In honor of National Red Cross Month, March 2001, GuideStar salutes nonprofits that assist the victims of natural and manmade disasters.
Disaster can disrupt people's lives in a matter of minutes.
When it does, nonprofits are there to help. Lightening ignites a fire in a Northwestern forest. Soon volunteer firefighters from several states are traveling to the scene, where they work tirelessly to prevent the blaze from spreading. As a hurricane batters the Southern coastline, nonprofit employees and volunteers feed evacuees gathered at a local school. Meanwhile, volunteer radio operators provide vital communications services, and an animal rescue group cares for the pets of those who have had to seek emergency shelter.