Disaster Services
American Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's
immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. The core of Red Cross
disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families
affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal
independent lives.
When We Respond
Click on the following items below to learn more about the
specific components of Red Cross Disaster Relief:
To inquire about the chapter’s disaster relief services, call
570-823-7161.
Additional Service Links:
Do you want to put your time and talent to work in our department?
We need people to assist with client casework, logistics, health
services, mental health services and much more. Find out more about
volunteer opportunities available in Disaster Relief.
If you are a company or group interested in volunteering in Disaster
Relief, contact Wayne Wolfe
at (570) 823-7161 ext. 324
Mass Care The Wyoming Valley Chapter
provides for the immediate emergency needs of disaster victims
and/or emergency workers in a disaster affected area in a large
disaster. Services include sheltering, feeding and/or direct
distribution of relief supplies.
Shelters may be
opened in anticipation of a disaster, during an evacuation or after
a disaster occurs. Shelters provide safe and warm places to protect
individuals from impending disaster or to provide short-term housing
until victims can return to their homes or locate alternate housing
after a disaster. Shelters may be opened in commercial facilities,
such as motels or hotels, community centers, schools or any other
location that is safe and far enough away from the affected area. If
you are interested in learning more about our Community Readiness or
Community Sheltering Program, please contact
Terry Bates.
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Logistics During mass feeding the Red Cross
provides regular meals in shelters and other appropriate food and
snacks at additional fixed sites or directly to victims and workers
in the affected areas.
Disaster
relief items, such as clean-up kits, comfort kits, food, water,
ice, and other items related to disaster relief and recovery may be
distributed by the Wyoming Valley Chapter at shelter locations,
service centers or via mobile crews who travel to affected areas to
distribute these items. If you are interested in lending a hand with
mass feeding, distribution of relief supplies or processing
materials in the warehouse, contact
Terry Bates.
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Family Financial Assistance Red Cross
caseworkers provide disaster assistance to individuals or families
on a case-by-case basis. Red Cross assistance is intended
to facilitate and support disaster victim recovery efforts.
Assistance
may include direct assistance, in the form of vouchers, to purchase
new clothing, eyeglasses, prescriptions, hotel stays, groceries,
household goods or other items that were lost in the disaster. All
assistance is based on addressing disaster-caused needs a family
cannot address because of a lack of financial resources. All Red
Cross disaster assistance is a gift supported by the generous
donations of those in the Wyoming Valley community.
In addition to financial assistance, caseworkers will often
provide referrals to other agencies that may be able to assist
disaster victims, including community-based and government agencies.
The chapter works with a number of community-based and government
agencies to identify resources available to help those who need
assistance with housing and other post-disaster needs.
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Mental Health Services The chapter has
trained, licensed mental health workers to provide emergency and
preventative mental health services to disaster victims and
workers. The mental health workers who respond to a disaster are
there to provide brief counseling to disaster victims in Red Cross
service delivery facilities or other settings.
If you are a licensed medical professional interested in lending
a hand to your neighbors in need, contact
Amy Gabriel for more information.
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