Perfect time to prepare This weekend, people across the country will turn their clocks back an hour as daylight savings comes to an end. In addition to gaining an hour of sleep, this annual turning back of the clock is a handy reminder to take time out to prepare for life’s emergencies. Heavy Rains Pound Southern States Heavy thunder storms that began rolling through the Gulf Coast early this week dumped more than 10 inches of rain in Houston, Texas, and spread as far east as Louisiana. High winds and widespread flooding forced many residents to evacuate their homes. Trained American Red Cross disaster workers are continuing to provide emergency services across the region. Local Collaboration Builds Bridges, Bolsters Resilience within Gulf Coast Community Many of the drawings by the children from the Vietnamese Initiatives in Economic Training summer programs convey the overwhelming, desperate conditions of their Hurricane Katrina experiences, and some express hope and gratitude. Red Cross Offers Cold Weather Health and Safety Tips Fewer than 100,000 homes and businesses in Western New York remain without power today one week after a storm dumped nearly two feet of snow on the region. For the tens of thousands still without power, the lack of electricity coupled with the unexpected early winter-like weather makes for a potentially dangerous combination. American Red Cross Responds to Floods in Ethiopia In a country where severe droughts are the norm, rains should have been a blessing. Tragically, this year’s unprecedented floods in Ethiopia killed hundreds of people and displaced thousands more. Tricks for Planning a Safe Halloween Costumes and candy fill store aisles, and pumpkins are stacked high at produce stands and in patches all around town. The signs are aligned and clear—Halloween is here. Home Fire Disasters More Common than Most Think Fires kill more Americans each year than all natural disasters combined. Unfortunately, according to a poll by the American Red Cross, four out of five Americans are unaware that fires are the most common disaster in the U.S. and only 26 percent of households have a home fire escape plan.