CHECK YOUR SMOKE ALARM BATTERIES When you turn the clocks ahead, take a few minutes to replace the batteries in your smoke alarms and push the test button to make sure the alarms are working. It’s also a great time to check your carbon monoxide detectors.

GET YOUR HOUSEHOLD PREPARED Disaster can strike anywhere, anytime. It’s important for everyone to make sure their household is ready and knows what to do should an emergency occur. The Red Cross wants everyone to know about the three steps they should take to be prepared.

Get a kit. Keep supplies in an easy-to-carry preparedness bag that you can use at home or take with you if you have to evacuate.
Make a plan. Meet with members of your household and discuss what emergencies could occur in your home, taking into account what type of disasters could happen in your neighborhood. Plan what steps everyone should take if something happens.
Be informed. Learn what emergencies can occur in your area and how officials will notify you should a disaster occur. Know the difference between weather watches and warnings. Tell others what you have learned so they can be ready too.

The preparedness section of the Red Cross website has lots of steps people can take in different situations, from blizzards and floods to hurricanes and tornadoes. Start getting ready now by making sure your loved ones know what to do should an emergency occur in your home or throughout your community.

What has the Red Cross done to help those affected by the tornadoes?

~Hanna Malak
hmalak.nyc@gmail.com

The American Red Cross was created in 1881 by Clara Barton and officially chartered by Congress in 1900 to provide national and international relief during disasters, and to give relief to the military and serve as a means of communication between members of the Armed Forces and their families.

From the beginning, people in this country have volunteered and donated funds to support the Red Cross in its mission to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies.

In 1943, President Franklin D. Roosevelt proclaimed the first Red Cross Month in support of Red Cross fundraising efforts to respond to needs brought on by World War II. Since that time, every president, including President Obama, has designated March as Red Cross Month.

Today, the American Red Cross responds to nearly 70,000 disasters a year, providing shelter, food, emotional support and other necessities to those affected. Through a worldwide network, the American Red Cross provides 24-hour support to members of the military, veterans and their families – in war zones, military hospitals and on military installations around the world. Red Cross Blood Services collects and distributes more than 40 percent of this country’s blood supply. And, more than 9 million people across the United States receive American Red Cross training in first aid, water safety and other skills every year.

Thanks to the generous support of people in this country, the American Red Cross is able to mobilize to help people in need. The Red Cross is not a government agency, but relies on donations of time, money and blood to do its work.

Your generosity helps provide life-changing and often lifesaving services down the street, across the country and around the world. Show your support during Red Cross Month because moments of hope are made possible by people like you.

~Hanna Malak
Hmalak.nyc@gmail.com

The new website launches in little over a week. After hearing testimonials from the other council members, myself included, I wanted to hear your thoughts about what should go on the website and what you think so far about the changes. Through the new website, the National Youth Council aims to engage young volunteers through several different platforms, whether this means through the social media platforms, the new chat roll function, or even through a new forums page. I see this new website becoming a vibrant community of young people who will be working to develop the tools and the capacity needed to build a strong network of Red Cross Volunteers.

The new website will engage young volunteers in new ways, and will also be integrated with several different ways to connect with us. We hope to bring new content, and new ways that youth can interact with young volunteers across the nation, as well as have an open dialogue with representatives from the National Headquarters of the American Red Cross.

Stay tuned!

Mohit jain
mjain.nyc@gmail.com

Here is my video take on what the new website has to offer!

Mohit Jain
mjain.nyc@gmail.com

New features include:
- News, Get Involved, Forum, YouthWire tabs.
- Live chat
- Updated, modern look
- Opportunities to connect to the NYC through social media
- Updated resources and practical information from the old website
- Interactive features such as chat
- Opportunity for youth to submit their own stories and pictures to be features in the gallery and Youthwire.
- Opportunity for youth to stay connected to each other and the NYC following Connect Tour through the forum feature.

Be excited! Very excited!!!

~Hanna Malak
hmalak.nyc@gmail.com

~Hanna Malak
hmalak.nyc@gmail.com