There are many levels of preparedness when it comes to a total eclipse. Some of the most important things to remember are, obviously, about your personal safety and the safety of your eyes. A lot of professionals are talking about Eye Safety Cautions, and it’s really important you pay attention to these warnings. If you haven’t planned ahead or were not able to find a pair of approved solar eclipse viewing glasses, there are several ways you can still safely view the eclipse. Check out the NASA website for some great options.
Here at the American Red Cross we have a different level of preparedness. In addition to making sure we have our approved eye wear, we must ensure consistency of communications between ourselves, here in the Denver Red Cross office, and our team in Cheyenne, Wyoming. As thousands of people travel into Wyoming, on the hunt for the perfect spot to see the TOTAL Eclipse, the potential for the telecommunication system to be overwhelmed is a real possibility. Communication with our partners in emergency management across the state, as well as with the Red Cross teams in the field, is critical every day. One of our key responsibilities is to ensure life safety for our team, and the public, and to be able to support any potential disaster relief operation that may arise. So…we prepare.
Our team of staff and volunteers are standing by here in the Denver office, Red Cross Emergency Communications Center, where local Amature Radio (Ham Radio) operators are monitoring radio traffic and keeping an ear on things. The importance of being able to communicate is something we take pretty serious. “The American people have an expectation of the Red Cross to be operational, no matter what.” says George Sullivan, Director of Community Preparedness and Resilience for the American Red Cross of Colorado & Wyoming. “The concern over potential outages is related more to human activity than any cosmic threat to the infrastructure, but we must always be prepared for ANY and all threats.” says Sullivan. Behind the scenes we are happy to report that we will be able to respond to any call for help.
So, as you safely watch this historical moment, you can rest assured…the Red Cross is ready and able to respond to any call for assistance and will continue to alleviate human suffering in the face of any emergency that may come our way.
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation’s blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org or cruzrojaamericana.org, or visit us on Twitter at @RedCross.