Winter Storm Heads East After Burying Midwest

The massive winter storm that dumped almost two feet of snow in the Midwest is moving eastward and the American Red Cross has steps people can follow to stay safe during the storm.

The snow, sleet and freezing rain is moving into the upper Great Lakes, Central Appalachians, Mid-Atlantic and New England regions over the weekend and people who may be in the path of the storm should prepare now. These are steps they can take to get ready:

• Pack a kit with a three-day supply of water and non-perishable food for each person in your household. Find out what other items you should include by visiting the Red Cross winter storm safety information.
• Make sure you have a flashlight and extra batteries on hand as well as a battery-powered or hand-crank radio to stay informed about the storm.
• Check to make sure you have sand, rock salt or kitty litter on hand to keep walkways and steps less slippery.
• Get the warm coats, gloves, mittens, hats, boots and extra blankets ready, as well as warm clothing for everyone in your household.

 In Kansas and Missouri, the Red Cross opened shelters as needed and had workers and other shelter sites on stand-by as the storm passed through. More than 30 people took refuge in shelters in Kansas during the storm. As the storm moves to the east, Red Cross chapters are working with local officials and have workers and potential shelter sites ready if needed.

The severe winter weather has already caused the cancellation of as many as 80 blood drives in 12 states, resulting in a shortfall of more than 3,100 units of blood and platelets unable to be collected due to the storm. More cancellations are possible as the storm moves eastward. The cancellations come on top of the more than 7,100 blood donations that went uncollected during the blizzard that hit the Northeast earlier this month.
The Red Cross encourages those who live in areas unaffected by the storm to schedule a time to give blood or platelets. There is a particular need for eligible donors with O-positive, O-negative, A-negative and B-negative blood types. To schedule an appointment to give blood, people can call 1-800-RED CROSS or visit www.redcrossblood.org
A blood donor card or driver’s license or two other forms of identification are required at check-in. Individuals who are 17 years of age (16 with parental consent in some states), weigh at least 110 pounds and are in generally good health may be eligible to donate blood. High school students and other donors 18 years of age and younger also have to meet certain height and weight requirements.
If you are in the path of this storm and must go outside, wear layered lightweight clothing to keep warm. Gloves (or mittens) and a hat will prevent loss of body heat. Cover your mouth to protect your lungs. Wear waterproof, insulated boots to keep your feet warm and dry and to maintain your footing in ice and snow.

If traveling, try to avoid driving during the storm. If you have to drive, plan to arrive at your destination before the storm hits. Watch weather predictions for your entire route so you know what to expect along the way. Make sure you have an emergency preparedness kit in the car, and keep your car's gas tank full to keep the fuel line from freezing. Let someone know your destination, your route and when you expect to arrive. If your car gets stuck along the way, help can be sent along your predetermined route.

If you do get stuck in the snow:

• Stay with the car. Do not try to walk to safety.
• Tie a brightly colored cloth (preferably red) to the antenna for rescuers to see.
• Start the car and use the heater for about 10 minutes every hour. Keep the exhaust pipe clear so fumes won't back up in the car.
• Leave the overhead light on when the engine is running to help rescuers see the vehicle.
• Keep one window away from the blowing wind slightly open to let in air.
• If the power goes out, use flashlights to provide light. Do not use candles for lighting. Don’t forget your pets – bring them indoors. If that’s not possible, provide adequate shelter to keep them warm and make sure they can get to unfrozen water. Other tips include:
• Prevent frozen pipes - when the weather is very cold outside, open cabinet doors to let warm air circulate around water pipes. Let the cold water drip from the faucet served by exposed pipes. Running water through the pipe - even at a trickle - helps prevent pipes from freezing.
• Keep the thermostat set to a consistent temperature.
• Never use a stove or oven to heat your home. Keep a glass or metal fire screen around the fireplace and never leave a fireplace fire unattended. If using a space heater, follow the manufacturer’s instructions on how to safely use the heater. Place it on a level, hard, nonflammable surface. Turn the space heater off when you leave the room or go to sleep. Keep children and pets away from your space heater and do not use it to dry wet clothing.
• Use a sturdy fire screen around fireplaces when in use. Burn only wood - never burn paper or pine boughs.
• Use generators correctly –never operate a generator inside your home, including the basement or garage. Do not hook up a generator directly to your home's wiring. The safest thing to do is to connect the equipment you want to power directly to the outlets on the generator.
• Check smoke alarms once a month by pressing the test button and replacing batteries as necessary.
• Don’t overload your electrical outlets.

