Provides disaster services focused on meeting people's immediate needs resulting from disasters, such as shelter, food, health, and mental health services.

Disaster Services offered by American Red Cross Cascades Region at Southwest Washington Chapter

Programs that increase public awareness of the measures that people can take before, during and after an emergency, regardless of the type of hazard encountered, to protect lives and property. Included may be materials that introduce people to the possibility of a disaster in their area, help families prepare and practice a general disaster plan, provide disaster preparedness suggestions for special populations including people with disabilities and older adults, help families plan for the care of their pets in times of disasters and other similar topics.

General Disaster Preparedness Information

Programs that provide temporary shelter with sleeping accommodations for people whose homes have been made temporarily unsafe or uninhabitable by a major disaster or large-scale emergency that has disrupted the normal functioning of their community and who are unable to find alternative living arrangements. Also included are programs that provide overnight accommodations during extreme cold for people who are at risk of exposure due to a power failure, fuel shortage or other local emergency. Mass shelter care programs may open facilities such as schools, recreation centers and armories prior to or following a disaster or local emergency, or provide amenities such as tents for people who are sleeping in parks and other open spaces.

Mass Care Shelters

Programs that provide clothing, blankets and other essentials immediately following a major disaster or large-scale emergency for people who have experienced substantial losses as a result of the incident.

Disaster Related Clothing/Emergency Supplies

Organizations that have a formal role in coordinating the provision of disaster relief and/or recovery services following a major disaster or large-scale emergency that disrupts the normal functioning of a community.  Included are coalitions of community-based organizations in a defined geographic area whose members are prepared to act in concert to respond to the emergency needs of the community during the relief and recovery phases of a disaster and non-affiliated organizations with a designated role.  Some collaboratives are local VOADs (known in some places as COADs), that are organized through state-level VOAD/COAD chapters which are affiliates of the national organization, National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), a formal coalition of national voluntary organizations with a common interest in providing disaster relief.  Other coalitions are "interfaiths" which gather financial and other resources from the faith community and distribute them to people in need, generally after American Red Cross and other immediate relief organizations have completed their work.  NOTE:  "Disaster Relief" is a category of services utilized by community agencies involved in disaster work.  Government organizations do not recognize disaster relief as a formal part of the disaster cycle.  Most of the services classified as disaster relief are considered by government to be part of disaster recovery and a few (e.g., disaster welfare inquiries) are categorized as disaster response.

Disaster Relief/Recovery Organizations

Programs that provide general information for the public about major disasters and large-scale emergencies occurring within the U.S. Details may include the location and severity of the incident, the date and time of its occurrence, organizations that concerned friends and family can contact for information about the circumstances of possible victims and/or survivors, details regarding needed materials and supplies, and instructions for contributing to relief organizations.

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Disaster Services offered by American Red Cross Cascades Region at Southwest Washington Chapter