May 16th, 2012 | 
Author: Power outages, water main breaks and medical emergencies can disrupt a business’ daily operations. Disasters have the potential to cause workplaces to fold and schools to close. The American Red Cross developed the free, web-based Ready Rating™ Program to help businesses, schools and other organizations prepare for emergencies.
Ready Rating Program members complete a confidential assessment of their current readiness level for emergencies and receive immediate, customized feedback with tips and resources for them to improve their readiness scores.
New program components make it even easier to get started or to enhance current emergency response plans:
• An Emergency Response Plan Tool, which enables program members to build a customized plan to help their employees know their roles in the first 24-72 hours of an emergency;
• A Next Steps report that recommends specific actions members should take and the level of effort required to execute them;
• A Resource Center that includes preparedness tools including activities and exercises, so businesses, employees and students can better develop and practice preparedness plans;
• A Ready Rating Store with emergency supplies at the click of a button.
Companies and schools realize that contingency planning is a key element to running a successful operation. St. Louis-based Express Scripts, which provides medications to patients across the country, was ready for last year’s tornadoes, thanks to its robust preparedness planning which takes advantage of the Ready Rating program.
“We had conducted shelter-in-place drills, and everyone followed the playbook seamlessly,” said Gene Weber, the company’s director of business continuity. “While the tornadoes did not damage the company or interrupt its operations, employees and customers could feel confident that Express Scripts had a plan in place.”
The Ready Rating program is consistent with Private Sector or PS-Prep Standards developed by the Department of Homeland Security. Anheuser-Busch Companies is the program’s national founding sponsor and Sam’s Club is a national sponsor.
More information about this valuable program and the new components can be found at www.readyrating.org.
Posted in 
The Mountain Empire Chapter is gearing up to distribute informational goody bags to local Veterans visiting VA Clinics in our area. The project, which is made possible by grant funding, is to show appreciation for and to help support our local Veterans. The bags, which will contain local Veteran information as well as an appointment calendar, a pen, snacks and other items, will be assembled at our office on January 10 and distributed during the week at VA clinics. If you or someone you know would like to help with the assembly or distribution, please contact the Chapter at 276-645-6650, ext. 109.
The Mountain Empire Chapter is continuing to assist those affected by the tornado that struck our area on April 27. To date, over 150 Red Cross trained volunteers and staff have been providing the following services:
-Served 16,439 meals and snacks to the residents of Chilhowie, Glade Spring and Damascus
-Distributed 1090 shovels, rakes totes, etc.; 137 clean up kits and provided 290 comfort kits
-Opened cases for nearly 90 families (for financial assistance)
-made 164 Health Services contacts and 478 Mental Health Contacts
We are continuing to follow up with families to make sure their immediate needs have been met. The Chapter is also working with the Long Term Recovery Group to help ensure long term needs are also being addressed.
The Mountain Empire Chapter is currently helping those affected by the early morning tornado in the Glade Spring/Chilhowie area. A shelter is currently open at Emory and Henry College in the gymnasium, and our Emergency Response Vehicle is serving meals to those affected in Glade Spring area. Several Damage Assessment teams are working in the area to assess damage and individual financial assistance will begin once the assessment is complete.
The Red Cross mobilizes the generosity of the public through our work on the frontlines of a disaster, but we need your help to ensure we can continue to be there. Please consider a donation today. You may donate online or by calling our chapter at 276-645-6650 and dial 0 for the operator. Thank you!