Immediately following a disaster the Red Cross works with emergency service agencies and others to provide emergency shelter and meals. Trained Red Cross workers will work with individuals and families to identify disaster-caused needs, help to develop an immediate plan, and provide them with the means to pay for basic necessities to return to a more normal living situation as soon as possible. The Red Cross will make appropriate referrals to other sources of help to find the assistance they need.
All disaster relief is an outright gift.
It is provided by voluntary contributions from the American people. Red Cross Disaster Action Teams are organized to place trained Red Cross volunteers at the scene of a disaster within minutes of being notified, to provide immediate, identifiable emergency services to disaster victims and emergency relief workers. These dedicated volunteers meet the immediate needs of disaster victims for necessities such as food, clothing, shelter, and emergency health services. The team may also open a temporary shelter for displaced victims if necessary. The American Red Cross of North Texas currently has four teams.