Mythbusting: Overpasses as Tornado Shelters

MYTH: An overpass is a good place to shelter during a tornado.

According to this boingboing article, the myth started in 1991 when a news crew survived a tornado by hiding beneath an overpass. But this former Kansan begs to differ. I clearly remember my dad using an overpass as a last-minute tornado shelter in the 1980's. (I wasn't there, but I remember him telling the story.)

In any case, the myth has been floating around un-busted for far too long. The fact is, an overpass can be one of the worst places to shelter during a tornado.

So, should find yourself in the midst of a twister while roadtripping through tornado country, what SHOULD you do?

If you are caught outdoors, seek shelter in a basement, shelter or sturdy building. If you cannot quickly walk to a shelter:

• Immediately get into a vehicle, buckle your seat belt and try to drive to the closest sturdy shelter.

• If flying debris occurs while you are driving, pull over and park. Now you have the following options as a last resort:

• Stay in the car with the seat belt on. Put your head down below the windows, covering with your hands and a blanket if possible.

• If you can safely get noticeably lower than the level of the roadway, exit your car and lie in that area, covering your head with your hands.

• Your choice should be driven by your specific circumstances.

More tips here.

Friday Final Cut

It's Friday, and once again we find ourselves with a plethora of stories. So here's your final cut...everything that we wanted to share, but don't have time to blog.

Enjoy!

Agency workers tell Lake Oswego to prepare for looming Oregon earthquake (The Oregonian)

Oregon residents prepare for worst (Salem Statesman Journal)

Oregon’s largest tsunami evacuation drill yields lessons for Pacific City, Neskowin (Tillamook Headlight Herald)

As the Army Fights the Mississippi River, Who Is Winning? (Popular Science)

A link between climate change and Joplin tornadoes? Never! (Washington Post)

Tornadoes, climate change, and real scientific literacy (Boing Boing)

In Joplin, Mo., Survivors Search For Missing (NPR)

And...just for fun!

Ride Out the End of the World in These Bomb Shelter Homes (Move Trends)

Memorial Day Weekend Blood Drive Events!

This Memorial Day, donate in honor of a military service member. There are several exciting ways to give blood during our upcoming holiday weekend in Portland and Vancouver, WA!

All presenting donors at the following drive can receive a commemorative Memorial Day pin and Red Cross t-shirt (shown on left), as well as double Red Cross Rewards points and a coupon for a free Krispy Kreme donut and coffee!

Memorial Day Blood Drive: On Memorial Day, come visit the Historic Red Cross Building at the National Reserve from 9 AM to 2 PM on Monday, May 30 to participate in our Memorial Day Blood Drive. The drive takes place inside E.B. Hamilton Hall on 605 Barnes Street in Vancouver, Washington, 98661.

During the event, you can also enjoy the Memorial Day Ceremony at the Vancouver Barracks, a short walk from the Historic Red Cross Building. This ceremony includes a cannon salute for fallen soldiers, the National Anthem and a speech from Vancouver Mayor Tim Leavitt.

Date and Time: Monday May 30, 2011 - 9:00 AM- 2:00 PM
Location: Historic Red Cross Building in E.B. Hamilton Hall: 605 Barnes Street, Vancouver, WA 98661
To schedule an appointment or for more information, please contact: Darren Goan at 360-989-2921; Goanda@usa.redcross.org

Memorial Day Weekend Drives at Portland and Clark County Donor Centers:
If you're unable to make it to the Historic Red Cross Building drive, both of our local donor centers will also be hosting Memorial Day weekend drives on Saturday, May 28 and Monday, May 30! Stop by to take away some great giveaways and to help save a life!

Zombies invade University of Oregon

If you check this blog often, you probably know we like to mention zombies. However much of the time it is about the potential zombies have for causing harm, not doing good. Students at the University of Oregon are using zombies to help with a disaster, instead of cause one.

The game of Humans vs. Zombies is a version of tag, in which a single zombie is tasked with converting humans by tagging them. The humans are armed with Nerf guns or socks, that stun zombies to allow escape. After an hour of being tagged, the human turns zombie and starts the hunt for their former allies. Typically the games are played under the radar, but at UO they surprisingly received Administration's approval. That might be because participants were encouraged to obtain a sponsor that would donate money to the Red Cross Japan Earthquake and Pacific Tsunami Relief Fund based upon how much time the person is human.

The game is continuing until Sunday, May 29th, so even though these zombies have a heart we are rooting for the humans to last as long as they can.

