Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the immediate emergency needs of people affected by disaster. The Red Cross provides shelter, food, medical care and mental health services. Financial assistance is provided to help victims resume independent living.
All disaster relief is given free of charge as a gift from the American people.
The American Red Cross is a member of the International Red Cross Movement, which is dedicated to protecting human life worldwide with no regard for political, racial, religious or ideological differences. Through this relationship, the American Red Cross links the local community with similar humanitarian organizations throughout the world. This enables us to trace and locate people around the world who may have lost communication with their relatives here in our community, due to war, civil disturbance or natural disaster. Through this international partnership, the local community can also provide financial or in-kind assistance during disasters to other parts of the world. The American Red Cross is the emergency communications link between our military and civilian populations.