RED CROSS DISASTER SERVICES
The Sheboygan County Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to local disasters such as floods, tornadoes, fires or other situations that cause human suffering. By working with local and county government as well as other community organizations we can ensure an effective response to any disaster that strikes our community.
In addition to providing emergency assitance to the people of Sheboygan County, our chapter has many volunteers who are called upon to respond to disasters across our country such as floods, hurricanes, earthquakes, and winter storms that affect large numbers of people.
Past Disasters
For over 100 years the American Red Cross has been assisting people affected by disasters. The successful work of the Red Cross is made possible by thousands of volunteers nationwide and the generous financial contributions of the American people.
The Red Cross is committed to making a positive difference by:
- Improving the quality of human life.
- Enhancing self-reliance and concern for others.
- Helping people avoid, prepare for and cope with emergencies.
The Red Cross is an independent organization, not a government agency. All disaster relief given by the Red Cross is given free of charge as a gift from the American people.
The Red Cross doesn't wait until disaster strikes. It is prepared to respond to floods, tornadoes, fires, hazardous materials incidents and other disasters. In fact, across the nation, the Red Cross responded to more than 55,000 disasters last year.
When disaster strikes, the Red Cross responds immediately. It does not need a government request to move into action. It works in cooperation with the government and other organizations to provide assistance.
What does the American Red Cross actually do in disasters?
The most well known Red Cross disaster relief activities are providing shelter and meals to those seeking refuge from a natural disaster. In addition to those 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 basis, depending on the verified disaster-caused needs of the individual or family. The amount of assistance offered victims of disaster is never dictated by the amount of contributions our chapter receives to support a disaster operation. For instance, our cost for providing assistance during the August, 1998 floods exceeded contributions by approximately $20,000.
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.
Who provides the disaster services of the American Red Cross?
A cadre of trained Red Cross paid and volunteer staff continually work to be ready to respond when a disaster threatens or strikes. Red Cross workers come from all walks of life and all segments of the community. They share the willingness to serve and the desire to help those in need. Trained Red Cross disaster workers might --
- Be part of a team that determines the level of damage to homes in a disaster area.
- Work in a shelter or on a mobile feeding van providing hot meals to a disaster-stricken community.
- Move urgently needed vehicles and supplies across the country.
- Interview individuals and families to determine how they were affected by the disaster and how the Red Cross can best meet their needs.
- Work with Disaster Health Services to give first aid and other health assistance to disaster victims.
- Help provide the media with the most current information on the disaster and how the Red Cross is responding.
- Provide computer, communications, or accounting support.
- Do community presentations to help people prepare for disaster.
- Train others how to provide disaster services.
How Can You Help After a Disaster?
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When a disaster strikes a family, a community or a country, people want to help. Obviously, everyone does not have the time or ability to respond directly to the scene and give assistance. But almost everyone wants to do something to help those in need.
One way to help is to volunteer today with your local chapter. As a trained disaster volunteer, you may be called on to help others when they need you most. Another very important way to help is to send a financial contribution to your local Red Cross chapter earmarking it for the "Disaster Relief Fund." Your financial contributions -- rather than donations of often-unneeded items -- ensure that what is actually needed can be purchased in disaster-affected communities. It also enables disaster victims to pay for what they need to meet their emergency needs.
The Disaster Relief Fund assures that the Red Cross can provide assistance to individuals and families regardless of the type of disaster or where it occurs.
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