Photo: UO Daily Emerald

VIDEO: Red Cross Responds In Joplin

"We don't just have wounded bodies, we have wounded spirits."

-- Nurse and Red Cross volunteer Christine Stockwell, on the ground in Joplin, MO.

What's In A (Storm) Name?

The 2011 list is out and our very own Nate made the cut.

Granted, I'm sure Nate has no interest in having a horrible hurricane or terrible tropical storm bearing his moniker burned into our collective memory, but so it goes.

And much like a cyclone, what goes around, comes around -- the Atlantic is assigned six lists of names, with one list used each year. Every sixth year, the first list begins again. That means I'll get a Lisa (spelled incorrectly, of course) in 2016.

Some random facts:

• The letters "Q", "U", "X", "Y" and "Z" are not used.
• When an unusually destructive hurricane hits, that hurricane's name is retired and never used again.
• Before 1978, hurricanes were solely named after women (more history here!)

So did your name make the cut for 2011? If not, scroll down to check out the lists from other parts of the world.

Photo credit: NASA

Timbers' Jack Jewsbury On Joplin Tornado

A disaster becomes more "real" when you know someone who's been personally affected. And after watching this interview with Jack Jewsbury, captain of the much-loved Portland Timbers, I guarantee you'll be touched.

Because of Jewsbury's connection to the recent tornado, the Timbers are stepping up with a new Red Cross partnership to raise money for the recent spring storms. They'll be spreading the "Text REDCROSS to 90999" message at Sunday's game and our volunteers will be on hand to help with cash donations. Huge thanks to the Timbers for (once again!) supporting Red Cross disaster relief efforts in a big way.

Our hearts are with Jewsbury's family and all of those affected by the tornado. If you want the latest on Red Cross relief efforts, please check out our online disaster newsroom.

What Would You Take With You?

If your house was burning, what would you take with you?

It's a question we've all thought about. And perhaps Red Crossers think about it more than most since we respond to house fires nearly every day.

But this intriguing blog asks you to answer that question artfully - with a picture of your most treasured possessions.

I'm fascinated by the mix of practical and sentimental items - an album, a cat, a toothbrush, a coat...

Of course, the sad reality is that if you actually do experience a house fire (or any other disaster) you probably won't get to save everything on that list. And that's why the Red Cross is there to help - offering food, shelter, basic necessities like toothbrushes and combs, and emotional support.

Speaking of losing everything you have, it's hard to think about anything today but the tornadoes in Joplin and throughout the country. We've got fellow Red Crossers on the ground doing everything they can to help. If you want to keep up with the response, stay tuned to the disaster online newsroom.

The Best Cat Video On The Whole Internet

I know that's saying a lot. The internet is chock full of cat videos and photos. (Have you seen the I Love My Cat flickr pool? They have to limit submissions to one per day, otherwise we'd all collectively crash the internet by uploading too many of photos of our fuzzy friends all at once.)

But this cat video is just too sweet.

It's not because the cat is any cuter than, say, this little guy. It's more about the owner. Her cat had been lost for nearly a month after a tornado destroyed her house, but miraculously, during a CNN interview, the cat returns. Watch what happens...



And, of course, if you want to help survivors of disasters like the recent tornadoes and floods you can always donate.

Center for Disease Control is Ready for Zombies

This past weekend I watched the TV series "The Walking Dead". Unlike past takes on a 'zombie apocalypse', this series prided itself by allowing the characters to break the wall of unknown and actually interact with the Center of Disease Control (CDC) to try and get answers. As it turns out, the real CDC is better prepared than their fictional counterpart as this week they revealed their zombie plan and released a guide for how you can prepare for a zombie menace.

To start, they suggest having an emergency kit for any disaster and provide suggestions (the Oregon Red Cross has some great preassembled options available through our online store). They also suggest having an emergency plan including where you would go and who you would call if zombies started breaking down your front door (one of the many reasons I love living in the Portland area is that we have many islands to escape to).

As for what the CDC would do, they assure us that they would treat the outbreak like any other disease - developing a network to monitor the situation, perform lab studies, and assist other organizations as they can. This includes identifying the source of infestation and preventing further transmission.

So there we have it: the CDC has a zombie plan and has shown that being prepared for zombies is a great way to prepare for other disasters.

Tsunami drill on Oregon coast 'takes flight'

The threat of a tsunami from Japan in March revealed many holes in education and communication, holes that Oregon agencies are working actively to address. One of the major issues brought up was that two tsunami warning sirens in Tillamook county failed to activate. Yesterday, a tsunami drill in that county introduced a new possible system to make people aware of a tsunami.


