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Disaster Services responds to disasters such as fires, winter storms, floods and thunderstorms and helps neighbors rebuild their lives. Immediately following a disaster, the Red Cross works with emergency service agencies, local vendors and others to provide emergency shelter, food, clothing and first aid. The Red Cross will work with you and your family to identify your disaster-caused needs, help you develop an immediate plan, and provide you and your family with the means to pay for basic necessities in order to return to a more normal living situation as soon as possible. We will also refer you to government and other agencies that can help in your recovery. If these resources are not available or if you need more assistance, the Red Cross will continue to work with you and your family to meet your disaster-caused needs.
The American Red Cross uses the following definition of disaster in determining its Disaster Services Program: A disaster is a threatening or occurring event of such destructive magnitude and force as to dislocate people, separate family members, damage or destroy homes and injure or kill people. A disaster produces a range and level of immediate suffering and basic human needs that cannot be promptly or adequately addressed by the affected people, and impedes them from initiating and proceeding with their recovery efforts. Natural disasters include floods, tornadoes, hurricanes, typhoons, winter storms, tsunamis, hail storms, wildfires, windstorms, epidemics and earthquakes. Human-caused disasters, whether intentional or unintentional, include residential fires, building collapses, transportation accidents, hazardous materials releases, explosions and domestic acts of terrorism.
Red Cross Emergency Services include:
- Disaster welfare inquiry
- Preparedness, planning & education
- Damage assessment
- Mass care
- Family services
- Mental health
Emergency Services Responses FY’09
Tompkins County American Red Cross Emergency Services responded to 18 local disasters this year.
A total of 22 families received emergency cash assistance from the Chapter for a total disbursement of $13,681.
In addition, 21 families received Project Share dispersal funds for heat and electric assistance.
For more information on national American Red Cross Emergency
Services
visit the American Red Cross web site
