Emergency Services

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Disaster Services

Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 70,000 disasters, including home fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. The most common of these disasters is fires. Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized in 1905 when the organization was chartered by Congress to provide disaster relief and mitigation.

Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting 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 the basic human needs of those affected. In addition to these services, the Red Cross provides direct financial assistance as well as information and referral to enable those affected to begin recovery.

The Upstate SC Chapter assists an average of one family each day affected by local disasters. During the last year the chapter provided more than $384,000 in direct financial assistance to over 1300 people who were affected by a disaster right here in our local community.

The Red Cross is able to respond to disasters by training a corps of disaster staff and volunteers in a wide range of both preparedness and response activities. These staff and volunteers ensure that the local chapter is ready to respond when disaster strikes and provide assistance to people affected by disasters in the local community. Some trained disaster staff and volunteers choose to become members of a national Disaster Services Human Resources System. Members of this cadre of responders may accept two-three week assignments to help respond to larger disasters anywhere in the country.

Services to the Armed Forces

The Service to the Armed Forces Program ensures that service members, veterans, and their families have worldwide access to timely and reliable humanitarian services. Both active-duty and community-based military rely on the Red Cross to provide access to vital services such as emergency communications, financial assistance, and information and referral.

The American Red Cross is the communications link between families in the local community their active-duty military members. The Red Cross sends communications on behalf of local families facing emergencies or other important events to members of their immediate family serving in the U.S. Armed Forces anywhere in the world. These communications are delivered around-the-clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year, often in person by a Red Cross staff member overseas. Prior to deployment, Red Cross workers educate service members and their families about available Red Cross support services including emergency communications to ensure that they know how and when to contact the Red Cross for assistance.

International Services

Be Prepared!

Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood or confine you to your home. What would you do if basic services--water, gas, electricity or telephones--were cut off? Local officials and relief workers will be on the scene after a disaster, but they cannot reach everyone right away. Therefore, the best way to make your family and your home safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.

Power Outage

Winter Storm Preparedness

Family Disaster Planning

Make sure your family has a plan in place before a disaster occurs.

Children & Disasters

Educational games Children & Disasters, plus how to help your child cope with a disaster.

Special Needs & Concerns

Additional information for the elderly and people with special medical concerns that could hinder mobility during a disaster.

Animal Safety

Make sure you are ready to handle pets, service animals and livestock during an emergency.

Financial Preparations

How to minimize property damage and financial risks.

Business & Industry Guide

A step-by-step approach to emergency planning, response and recovery for companies of all sizes.