Red Cross Ready: Shelter From Harm’s Way

When an disaster strikes, often times there is little or no warning. The tornadoes that recently ripped across 5 southern states have shown just how quickly a storm can leave communities devastated, displacing and even killing so many. Fortuantely, the Red Cross and its volunteers prepare for such situations. From natural disasters to a single family displaced by a house fire, the Red Cross is prepared to respond and provide shelter. In the event of an emergency, the Red Cross is usually notified by the local authorities and come immediately on site to the incident. Red Cross shelters and volunteers provide vouchers for food, clothing, medicine, mental health counseling, and in many cases assistance in obtaining longer term shelter or housing.

Additionally, the Red Cross has been responding to disasters with localized online resources that allow for either victims or volunteers to keep up with events, or to direct people to shelter and aid through flood or tornado disaster response websites. The Red Cross has even begun using twitter updates which can be used to give advance warnings or keep up with family or volunteers through the internet or by text message.

Check out the Red Cross online for more information about how you can volunteer, or to learn about how to make sure your family is Red Cross Ready.