Disaster Services Overview Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. The Good News Is That We Can Help Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who generously support its work with their donations. Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and 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. The Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources. About Us The mission of American Red Cross Disaster Services is to ensure nationwide disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, mitigation, and response that will provide the American people with quality services delivered in a uniform, consistent, and responsive manner. The American Red Cross responds to disasters such as hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, or other situations that cause human suffering or create human needs that those affected cannot alleviate without assistance. It is an independent, humanitarian, voluntary organization, not a government agency. All Red Cross assistance is given free of charge, made possible by the generous contribution of people's time, money, and skills. Preparing for Disaster An integral part of the Red Cross Disaster Service's mission is to prepare for disasters before they occur. A disaster response plan identifies what resources will be needed for specific disasters and how those resources should be coordinated and used. The Garland County Chapter works continuously to coordinate and collaborate with its disaster partners. Garland County Chapter identifies places to set up shelters and service centers, make arrangements with vendors for needed supplies, and works with local merchants. As part of the planning process, Garland County Chapter participates in drills and exercises that enable us to respond more efficiently and effectively. Each year the Western Colorado Chapter also trains people who can then provide consistent, quality services to people affected by disasters. When a disaster strikes, dedicated paid and volunteer staffs in over 1,300 communities respond to the immediate needs of their neighbors. These trained disaster workers come from all walks of life and all segments of the community, including youth and young adults. They offer their skills and bring their life experiences to help when needed. They provide services to those affected to help them return to independent living as soon as possible. When a disaster exceeds the resources of the Garland County Chapter, the nationwide network is activated. Material resources--supplies, vehicles, communications equipment, etc.--are strategically located around the United States, its territories and possessions, and are ready to move into a disaster-affected area at a moment's notice. For information on how you can prepare for a disaster, please visit the Together We Prepare section of our site. Download a copy of the American Red Cross Emergency Contact Card in .pdf format. Behind the Scenes Much of the work to assist people after a disaster occurs behind the scenes. All of it is involved in one way or another in activities that assure the delivery of quality and timely services to those affected. Disaster Action Teams The Disaster Action Team is a team made up of the first Red Cross workers sent to the scene to immediately determine the needs of the people affected and take the lead in making arrangements for shelters and feeding. Disaster Assessment Teams Disaster Assessment Teams go into the disaster affected area to determine the amount and type of damage to homes, apartments and mobile homes. This information helps the Red Cross determine the assistance needed and the resources required to deliver service. Many other workers provide support to the Red Cross relief operation and ensure things run smoothly--they run warehouses, work on computers, do the accounting, handle logistics, facilitate communications, and many other activities. As a result of their efforts, services can be delivered in a timely and efficient way. Additional Red Cross workers serve as a link between the Red Cross relief operation and the affected community, other voluntary agencies, government, labor unions, businesses, community groups, and the media. This ensures that efforts are coordinated, resources shared, and ultimately the community is served efficiently and effectively. Additional Disaster Services information from national American Red Cross web site: http://www.redcross.org/services/disaster/0,1082,0_319_,00.html. American Red Cross, Garland County Chapter 104 Blackstone Court P.O. Box 1362 Hot Springs, Arkansas 71902 Phone:  501-623-9321 Email:  arcgcc@swbell.net