There’s a new tool to find out if your friends and family members in the Gulf Coast are safe after a storm.

The American Red Cross has created a “Safe and Well” link on its website.  This lets people from inside a disaster-affected area communicate with loved ones outside the area. Family members who know the person’s phone number or a complete home address can search for the messages to find out where their loved ones are.

People can register on the website now at https://disastersafe.redcross.org/. Red Cross officials said the website meets all privacy and child protection laws and will not post any sensitive information publicly on the site.  A search only displays a loved one’s first name, last name, the message and the date it was posted.

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