In addition to fire sirens and the typical alerts, the drill tested using a plane from the Civil Air Patrol equipped with an airborne announcement system to blast messaging along 15 miles of Oregon's coast. The plane flew at 1,000 feet and was able to be heard 1.5 to 3 miles away. The drill was put on by the Tsunami Outreach Oregon education and awareness program, and administered by the Oregon Department of Geology and Mineral Industries, and Oregon Emergency Management.

Experts do want people to know that in the worst case scenario, a shallow quake off the Oregon coast, people will only have 15 to 25 minutes to evacuate. There likely will be no sirens, planes, or other means of communication - only the earthquake shock. That is why it is incredibly important for those living on the coast to be prepared for a tsunami by knowing what to do.

OSU's Everyday Champions know how to bleed orange

This past week I was fortunate enough to attend the Spring term blood drive at Oregon State University, the largest drive in the Pacific Northwest. With over 1,000 individuals presenting to donate, 927 pints of blood were collected. I have blogged about this drive plenty of times before, however this time OSU Athletes stepped up to the challenge to donate.


As part of the Everyday Champions program, OSU Athletics took upon a challenge to show support for their colleagues in Alabama who have faced numerous natural disaster over the past month. OSU has many connections to Alabama, including football coach Mike Riley who started his career as a cornerback for the University of Alabama in the early 70s. An easy way for the athletes to show support was to donate blood with the American Red Cross.

As the Nation's largest blood bank, the American Red Cross' National Inventory Management System is an essential piece for disaster relief. When disasters strike, the Red Cross can send blood from one region to another to facilitate increased demand or loss due to inability to collect blood. This means your donation has the potential to help save lives in catastrophes like those in Alabama, and being prepared for a quick response is why the Red Cross greatly appreciates regular donors who help keep the inventory system stocked all year.

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

QATAR: Health professionals and other specialists from 10 different countries gathered in Doha to attend a two-week training course in the management of humanitarian aid, jointly organized by the ICRC, the Qatar Red Crescent Society and the University of Calgary - Qatar.

REPUBLIC OF THE CONGO: Residents of the department of Likouala remain in a precarious situation following the massive influx in 2009 of refugees from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The ICRC is distributing farm and fishing equipment for almost 100,000 residents to ensure that food reserves will not be exhausted.

JAPAN: Red Cross and Red Crescent partners from around the world gathered in Tokyo from May 9-11 to review the response to the disaster so far and to discuss plans to aid long-term recovery. The American Red Cross has made another $30 million donation to the Japanese Red Cross, bringing its contributions to date to more than $160 million.

PAKISTAN: Pakistan Red Crescent Society workers are teaching residents about disaster preparedness in advance of the monsoon season, which last year caused massive flooding and landslides.

NAMIBIA: The Namibia Red Cross and the World Health Organization are partnering to prevent disease outbreaks during floods.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

10 Everyday Items That Could Be Lifesavers

Could an empty bag of chips save your life? How about a glass tumbler?

In this Daily Express article, Joe Mulligan, head of first aid at the British Red Cross says, “People tend to think they need all sorts of special equipment when someone hurts themselves but there are life-savers hiding in everyone’s home.”

Check out the list of all 10 items here.

P.S. Just in case you don't always carry an empty bag of chips with you, how about getting a key chain breathing barrier?

Local Expert Disputes 'Safest City' List; Urges Preparedness

Last week we mentioned that the New York times revealed a map that lists 'where to live to avoid a natural disaster'. The Pacific Northwest dominated for lowest risk metro areas, containing 7 of their 8 ranked areas including the lowest in the nation - Corvallis, Oregon. I happen to be in Corvallis this week for a blood drive, and have been wondering if this happens to be true.

Now, a local earthquake expert from Corvallis' Oregon State University is disputing the honor. Robert Yeats, a Professor of Geology, says the study ignored several key factors and events that have occurred at many of the lowest ranked areas. For example Seattle has a proven active fault line that runs through downtown, with great risk to many of the other Pacific Northwest locations as well (the above right map is of one of Oregon's largest fault lines, that happens be in Corvallis). Additionally, the study did not account for volcanic hazards from mudflows (liquefaction). He urges that the study could give a false sense of security, when there is a need for emergency preparedness.

Want to know what you can do? In addition to a PSU seminar on Friday, the Oregon Department of Emergency Management just started a 'QuakePrep' road show that will travel across the state over the next few weeks. Additionally, you can check out our Oregon Red Cross Disaster Tips for Earthquake preparedness.

