Texoma Red Cross representatives were in Durant Wednesday spreading the word about Red Cross Month.

The American Red Cross was created in 1881 and has since continually operated from the support and help of the public.

Every year the president of the United States proclaims March as Red Cross Month.

“It’s the month we try to let people know what we are all about,” said Red Cross Volunteer and Training Specialist Rene Beezley.

Beezley said that the Red Cross is looking for individual volunteers to help aid families in times of need. The Red Cross often helps families who have been displaced due to house fires and other disasters.

The Red Cross is currently asking for individuals who will help at the time of tragedy by providing temporary shelter and amenities.

Beezley visited the Durant Area Chamber of Commerce, Bryan County Emergency Management, Donald W Reynolds Community Center and Library and several other locations in Durant spreading her message.

The Red Cross has also created an app to help citizens avoid disaster. The Red Cross Tornado App was released this month that can be downloaded directly from the iTunes or Google Play app stores by typing in Tornado-American Red Cross.

The app provides local and real-time information as well as interactive quizzes and step-by step instruction to aid in tornado knowledge.

The app also features audible alerts to inform citizens when a tornado warning is in their area. The alert is in the form of a high-pitched siren and “tornado warning” alert.

The American Red Cross hopes that this audible alert may save lives when citizens are otherwise asleep with no media information available, according to a press release form the organization this month.

For more information on volunteering with your local American Red Cross contact Rene Beezley at 918-423-0481 or by email at rene.beezley@redcross.org.

For more information about the American Red Cross Tornado App call “**REDCROSS” (**73327677) and they can send a link to download the app to your phone.

The link can also be found on the American Red Cross Website, redcross.org/mobile-apps/tornado-app.