Disaster Services

Disaster Services

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 provide disaster prevention and relief services.  The Charter not only grants power, but implies an obligation to disaster victims and the people who generously support the work of the Red Cross with their donations. 

Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people’s immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs.  Services are provided without charged to those affected by disaster.

Local disaster services are provided to those in need 24 hours a day, seven days a week by a well-trained group of volunteers that form the Disaster Action Team (DAT).  DAT  members respond to disasters that cause human suffering and provide assistance to alleviate immediate needs such as food, shelter and clothing.  Their services are activated by calls from fire departments, the Sheriff’s department, and other emergency response professionals.  

Red Cross Disaster Services are funded by the generosity of our community ~

neighbor helping neighbor to provide comfort and life-saving services when disaster strikes.