Prepare Yourself and Family for a Distaster What the American Red Cross does in a Distaster Disaster Services of the American Red Cross How Can You help After a Distaster What Does the American Red Cross Stand For

Disaster Services Print E-mail

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For over 100 years the American Red Cross has been assisting people affected by disasters. The successful work of the Red Cross is made possible by thousands of volunteers and the generous financial contributions of the American people.

The American Red Cross is committed to making a positive difference by

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  • Improving the quality of human life.
  • Enhancing self-reliance and concern for others.
  • Helping people avoid, prepare for, and cope with emergencies.

As a voluntary organization, the American Red Cross depends on the generosity of people for both their time and money to provide disaster relief. The Red Cross is an independent organization, not a government agency. All Disaster relief given by the Red Cross is given free of charge as a gift from the American people.

The Red Cross doesn't wait until disaster strikes. It is prepared to respond to hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, fires, hazardous materials incidents, and other disasters. In fact, the Red Cross responds nationally to more than 67,000 disasters every year.

When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross responds immediately. It does not need a government request to move into action. It works in cooperation with the government and other organizations to provide assistance.

The American Red Cross is charted by the U.S. Congress (Act of Congress of January 5, 1905, as amended, 36 U.S.C. Sections 1-9) to undertake relief activities to mitigate the suffering caused by disasters. It is a community-based, voluntary organization. There are almost 2,600 Red Cross chapters, throughout all 50 sates, U.S possessions, and dependencies.