| The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principals of the International Red Cross Movement that provides relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The American Red Cross, though its network of chapters, service delivery units and national headquarter operations, provides disaster relief services to people affected by disasters 24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. Through an extensive network of well-trained volunteers and generous donations from people throughout the country, the Red Cross is able to provide the immediate basic needs of disaster victims. Red Cross disaster relief services are free, an outright gift from the American people.
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Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, the majority of which are house or apartment fires.
Everyday, American Red Cross chapters work with their community partners to provide practical and helpful awareness and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries and protect their homes from disaster. Chapters respond to disasters within their jurisdiction calling on state and national resources when needed for larger emergencies.
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides safe shelter, food, clothing, health and mental health services to address those immediate needs. Red Cross services also expand to helping emergency workers.
In addition to immediate services, Red Cross response also includes needed referrals, materials and financial assistance. This aid is given to individuals and families to enable them to resume their normal daily activities as quickly as possible to get them back to normalcy or until further long-term assistance becomes available. The American Red Cross can provide needed items such as groceries, new clothing, essential household items, medicines and so much more. All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs. |
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| The American Red Cross provides disaster relief throughout the United States, its commonwealths, territories, and possessions. As a member of the International Red Cross Movement, the American Red Cross monitors and often provides international disaster relief assistance though is sister National Societies in nations throughout the world. |
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| Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized in 1905 when the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the suffering caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who generously support its work with their donations. The Red Cross is named in the current National Response Plan and the National Aviation Act to provide these services as well as being a partner in Homeland security. |
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| American Red Cross chapters continually work to be prepared to respond when a disaster threatens or strikes. When a disaster is so large that it exceeds the affected chapter's capacity to respond, all of the resources of the organization- including those of the affected and supporting units within the affected state and of national headquarters- combine to ensure that needed disaster services are provided to meet the needs of those affected. The Red Cross relies on the American public to help provide funds to continue these activities. |
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All American Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. You can help the victims of disaster by making a financial gift to the American Red Cross. Contributions can be sent to the American Red Cross, PO Box 875, Burlington, NC 27216
We also rely on the skill of Red Cross volunteers who generously contribute their time and train to respond to those in need. Call 336-226-4906 to become a trained Red Cross disaster volunteer. |
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