Services > Disaster Services Disaster Services

Each year the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 60,000 disasters. Disasters include hurricanes, floods, blizzards, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosives, and other man-made disasters. Every day, Red Cross chapters work with their community partners to help the public prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from disasters. The Red Cross provides practical and helpful awareness and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries and protect their homes from disaster. Red Cross relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food and clothing to address basic human needs. All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people. In order to help people prevent and prepare for disasters and emergencies, the National Capital Chapter of the American Red Cross provides FREE Community Disaster Education (CDE) presentations to schools and organizations throughout the Greater Washington Region. Topics include winter safety, hurricane and tornado safety, as well as thunderstorm and fire safety.

New Online Course: Introduction to Disaster Services The purpose of this basic level Disaster Services online course is to engage and inspire the public to actively participate in supporting American Red Cross disaster response. This self-study course will introduce learners to American Red Cross Disaster Services and allow them to discover how volunteers support this critical mission and to explore ways they can become involved in a local chapter. Link to Online Course: http://www2.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01/ All disaster courses are free for volunteers.

Radio Room During periods of disaster emergency, the Loudoun Amateur Radio Group has been supporting the chapter while literally working from a closet. Well... several members, who have now become trained American Red Cross Volunteers in Disaster Services, have taken the problem to heart. An abandoned stairwell has been converted into a more commodious working space. The new facility will accommodate two persons comfortably and is equipped with amateur radios for HF, VHF, and UHF. In addition, American Red Cross dedicated frequencies are accommodated. The the station is officially titled, and licensed by the FCC, as KG4OIR.

"Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Tragic Events" This curriculum contains general preparedness information that addresses any tragic event, natural disaster, or man-made disaster. It is available in K-2, 3-5, 6-8 & 9-12 grade levels, containing four lesson plans and accompanying activity sheets in each of the three chapters: Feelings, Facts and Perspectives, and Future. For more information on "Facing Fear: Helping Young People Deal with Terrorism and Tragic Events" contact your local American Red Cross Chapter or go online to http://www.redcross.org/disaster/masters/facingfear