Red Cross Disaster Services - Part 2

"Ladybug! Ladybug! Fly away home. Your house is on fire."
- nursery rhyme

The role of a Red Cross Disaster worker at the scene of an emergency is to provide immediate relief to the family or families to get them through that night and next few days. For longer term assistance, families are encouraged to visit the local chapter headquarters during business hours to meet with a professional case worker who can assist with recovery plans

Going back to the events of last night, we passed out toiletry kits with razors, tooth brushes, etc, we had dolls for children, and referrals to Goodwill for clothes, bedding, etc. For a few displaced families we offered 1 to 3 nights free in a local hotel. (If the disaster affects many families the Red Cross may open a local shelter with cots to lower costs.) We also provide debit cards for food and replacement clothing.

The aid is needs based. Only one apartment was destroyed by last night's fire so only that family received funds for clothing replacement. The other families who were displaced (all power and water to the building were cut off) were eligible for food and lodging relief.

Bottom Line
Relief assistance is NOT like winning the lottery. The funds provided are quite modest and just enough to provide an inexpensive second set of clothes if a fire left you literally with just the shirt on your back. The food allowance won't go far at a restaurant. It's meant to cover groceries for feeding the family.