With the ever-present threat of earthquakes, wildfires and other disasters on the Central Coast, the Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross is offering county residents an online opportunity to review their disaster and emergency planning.

As part of its mission to provide disaster relief and to help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies, the local Santa Barbara County chapter offers resources to help residents prepare for a house fire, flood, wildfire, earthquake, mudslide or other natural or human-made disaster.

With this in mind, the American Red Cross is asking Santa Barbara County residents to visit www.sbredcross.org and take a one-minute Disaster Readiness Quotient Test to measure just how prepared they actually are.

Individuals, families, schools, the workplace and communities can use the survey to gauge their level of preparedness, recognize their successes and identify gaps where more work needs to be done.

After scoring their preparedness level, survey participants will learn the specific steps they need to take now to better prepare.

Categories of preparedness include building a mobile Emergency Preparedness Kit (including at least a 1-gallon-per-person supply of water for three days, nonperishable food with can opener, local maps, medications, sanitation, clothing and bedding, battery-powered or hand-crank radio, family documents and a first aid kit, as well as other items), creating a simple Family Evacuation Plan of where to meet if they get separated during a disaster and designing a Communication Plan of how to get in touch with each other if an emergency strikes.

In the coming months, the county chapter will release the local results, comparing the preparedness of Santa Barbara County residents with people who took this survey nationwide.

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The Santa Barbara County Chapter of the American Red Cross has provided services to more than 30,000 people in Santa Barbara County during the past year, and has distributed disaster preparedness and health and safety materials to more than 13,900 schoolchildren, seniors and community members, according to a recent press release from the organization.

The Red Cross is not a government agency; it relies on donations of time and money to do its work. For information, call the American Red Cross, Santa Barbara County Chapter, at 687-1331 in Santa Barbara, 928-0778 in Santa Maria or 736-5110 in Lompoc.

Local chapter seeks to aid Gulf Coast relief

With more than 150 shelters opened across the Gulf Coast, in coordination with their partners, the national organization of the American Red Cross has helped thousands of Gulf Coast residents find a safe place to wait as the waters recede, is providing shelter for families whose homes were either damaged or destroyed, and is establishing more than 25 kitchens capable of producing up to 500,000 meals per day, according to a recent press release from the organization.

To aid in their efforts, the organization is asking for donations to support the estimated $100 million needed to provide relief to the victims of Hurricane Gustav, Tropical Storm Hanna and Hurricane Ike.

As of Sept. 17, the organization has raised only 11 percent of what is needed. This is the largest Red Cross Relief Effort since Hurricane Katrina, according to the release.

To make a financial contribution to the Red Cross Hurricane Relief Effort, call (800) 733-2767 or visit www.redcross.org.

You can also use a cell phone to donate $5 to the American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund, by text messaging the keyword “GIVE” to “2HELP.” The donation will appear on the monthly phone bill or be debited from a prepaid account balance. All applicable text rates apply.

You can also mail a contribution to American Red Cross, P.O. Box 37243, Washington, D.C. 20013. In the memo line of the check, write “American Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund” or “Hurricanes of 2008” if you wish to designate your gift.

For information, contact the Santa Barbara County chapter at 687-1331 or visit www.sbred cross.org.