| Each year, the
American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters -
house or apartment fires (the majority of disasters),
hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous
materials spills, transportation
accidents,
explosions, and other natural and manmade disasters.
Red Cross chapters also work
in their communities to help the public prepare for and cope
with disasters. The Red Cross provides information to
help people plan and prepare for specific types of
disasters, prevent injuries, save lives, and reduce the loss
of property.
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting the immediate
emergency needs of people affected by disaster. When a
disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides
shelter, food, and health and mental health services to
address basic human needs.
In addition to these
services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief activities
is the assistance given to individuals and families affected
by
disaster. This assistance provides to victims of disasters what they need most, such as groceries, clothing,
shelter,
basic household items, medicines, and occupational tools.
The Red Cross also helps those needing long-term recovery
assistance when all other resources, such as insurance
benefits and government assistance, are not available or are
inadequate.
The Red Cross also handles
inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster
area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims,
and helps those affected by disaster to find other
resources.
All Red Cross disaster relief
is provided free of charge as a gift from the American
people. It is made possible by generous contributions of
people's time, money, and skills.
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If you are interested in taking a Disaster Course,
please call the chapter at 966-1663 for information. |
Would you like to be a
part of the Disaster Services team? |
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New Canaan
Community Emergency Response Team |
| The
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) program helps train
people to be better prepared to respond to emergency
situations in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT
members can give critical support to first responders, provide
immediate assistance to victims, and organize spontaneous
volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with
non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the
community. |
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| The CERT
course is taught in the community by a trained team of first
responders who have completed a course conducted by the Sate
Office of Emergency Management and Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA). CERT trainers are training in
disaster preparedness and psychology, fire suppression,
medical operations, search and rescue, the characteristics of
biological, nuclear, chemical and incendiary events, and team
organization and deployment. |
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For more information go to
www.newcanaancert.org |
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