Cattaraugus County United Way Offers Tax Prep. Help

Why pay somebody to do your taxes? If you qualify, the Cattaraugus County United Way will do it for free! Cattaraugus County residents: if you worked in 2012 and your family income was less than $50,000 you may qualify for valuable earned income tax credits. If you qualify: no preparation fees, free electronic filing, and get your tax refund back FAST! Call 716-373-2534 to make an appointment, January 28th- March 26th. Call the United Way at 716-373-2534 or visit the office-new location- 807 W. State Street in Olean next to NAPA Auto Parts.

Allegany County United Way Free Tax Preparation

This year, Allegany County United Way declared a bold vision to help 500 local families become economically self-sufficient. One of the keys to achieving that goal is helping hardworking families keep the money they have earned.

That's why United Way’s Free Tax Preparation program is one of our key initiatives to reduce poverty in our region. It is offering fast and free tax preparation and filing services for hardworking families who earned $51,000 or less in 2012.

The program focuses on ensuring that everyone eligible for the Earned Income Tax Credit, or EITC, is able to claim it. EITC recipients can get as much as $5,800 returned to them, which then can be spent here in our local communities. 

Additionally, individuals or families with a combined income under $57,000 in 2012 may file online for free at myfreetaxes.com. The step by step easy instructions can save filers up to $200 -- the cost of paying a professional to do this or purchasing tax filing software.

Scheduling appointments for the free tax preparation service is easy. Just call 2-1-1 (or 800-346-2211). Eight sites are offered throughout the county in Alfred, Belmont, Bolivar, Cuba, Houghton, Little Genesee, and two sites in Wellsville.

We need you to help us spread the word! Feel free to forward this email and share this information with your family, friends, and even on Facebook, Twitter or other social media.

SWNY Red Cross News from the Executive Director

Bill Tucker, Executive Director

March is Red Cross Month!  This is the time each year when we give special thanks to all of those who help our community by giving of themselves - the volunteers, blood donors, class takers and financial supporters who help us assist those in need.  It is also a great time to become part of the Red Cross by doing such things as developing a preparedness plan for the household, becoming a volunteer, giving blood, or taking a Red Cross class.  To all of you who have supported or will support the Red Cross this year- THANK YOU!

March is also the month when you can support your local Chapter while enjoying some of the finest food and drink our area has to offer.  For just $25, you can sample the wonderful offerings of our local restaurants and caterers by purchasing a ticket to attend one of our three “Savor the Flavor” Events; March 3^rd in Cuba, March 10^th in Olean, and March 17^th in Jamestown.  

Special events like this are not only fun, but they also provide essential financial support for the services we deliver to local disaster victims, members of our armed forces and their families, and residents who want to make themselves and their communities more resilient.

The Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year in this country.  It provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families; collects and distributes about 40 percent of the nation’s blood supply and trains more than seven million people in first aid, water safety and other life-saving skills every year.  Here in the southwestern New York area last year the American Red Cross of Southwestern New York, your local Chapter, responded to 83 local emergencies, assisted dozens of military families, trained 6704 people in lifesaving skills, and collected 13,443 units of blood from generous donors.

