Lookout Staff

July 14, 2010 -- If an earthquake or other disaster strikes, the American Red Cross of Santa Monica and WISE & Healthy Aging are making sure homebound, low-income seniors are prepared with emergency kits.

Assembled by Red Cross volunteers, the kits will be distributed throughout the month by WISE & Healthy Aging care managers to their clients. The project was spearheaded by AmeriCorps member Elizabeth Adams, who divides her duties between the Santa Monica Red Cross and WISE & Healthy Aging.

"The elderly are particularly at risk,” says Adams. “These emergency kits, coupled with a disaster plan, will serve as the foundation for disaster readiness and help us all in the event that a disaster strikes.”

Adams approached local businesses and organizations to donate items that should be included in any emergency kit to be used after an earthquake or other emergency, Red Cross officials said.

Members of the public also donated items in bins set up at Bob’s Market in Sunset Park and the Red Cross of Santa Monica, officials said. Ten other organizations in all donated to the project to help produce 100 emergency kits.

The kits include emergency water packets; flashlights with batteries; personal hygiene items, including soap, shampoo, conditioner, toothbrush, toothpaste and dental floss; first aid kits; radios with batteries; work gloves; emergency kit checklists; emergency planning guides; document bags and a back pack.

In addition to Bob's Market, donors included American Preparedness; Whole Foods Santa Monica; Mayday Industries; More Prepared; Fisher Hardware; Santa Monica Family Dentistry/ Alan Rubenstein, DDS; American Red Cross of Santa Monica and Smart & Final.

The project will provide many at-risk seniors with the basics to start their own readiness plans because, as Adams points out, “Seniors are some of our most vulnerable neighbors.”

For more information and to learn how you can prepare for emergencies contact the Red Cross of Santa Monica at (310) 394-3773 during normal business hours or visit us on-line at www.redcrossofsantamonica.org.

"The elderly are particularly at risk. These emergency kits, coupled with a disaster plan, will serve as the foundation for disaster readiness and help us all in the event that a disaster strikes."
     Elizabeth Adams