News Release

For Immediate Release Contact: Kristiana Kocis

Phone: (805) 722-8984

Red Cross Quickly Responds to Japan Earthquake and Local Tsunami –

Urges Residents to be Prepared
San Luis Obispo County, CA, March 11, 2011: Today at 2:40 p.m. local time, a magnitude 8.9
earthquake struck Japan near the city of Sendai, which caused damage and generated a powerful tsunami
which struck northern Japan. A series of high magnitude aftershocks continues to hit the area. The Pacific
Tsunami Warning Center issued a tsunami alert for all countries on the Pacific Coast.

LOCAL DEVELOPMENTS
 The local Red Cross will not be deploying anyone to respond to this disaster. For information
on how someone can become a volunteer, please go to your local chapter’s website and sign
up for a volunteer orientation.

 The San Luis Obispo County Red Cross has set up 6 evacuation centers:

Arroyo Grande: Behind Marshall's Store, 1128 W. Branch

Pismo Beach: New Life Church, 990 James Way
Avila Beach: PG&E Community Center, 6588 Ontario Road
Morro Bay: Vet's Hall, Surf Street
Cayucos: St. Joseph's Church, 360 Park Ave.
Cambria: Presbyterian Church, 2250 Yorkshire

INTERNATIONAL DEVELOPMENTS
 The Japanese Red Cross is assessing the full impact of the earthquake and tsunami and has deployed
11 National Disaster Response Teams to conduct assessments, provide healthcare and first aid and
plan for relief supplies distribution. The Japanese Red Cross has not made any request for international
assistance at this moment.

 Red Cross national societies in the Pacific islands such as the Fiji Red Cross and the Cook Islands Red
Cross are preparing for impact of the tsunami wave and have sent out alerts via early warning systems.

 The American Red Cross chapters in the Pacific islands of Hawaii, Northern Mariana Islands, and
Guam as well as the west coast of the U.S. are on alert and stand ready to provide assistance as needed.

 Inquiries concerning U.S. citizens living or traveling in Japan should be referred to the U.S.
Department of State, Office of Overseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747 or 202 647-
5225.
  People can also go to www.safeandwell.org to either register themselves as being safe or look
for someone in California or Hawaii.

The American Red Cross would also like to remind local residents that this is a good time to make sure
they are prepared for incidents like this, as the Central Coast is prone to both earthquakes and tsunamis.

To prepare for an earthquake:

• Become aware of fire evacuation and earthquake plans for all of the buildings you occupy
regularly.
• Pick safe places in each room of your home, workplace and/or school. A safe place could be
under a piece of furniture or against an interior wall away from windows, bookcases or tall
furniture that could fall on you.
• Have a disaster supply kit stored in a safe place stocked with extra water, nonperishable foods,
closed toed shoes, a flashlight with extra batteries, extra medications and prescription eye glasses
• Practice drop, cover and hold on in each safe place. If you do not have sturdy furniture to hold
on to, sit on the floor next to an interior wall and cover your head and neck with your arms.

If you are in a tsunami prone area, do the following:

• Plan an evacuation route from your home, school, workplace, or any other place you'll be
where tsunamis present a risk. If possible, pick an area 100 feet above sea level or go up to two
miles inland, away from the coastline. If you can't get this high or far, go as high as you can.
Every foot inland or upwards may make a difference.
• Practice your evacuation route. Familiarity may save your life. Be able to follow your escape
route at night and during inclement weather. Practicing your plan makes the appropriate response
more of a reaction, requiring less thinking during an actual emergency situation.
• Use a NOAA Weather Radio with a tone-alert feature to keep you informed of local watches
and warnings. The tone alert feature will warn you of potential danger even if you are not
currently listening to local radio or television stations.
• Discuss tsunami with your family. Everyone should know what to do in case all family members
are not together. Discussing tsunamis ahead of time will help reduce fear and anxiety, and let
everyone know how to respond. Review flood safety and preparedness measures with your family

You can help people affected by disasters like floods, fires, tornadoes and hurricanes, as well as countless
crises at home and around the world, by making a donation to support American Red Cross Disaster
Relief. Your gift enables the Red Cross to prepare for and provide shelter, food, emotional support and
other assistance in response to disasters. Visit http://www.redcross.org or call 1-800-RED-CROSS.
Contributions may also be sent to your local American Red Cross chapter (visit sbredcross.org for more
information) or to the American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, DC 20013.