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The following text entry box is for a search of frequently asked questions asked by visitors to the site. Please ask your question here and results closely matching your question will be returned. For searching the entire site you should visit the Search page of the site.
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What can people expect from the American Red Cross during times of disaster?
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the emergency disaster-caused needs of individuals and families. When a disaster threatens or strikes, we provide shelter, food, and health and mental health services, which address basic human needs. In addition, we help individuals and families to resume their normal daily activities independently. This may include a referral or a way to pay for what is needed most: groceries, new clothes, rent, emergency home repairs, transportation, household items, medicines, and occupational tools.
The Red Cross may also help those needing long-term recovery assistance when all other available resources, including insurance, government, private, and community assistance, are either unavailable or inadequate to meet the needs. All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs and all assistance is free—literally a gift as a result of the generous support of the American people.
The Red Cross also feeds disaster victims and emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned immediate family members outside the disaster-affected area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and links disaster victims to other available resources.
Back to Top What health services does the American Red Cross provide during a disaster? Isn't this the government's responsibility?
Primary responsibility for the general health of a community following a disaster rests with the local public health authorities and local medical, nursing, and health resources. Ill or injured persons normally look to their own physicians or the usual community health facilities for the type of care they need. The Red Cross supplements the existing community health care system when disasters threaten or strike.
Red Cross Disaster Health Services staff deliver first aid and attend to other health-related matters. Based on a person's needs, the Red Cross may also help pay for certain medical needs, including prescription medicines, medical supplies, and emergency medical treatment.
The Red Cross coordinates its disaster health services efforts with those of the local health authorities and the medical and nursing communities. All activities and services provided by Red Cross Disaster Health Services workers reflect quality health care and current professional standards of health care. All Red Cross disaster health services workers must have a current license or certificate in their field of expertise.
Back to Top Why does the Red Cross provide disaster mental health services after disasters?
The American Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Services staff are licensed mental health professionals trained to recognize the emotional impact of a disaster on those affected—both victims and workers. They help people recognize, understand, and cope with the specific feelings they experience after a disaster. They work with the local mental health community to ensure both short-term and long-term assistance is available.
Back to Top How is American Red Cross Disaster Services involved in international relief operations?
The response to international disasters is coordinated through the American Red Cross International Services Department. Depending on the size and scope of the disaster and the capabilities of the affected Red Cross national society, it may request help through the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies. In many cases, the affected Red Cross society is seeking personnel with a special expertise, such as a logistics or mass feeding background.
Following Hurricane Mitch in the fall of 1998, American Red Cross Disaster Services, in conjunction with International Services, formed the International Response Team for the Caribbean Basin and Central America to help the affected national societies with planning and preparedness prior to a major disaster and with rapid needs assessment following a disaster.
Back to Top How quickly is the American Red Cross able to respond to disasters?
The nearly 1,300 Red Cross chapters across the country are required to respond with services to an incident within two hours of being notified. These local chapters conduct disaster training as well as planning and preparedness, to help them respond quickly and effectively when a disaster occurs.
Human and material resources, such as disaster specialists and disaster relief supplies, are located in high-risk areas. This helps to ensure a quick response when a disaster occurs. Immediately after a disaster incident is reported, we begin to mobilize personnel and other resources to provide services such as sheltering and feeding survivors. The local chapter with the help of other chapters in the state quickly assesses the size and scope of the incident. If help from beyond the state will be needed, a request goes immediately to national headquarters so that supplies can be sent and people recruited as soon as possible.
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