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The American Red Cross responds both locally and nation-wide to disasters such as tornados, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and fires, or other situations that cause human suffering or create human needs that those affected cannot alleviate without assistance. 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. We do
this by providing training courses nation-wide
based on standardized curricula to prepare volunteers, like you, to become
disaster responders. The most visible and well-known of Red Cross disaster relief activities include sheltering and feeding. The Red Cross opens shelters for those displaced by a disaster and provides meals and snacks to families and to emergency workers in affected areas. If you are in need of a shelter during a disaster, please contact your local Red Cross chapter. After a disaster trained Red Cross interviewers meet one on one with families to determine their needs. The assistance may include providing the means for them to pay for groceries, new clothes, rent, emergency home repairs, transportation, medicines, and tools. The Red Cross also lets people know about other community or government resources available to them and helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when other resources are inadequate. The Red Cross supplements the existing community health care system when disasters threaten or strike. Red Cross nurses deliver first aid and attend to other health-related matters. The Red Cross may help pay for certain medical needs, including prescription medicines, medical supplies, and emergency medical treatment. In certain areas, the Red Cross also provides blood and blood products. Disaster Mental Health Services workers are licensed mental health practitioners trained to recognize the emotional impact of a disaster on those affected by the disaster as well as disaster workers. They offer information and help educate people on the emotional impacts of disasters and how to cope with them. If a loved one is in the affected area, family members from outside the area can call their local chapter and request assistance in determining the well-being of their family member.
Do you like to work directly with people, or have specialized skills that would contribute to the behind-the-scenes organization of the response? Whatever your interest and talent, whether it be working with other agencies, working with materials, goods and services, fundraising, or working with information or computers...if you are interested in helping in your own community, within your own State, or nation-wide, there is a place for you with the American Red Cross. Contact your local Red Cross Chapter for more information on how you might support your American Red Cross. In Blount County, please contact us at (865)983-0821 or visit us at 1741 Triangle Park Drive in Maryville. |
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The
American Red Cross is an independent, humanitarian, voluntary organization, not
a government agency, and does not receive government funding. All Red
Cross disaster assistance is given free of charge, made possible by the
contribution of people's time, talent, and generous donations of treasure.