Thus, the Red Cross provides practical and helpful awareness and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries, and protect their homes from disaster. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently. If needed, the Red Cross provides the means to pay for what items are needed most groceries, new clothing, temporary housing, emergency home repairs, transportation, essential household items, medicines, and occupational tools. The Red Cross also helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when all other resources insurance benefits and government assistance are not available or are inadequate.
All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs.
The Red Cross also feeds families and emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources. All Red Cross disaster relief is provided free of charge as a gift from the American people. It is made possible by generous contributions of people's time, money, and skills. Tens of thousands of our disaster relief workers, the great majority of whom are volunteers, receive extensive training that enables them to give prompt and effective relief to families affected by disaster. A Nationwide Network Red Cross chapters continually work to be ready to respond when a disaster threatens or strikes.