Map: City of Corvallis, Fault Line

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

LIBYA: A ship chartered by the ICRC arrived in Misrata this week, carrying medical supplies for the hospital, spare parts to repair water and electrical supply systems, and baby food for the civilian population.

NEPAL: A four-day emergency-room trauma course jointly organized by the ICRC and the Dhulikhel Hospital of Kathmandu University is taking place in Pokhara.

JAPAN: With healthcare systems left in crisis by the earthquake and tsunami, the Japanese Red Cross Society will provide vital medical infrastructure in one of the worst hit north-eastern areas, until damaged state services can recover.

SUDAN: The ICRC is working with government and local partners to vaccinate 100,000 cattle.

WORLDWIDE: The IFRC has announced the launch of the Nursing Network - a worldwide network of nursing colleges that will work together to ensure a global nursing workforce is ready to respond in the event of emergencies.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

Next Big Earthquake in Oregon: Are We Ready?

A question we are hearing a lot in the wake of many high profile earthquakes is if Oregon, and particularly the highly populated Portland area, is ready for a big event. While many newscasts and previous blog posts have featured interviews with one or two experts, there have been few opportunities for many of these experts to come together in the same room to paint the picture that answers this question. On Friday (May 12th) from 6 to 8:30 PM you can hear many of our areas' experts discuss the topic. It is being hosted by a collaboration of Portland State's Maseeh College of Engineering and Computer Science, Department of Civil & Environmental Engineering, the Department of Geology, and the College of Liberal Arts and Science. The symposium will be located at Hoffmann Hall on the Portland State University campus.

Speakers include - Dr. Scott Burns (PSU Professor of Geology), Dr. Franz Rad (PSU Professor of Structural Engineering), Dr. Peter Dusicka (PSU Associate Professor of Civil and Environmental Engineering), Yumei Wang (Oregon Dept of Geology and Mineral Industries Geohazards Section Leader), Bryant Haley (PSU Emergency Management Coordinator), and Dr. Kent Yu (Degenkolb Engineers)

Photo: USACE

Prepare-aphernalia: The Tactical Sammich

Thank Think Geek for this latest in disaster kit deliciousness. The Tactical Sammich is designed to help geeks survive the zombie apocalypse, but of course it would be useful in other disasters as well.

Like a Hot Pocket that doesn't need a freezer or a microwave, the Tactical Sammich comes in two flavors: Pepperoni and Honey BBQ Beef. (Sorry, fellow vegetarians.)

Want to see the Tactical Sammich in action? Check out the Think Geek video:

2011 Tea Party and Historical Fashion Show!

The American Red Cross of Southwest Washington Youth Council will be hosting it's annual Tea Party and Historical Fashion Show fundraiser on Sunday, May 15 with two separate seatings at 11 am and 1 pm.

The picture to the left shows participants from last year's event.

This fun show will include a silent auction, live music, catering by the Grant House and a vintage fashion show complete with Red Cross nurse uniforms from the past.

Tickets are $20 and the event will be held at the E.B. Hamilton Hall Red Cross Convalescence House.

For more details view the brochure here, or contact the American Red Cross of Southwest Washington at (360) 693-5821.

A Special Mother's Day Story

Did you catch the special Mother's Day episode of StoryCorps on today's NPR Morning Edition?

Every week StoryCorps brings me to tears, but today's story was especially poignant given our current Spring storm relief efforts.

Just two months after she passed away due to pancreatic cancer, Mary Cobb's Alabama home was destroyed by a tornado. In this segment, her son William Anthony shares, "As painful as it was for Mom to go of cancer, it's better than what would have happened if she had been in that house."

Listen to the whole story (including William Anthony's beautiful interview with his mom before she passed away).

And if you're moved by the suffering caused by the Spring storms please consider making a tribute gift for Mother's Day.

This weekend: Derby Day @ Blitz Ladd

Do you like Mint Juleps? Do you like dressing up? Do you enjoy raising money for a good cause? If so please come participate in the Derby Day Party this Saturday at Blitz Ladd!

This event, also a benefit for the Red Cross, will be held this Saturday, May 7th from 11:00am-3:00pm at the Blitz Ladd (2239 SE 11th Ave) hosted by Alisa Sloan and Darcy Kochis.

Bring your friends! Wear your biggest hat! Come early to snag a good seat for the race and have a Mint Julep! Or two.. or three... This is a free event and you will have the opportunity to win prizes such as hats from Bonnet, gift certificates to Blake or Under U 4 Men, an overnight stay at the Lynnwood Marriot, a fashion accessory from Moto Kitty and a case of pirates booty! Just bring your Derby best and a winning attitude.

