The most well-known Red Cross disaster relief activities are providing shelter and meals to those seeking refuge from a hurricane or flood or in the wake of a tornado, earthquake, or hazardous materials incident.

In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief activities is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster. This assistance is geared toward meeting immediate emergency needs. It is also where the majority of your financial contributions go.

The Red Cross enables victims of disaster to resume living independently by providing the means for them to pay for what they need most - from groceries, new clothing, and rent to emergency home repairs, transportation, household items, medicines, and tools. The Red Cross also helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when other resources are not available or are inadequate.

All assistance is given on a standardized basic, depending on the verified disaster-caused needs of the individual or family.

Red Cross disaster relief work also includes:

• Feeding emergency workers.
• Referring those affected by disaster to other available resources.
• Handling inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area.
• Providing blood and blood products to disaster victims.