Red Cross accepting aid for tsunami

The American Red Cross is accepting monetary donations as theorganization assists victims of the Japan earthquake and tsunami.

The American Red Cross is in contact with Japanese Red Cross toassess needs. American Red Cross chapters in the Pacific islands ofHawaii, Northern Mariana Islands and Guam, as well as those on thewest coast of the U.S. are on alert and ready to provide assistance.

With evacuations possible in numerous U.S. states andterritories, the Red Cross Safe and Well site is an online tool thathelps families connect during emergencies. To register or to searchfor a loved one, go to www.redcross.org/ safeandwell and click onthe "List Yourself Safe and Well" or "Search for Friends and Family"link.

For international inquiries, to locate U.S. citizens living ortraveling in Japan contact the U.S. Department of State, Office ofOverseas Citizens Services at 1-888-407-4747. For inquiries aboutrelatives living in Japan who are not U.S. citizens, people areencouraged to keep calling or to try and contact other familymembers living in the region. Even though communications networkshave been overloaded, the situation may change and access to mobilenetworks and the Internet may improve.

Those who wish to help may go to www.redcrosswv.org and donate tothe International Relief Fund. People can also donate $10 by textingREDCROSS to 90999 to support disaster relief efforts in Japan andthroughout the Pacific.