609-951-9787
Hunterdon Branch: 349 Route 31 South, Suite 501, Flemington, NJ 08822 . 908-782-4121 . Fax: 908-782-2864
www.njredcross.org
 

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