The money raised from horse "wagering" will benefit the Red Cross to help flood victims.
While this event will be fun, the reality is due to increased rainfall, many Southwestern states have been experiencing severe flooding displacing many families from their homes. According to the Nation Weather Service this has been the worst flooding since the great flood of the lower Mississippi Valley in 1972, one of the biggest natural disasters in US history. Luckily, due to the levees and locks built after that event the destruction has been less sever this time around.

So this Saturday come on down to Blitz Ladd for some fun and let's raise some money for this cause!

Four (Funny) Reasons To Give Blood

A while back, we gave you a list of why people who donate blood are sexy. But that assumes something -- that you actually WANT to donate blood in the first place.

Really, are cookies, juice and a warm, fuzzy feeling enough of an incentive to brave the needle? One Portland donor thinks not...and that a better way to attract donors is to capitalize on our strengths, including our devastatingly attractive nurses and phlebotomists.

Check out his four tongue-in-cheek reasons to give (sorry, no tax deduction just yet and we definitely don't encourage drinking and donating) -- maybe they'll inspire you to schedule a blood donation appointment yourself!

---------------------------

When people find out I donate blood, they generally ask, "You donate blood?" which is quickly followed by, "They let you donate blood?!"

It's true - the Portland Red Cross loves to suck my fluids...the following is a list of reasons I donate, and you should too:

SEE THE LIST

Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up

Welcome to the Worldwide Wednesday Wrap-Up, in which we consolidate the international Red Cross and Red Crescent news into one list of bite-sized links for you. It's a non-comprehensive sampling of the larger and/or more intriguing aspects of our global work...

LIBYA: Among many activities, the ICRC conducted an emergency evacuation of 1,381 Nigerians from Misrata, reunited five Libyan civilians with their families, and evacuated more than 2000 stranded foreigners from the port of Misrata.

GEORGIA: The remains of a person who went missing in connection with the August 2008 hostilities were handed over to the family by the Georgian authorities under the auspices of the ICRC.

BANGLADESH: The Bangladesh Red Crescent Society and ICRC are providing aid for more than 700 people following the recent violence in Khagrachari.

MYANMAR: Three years after cyclone Nargis made land fall in Myanmar, Red Cross teams are still helping people rebuild their lives.

JAPAN: Mobile medical teams are on the road, bringing care to the lost and lonely.


GLOSSARY:

ICRC = International Committee of the Red Cross
IFRC = International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies

There's a map for that.

Man, I love infographics. You can throw a thousand stats at me and they just won't make sense until I see it laid out on a good map or chart.

I bet you're the same way. So I'm glad to share with you a couple of recently created disaster-related maps that may help you 1.) understand disaster risk and response, and 2.) appreciate our mild Oregon weather even more.

This first map shows all the states where the Red Cross has been providing food, shelter and supplies recently. (Large version with legend here.) Stunning, isn't it? Spring storms have been rough on a lot of people this year.



Speaking of weather, we've got it pretty good here in Oregon. Just how good? Well, according to the New York Times, Corvallis, Oregon has the least disaster risk of any place in the country. Of course, everything is relative. We may not have frequent storms in Oregon, but we all know that a mega-quake is in Pacific Northwest's future.



And finally, speaking of maps... You have downloaded the Red Cross Shelter app, haven't you? That's where you'll find a map of the latest shelter locations. Download it now so you'll have it if/when you need it.

Tornado Alley Strikes Portland

Last night I had the opportunity to go to the premiere for the OMSI Film Festival. If you're not familiar, there are a TON of amazing IMAX films that will be screened in the coming weeks, including one that should be of particular interest to disaster geeks...Tornado Alley.

I'm posting the trailer and the film description below, but I do want to add two things:

1. Watching an IMAX movie can be a little nauseating. You've been warned.

2. Tornado chasing is incredibly dangerous. Please don't try this yourself.

3. Tornados may make for good movie fodder, but they also have a real life impact. If you want help those affected by the recent deadly tornadoes in Alabama and beyond, you can do so right here.



Join Storm Chasers star Sean Casey and the researchers of VORTEX 2, the most ambitious effort ever made to understand the origins and evolution of tornadoes, on this heart-pounding science adventure. Armed with a 70mm camera, a fleet of customized vehicles designed to withstand gale force winds, torrential rains and unrelenting hail, and an arsenal of the most advanced weather measurement instruments ever created, the stars of Tornado Alley take audiences on a thrilling quest to experience a tornado’s destructive power at point blank range. Experience the adrenaline and the science of nature’s most dramatic phenomena!