We thank those whose generosity enables us to continue our work, and encourage everyone to become an Everyday Hero during Red Cross Month by helping their neighbors.  Please continue to follow us on one of our many sites (Web, Blog, Facebook, or Twitter), and don’t forget to attend one of our “Savor” events; we’ll see you there!

Stay in Contact With the Red Cross

The American Red Cross would like to remind the residents of Southwestern New York of the many ways to stay in contact with the Red Cross. Not only are there three offices in Allegany, Cattaraugus and Chautauqua Counties; the Red Cross has a great online presence as well.

“Like” us on Facebook by searching   “American Red Cross of Southwestern NY;”  you can get updates on what the Red Cross is doing in Southwestern NY  in disaster, health and services, blood drives,  services to the Armed Forces, fundraisers, and community events.  If you prefer “Twitter”, follow our handle @ARC_SWNY. We give updates as well –in 140 characters or less!

For those who are not quite into the whole social media thing we have a great website- www.redcross.org/swny. It will give you links to safety tips about weather related emergencies to the flu, to terrorism. Our website will also provide you with the local connection to news and events happening right here in Southwestern New York. You can find information about great events like Savor the Flavor and what our local volunteers are doing throughout the country.

Another great website is our blog- http://swnyredcross.blogspot.com/ . Our blog is a great resource for anything Red Cross in Southwestern NY. It has links to national Red Cross webpages, our Facebook page, Twitter handle, E-Newsletters, Family Disaster Plan Template, and other great information. Our blog is updated with what is going on within Southwestern NY and often is updated quicker than the webpage.

Offices are open from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday and are available by phone. You can visit your local Red Cross at 325 East 4^th Street, Jamestown or call 716-664-5115, in Olean at 452 North Barry Street or call 716-372-5800, or in Wellsville at 112 North Main Street or call 585-593-1531. The American Red Cross of Southwestern NY is a United Way Agency. 

Keep germs on the bench during the big game!

Super Bowl XLVII is this coming weekend and people everywhere will be gathering at parties to watch the game. With cases of influenza and norovirus illness spreading across the country, the American Red Cross has steps people can take to avoid getting sick if their plans include watching the big game at a party.

The norovirus is more contagious than the flu and spreads mainly through direct contact with someone who is infected. It also spreads through contaminated food, water and surfaces. The norovirus can survive and remain on hard surfaces for weeks.

If someone has the flu, they can infect others a day before symptoms develop and up to five to seven days after they become ill. People with the flu can spread the illness to others as far as six feet away by droplets spread when coughing, sneezing or talking or left on a surface.

So one of the most important things you can do is stay home if you are ill or someone in your household is sick. While it’s hard to miss the party, people should act responsibly and stay home to avoid spreading illness.

One of the most important steps to take to avoid getting sick is to wash your hands properly, especially after using the bathroom or when preparing food. For visibly soiled hands, first wash with soap and warm water. When using soap and water:
Wash with soap and hot water for at least 20 seconds, covering the entire hand including fingernails and under jewelry.
Rinse and dry thoroughly with a disposable towel.
Use the towel to turn off the faucet.

If using an alcohol-based hand sanitizer:
Rub thoroughly over the entire hand, including nail areas and between the fingers.
Continue to rub until the product dries.

 Other steps to avoid getting sick include:

• Hosts should use plastic cups or provide a way for people to identify their drinks. People shouldn’t let anyone else drink out of their glass.
• Give every dish a utensil for serving, including those snack dishes like nuts, pretzels, etc. This allows people to spoon out their portion instead of reaching in with their hands.
• Do not share food. Avoid anything that involves sticking your hands into a bowlful of food.
• Hosts should also make sure there is plenty of soap in the bathroom. Instead of the usual pretty hand towel, this year use disposable hand towels or a roll of paper towels.
• If you plan to host a party and someone in your household becomes ill, move your event to a different location.
• When greeting friends and family, avoid the usual kisses and handshakes.

You can find more information about how to help keep you and your loved ones protected by visiting redcross.org/FluTips.