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Disaster can strike quickly and without warning. It can force you to evacuate your neighborhood, workplace or school or can 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. The best way to make you and your family safer is to be prepared before disaster strikes.
Being prepared for emergencies is crucial at home, school, work and in your community. Click on the image and link below to see if you are "Red Cross Ready" for a disaster.
Every six hours, on average, the Columbia Region of the American Red Cross responds to a local disaster – mainly home and apartment fires – to provide support for disaster clients. The Red Cross provides families affected by a disaster with lodging and a client assistance card to purchase food, clothes, shoes, infant supplies and replacement medications. Emotional counseling is also available.
In times of disaster, the Red Cross also feeds first responders, opens shelters and helps connect separated families.
All American Red Cross disaster assistance is provided free of charge.
The Red Cross is not a government agency;
it relies on 100% on voluntary donations of time, money and blood to do its work.
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