Traversing the “severe weather capital of the world,” Tornado Alley documents two unprecedented missions seeking to encounter one of Earth’s most awe-inspiring events—the birth of a tornado. Filmmaker Sean Casey’s personal quest to capture the birth of a tornado with a 70mm camera takes viewers on a breathtaking journey into the heart of the storm. A team of equally driven scientists, the VORTEX2 researchers, experience the relentless strength of nature’s elemental forces as they literally surround tornadoes and the supercell storms that form them, gathering the most comprehensive severe weather data ever collected. This science adventure reveals the beauty and the power of some of our planet’s most extreme—and least understood—weather phenomena.

See Tornado Alley for yourself at the OMSI Film Festival.

June 24 - 25: 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m., 9:00 p.m.

June 26: 1:00 p.m., 3:00 p.m., 6:00 p.m.

Safe House: Good For Zombies, Maybe Disasters?

One day, I will live here.

Okay, maybe not in Poland. To be honest, I've visited there before and it's too chilly for my taste.

But I'd sure like to live in this house, were in to be replicated in, say, Portland, Oregon.

I'm not 100% sure just how safe it is for natural disasters, but it certainly looks bunker-like. And I'm 100% sure it'll protect you from zombies.

What do you think? Does this "safe house" give the "earthquake-proof house" a run for it's money?

SEE THE PICS

MEGAQUAKE: HOUR THAT SHOOK JAPAN

March 11, 2011 is a day many of us will never forget. On this date a 9.0 magnitude earthquake struck Sendai, Japan followed by a powerful tsunami that resulted in the deaths of over 12,000 individuals. The damage from these natural disasters also caused widespread destruction along Japan's coastal areas and communities.

The American Red Cross has continued to work with the Japanese Red Cross to provide health, military and financial support for the victims of this disaster.

In a new Discovery Channel special, Megaquake: Hour That Shook Japan, the public will be able to view unseen footage and hear testimonies from survivors of the earthquake and tsunami. The personal stories of firefighter Takayama Yukio and American school teacher Paula Lutze are two of the several featured interviews that will allow viewers to relive the moments right after the natural disasters occurred.

Megaquake: Hour That Shook Japan -- which can be viewed this Saturday, May 7 on Planet Green Channel (Comcast 201, if you're local) from 3-4 pm PST -- also examines the March 1h events through a scientific perspective. Exclusive interviews with oceanographers and sesimiologists analyze when and where Mother Nature might strike again.

Our Mannequins Are NAKED!!

...or they will be, come June.

Please keep this wholly inappropriate vision from becoming a reality. All it takes is helping the fine folks at Frontier Communications pick the t-shirt design that will go on the Oregon CPR dummies throughout the month of June (CPR/AED Awareness).

The options are quite chic -- you can check them out and vote right here.

Whether you like simple ("CPR Saves Lives. Be Prepared.") or sweet ("Prepare Today. Save A Life Tomorrow."), I think you'll be impressed with the options.

I don't want to bias you...but my personal favorite is this one. Guess you'll have to click the link to see what it is!

VOTE NOW

Photo of the Day: Muriel Minkler Gives First Aid With A Smile

Red Cross nurses work in the First Aid Clinic at the Belk Activity Center shelter. Muriel Minkler of the Oregon Trail chapter of the Red Cross takes a pulse from James Herrington. Herrington was visiting Tuscaloosa from Mississippi when he saw the twister coming down the road at him. He quickly jumped into a ditch, watched the tornado suck his truck into the air never to be seen again. Though the tornado only passed over him for a few seconds, he said he heard the noise in his ears for six hours.

Photo: Dennis Drenner/American Red Cross

Making A Difference Across The County

As you know, we've been sending volunteers to help with relief efforts in Alabama. And, let me tell you, each and every one of them is amazing. Not only are they willing to drop everything they're doing and take off at the drop of a hat, they do it with a great attitude and a smile -- which is certainly key when helping survivors who have lost everything.

I thought I'd share with you just a couple of interviews that our wonderful volunteers have done lately so you can see for yourselves just how special our team is!

Listen to the OPB radio story with Deborah Tyler-Cook


Watch the KPTV story with Deborah

If you'd like to become a Red Cross volunteer and help with disaster relief efforts down the street or across the country, get in touch!