DISASTER PREPAREDNESS WITH THE 

AMERICAN RED CROSS

MONICA MONTOYA

MANAGER, PARTNERSHIPS

AMERICAN RED CROSS

June 27, 2019

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AGENDA/OVERVIEW

• Introductions

• Preparedness, Response and Recovery with the

American Red Cross

• Announcements and Reminders

• Conclusion

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LEARNING OBJECTIVES

 Awareness of Red Cross

Services available before,

during and after a

disaster

 What your organization

can do to be prepared

 Help increase

preparedness among

individuals and families

you serve

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MISSION

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FUNDAMENTAL PRINCIPLES OF THE GLOBAL RED CROSS 

NETWORK

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OUR WORK

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Down the Street. 

Across the Country. 

Around the World.® Disaster Cycle 

Services

Home Fire 

Campaign

Biomedical

Services

Service to the 

Armed Forces

International 

Services 

Training

Services
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OUR WORK IMPACTS LIVES EVERY DAY

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Every 60 seconds

20

people are assisted by 

the American Red

Cross.

170

times a day, Red Cross 

workers help a family 

affected by a home fire

or other disaster.

1,100

times a day, we 

provide services to 

military members, 

veterans and their 

families.

13,000

times a day, the Red 

Cross needs blood 

donations.

17,000

times a day, a person 

receives lifesaving 

Red Cross training.

464,000

times a day, a child 

receives a measles or 

rubella vaccination 

from the Red Cross 

and our partners. 
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MORE PEOPLE AFFECTED EACH DECADE

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More than 15 million people in the U.S. 

were affected by disasters between 

2006 and 2015. That’s 43% more than 

the prior decade.

People Reported Affected 

2006–2015 15,009,494

People Reported Affected 

1996–2005 10,463,765

IFRC, 2016
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POLL

Do you have a working 

smoke detector in your 

home?

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BIGGEST DISASTER THREAT: HOME FIRES

• Seven people die in U.S. home fires daily.1

1National Fire Protection Association, 2018

• Home fires kill more people than all other

natural disasters combined in the U.S.2

2U.S. Fire Administration and FEMA, 2017

• Smoke inhalation and home fires are the

third leading cause of death for children

under 15.3

3USFA’s Fire Risk to Children in 2010,” 2013 

Every eight minutes, the Red Cross 

responds to a disaster. The majority 

are home fires.
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HOME FIRES

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0

500

1000

1500

2000

2500

2012 Home Fires Hurricane Katrina 

(2005)

2011 Tornadoes Hurricane Sandy 

(2011)

Reported Deaths
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MAKING A DIFFERENCE

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Since October 2014 the Red Cross and Partners 

have 

1,817,250

new alarms 

installed

600

Lives

Saved

752,400

households 

made safer

As of May 2019

Working smoke alarms reduce the risk of death during a home fire by 50%.

National Fire Protection Association, 2015
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FY18 LARGE-SCALE DISASTERS

Last year, the Red Cross responded to 258 large-scale U.S. disasters.

1 million

overnight 

stays 

provided 

with 

partners

20 million

meals and 

snacks 

provided

9 million

relief items

provided

300,000

health and mental 

health contacts

administered
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DISASTER CYCLE SERVICES

Three “core” processes deliver the services of the Red 

Cross disaster management cycle to the client:

 Prepare

 Respond

 Recover

Five “pillar” processes support the core processes in 

their ability to deliver services to the client:

 Engage Volunteers and Employees

 Mobilize Community

 Align with Government

 Manage and Share Information

 Deploy Material Resources
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WITH PARTNERS, THE RED CROSS PROVIDES

Assistance to help with immediate, emergency, disaster-caused needs

• Shelter: a safe place to stay

• Food: meals, snacks, water and overall

coordination of feeding

• Relief Supplies: comfort kits, water, diapers

and other needed essentials

• Health-Related Aid: emergency first aid

and help with other health-related needs,

such as prescriptions lost in a disaster

• Emotional Support: licensed mental health

counselors help victims cope with stress and

trauma

• Other Assistance: resources for clothing,

medicine and other basic essentials

• Recovery Planning: guidance for families

developing their recovery plan
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RECOVERY

• Begins when emergency needs

have been met

• Bases services on clients and

community needs

• Makes decisions at the level

closest to the client

• Provides client casework as a

recovery process rather than a

response process

• Serves as a convener of

community resources to meet

client’s short and long term needs

• Shares information with partners
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RED CROSS DISASTER FEEDING

• Provide nutritious and balanced meals to

disaster clients

• Meal requirements:

• 8oz. Entrée

• 6oz. Vegetable

• 6oz. Fruit

• Bread/Snack/Dessert

• Beverage

• All day snacks in shelters
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WORKING WITH PARTNERS

