The Record Newspapers - Hometown News For Orange County, Texas

Knowing how to stay in contact or reconnect with loved ones is a very important part of a family communication plan. It is with this in mind that officials from The American Red Cross in Beaumont and Orange, want to introduce a tool that will enable people displaced from their homes by the recent floods to establish contact.

The Red Cross mobile app features an “I’m Safe” button that allows users to post messages to their social media accounts. This capability will inform concerned family and friends that the user is out of harm’s way. In an emergency, knowing that those close to us are safe will help bring some peace of mind.

The Red Cross also offers the Safe and Well website which is a secure and more private option than the “I’m Safe” feature on the app. Safe and Well allows people to list their own status and allows friends and family to search for messages from their loved ones. Red Cross mobile disaster apps are free and available on most smart phones and tablets.

Red Cross apps can be found in the app store for your mobile device by searching for “American Red Cross” or by going to redcross.org/apps. People in immediate need of a shelter should consult the Red Cross Shelter Map at: http://rdcrss.org/2277bZClink.

People can help by donating to Red Cross Disaster Relief to support disasters big and small by visiting redcross.org, calling 1-800-RED CROSS or texting the word REDCROSS to 90999 to make a $10 donation. Donations to Disaster Relief will be used to prepare for, respond to and help people recover from disasters big and small.