Disaster Services

Disaster Services

The American Red Cross is part of the world’s largest humanitarian movement – a network of more than 185 Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and approximately 97 million members and volunteers. The Red Cross works with partner organizations and an extensive network to rapidly and efficiently scale up activities to achieve the greatest impact. Disaster Relief is guided by the seven fundamental principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement: humanity, impartiality, neutrality, independence, voluntary service, unity and universality.

What We Do

Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the emergency disaster-caused needs of individuals and families. The Red Cross responds to disasters ranging from a single-home fire to national disasters. Emergency response activities are cost-effective and community-based.

When a disaster threatens or strikes, we provide food, shelter and health related services to 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.

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.

How We Work

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 out a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply that system in mitigating the suffering and other great national calamities and to devise and carry out measures for preventing those calamities.”

To serve those in need, we work to build local capacities, mobilize and empower communities, and establish partnerships with other public and private organizations whose capabilities strengthen and complement disaster relief initiatives.