• High-capacity caterers

• Field Kitchens

• Restaurants

• Quick Service Chains

• In-Kind Donations

• Shared mission delivery with

other organizations

• The Salvation Army

• Southern Baptist Disaster

Relief

• World Central Kitchen

• Meals on Wheels

• Feeding America (and more)
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LOCATIONS

• Evacuation Shelters

• Pre-positioned shelfstable meals and snacks

• Long-term Shelters

• Breakfast, lunch, and

dinner daily

• All-day snacks

• Congregate Feeding Sites

• Mobile Feeding
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SITUATIONAL AWARENESS

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11/3

11/3

11/6

11/6 11/7 11/3

11/7

11/4

11/4

11/4 11/7 11/6 11/3 11/6
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GET CONNECTED WHEN YOU NEED IT MOST 

Free American Red Cross apps:

• Get the vital tools and resources you need to

prepare for and respond to emergencies and

disasters—big and small. Plus, there’s support for

scheduling lifesaving blood donations and our

military and veteran communities.

• Go to redcross.org/apps, text ‘APPS’ to 90999 or

search ‘American Red Cross’ in the App Store® or

Google PlayTM
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COMMUNITY PREPAREDNESS

• “Be Red Cross Ready” tutorial

• Free Mobile Apps

• Red Cross Disaster & Safety Library

• Presentations on disaster-specific or

general preparedness topics

• Pre-disaster planning

• Exercises and drills

• Regular engagement and planning

• Discuss gaps in resources; cultural

literacy, social service needs, etc. and

engage in solutions

• Introduce/connect with local community

and Voluntary Organization Active in

Disaster (VOAD) Leaders

• The Home Fire Campaign/Pillowcase

Project

Be Red Cross Ready

Get a Kit.

Make a Plan.

Be Informed.
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ReadyRating.org
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POLL

Do you feel your 

organization is ready 

to respond after a 

disaster?

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WHAT IS READY RATING?

A free, online, self-paced, organizational emergency preparedness 

program that helps organizations prepare appropriately, respond 

effectively and recover quickly from disasters and other emergencies. 

 Measure your organization’s current preparedness level

 Help your organization create or improve its emergency action plan

 Provide the tools needed so that staff have the knowledge and skills to

respond effectively during disasters.

 Track progress as your organization takes steps to improve its ability to

respond safer, smarter, and efficiently during disasters.

 Make getting prepared: simple, cost effective, and achievable.
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TAKE 

HOME 

MESSAGE

• It starts with YOU!

• Test your smoke alarm

• Check your flashlights

• Be aware of hazards in your area

• Download the apps

• Have a plan
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CALL TO ACTION

Download the App

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RESOURCE LIST

• Emergency Preparedness for Older Adults (CDC)

• Personal Preparedness for Older Adults & Their Caregivers (CDC)

• Identifying Vulnerable Older Adults Increasing Their Protection During AllHazards Emergencies (CDC)

• Reaching At-Risk Populations in an Emergency (CDC)

• American Red Cross: Senior Emergency Preparedness External

• Disaster Preparedness Tip Sheets for Seniors (Specific Topics: Flood, Hot

Weather, Winter, Pets, Earthquake, Power Outages, and Wildfire)External

• Ready.gov Individuals with Disabilities External

• Ready.gov SeniorsExternal

• Administration for Community Living: Emergency PreparednessExternal

• Emergency Readiness for Older Adults and People with Disabilities

(ACL)External

• Emergency Preparedness Month: “Disasters Don’t Plan Ahead. You Can.”

(ACL)External

• Disaster Preparedness Guide for Seniors & Caregivers External

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UPCOMING EVENTS
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NRCNA-NANASP VIRTUAL SUMMIT

Nourishing Partnerships Project

• Date: Wednesday, July 17, 2019

• Time: 2:00 PM - 3:30 PM ET

Join NANASP and the NRCNA to 

discuss the future of congregate 

meals programs! You can learn more 

about the Nourishing Partnerships 

project at 

https://futureofcongregate.com/.

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PART 1: 

VIRTUAL SESSION: 

INNOVATION 101

JULY 23, 2019 @ 3:30PM

PART 2:

INTENSIVE WORKSHOP: 

PRACTICAL APPLICATIONS IN 

CREATIVE IDEATION

AUGUST 26, 2019 @ 1:30PM

PART 3: 

VIRTUAL SESSION – LAUNCHING 

YOUR INNOVATION JOURNEY

OCTOBER 2, 2019 @ 3:30PM
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NEW EVENT

Nourishing Seniors Through 

Medically Tailored Meals

• What: Online Webcast and Inperson Convening

• When: Thursday August 8, 2019

• Where: Crystal City, Virginia

• To Register for Webcast: Click

here

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THANK YOU

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