Disaster Services

Compassion In Action

The Rio Colorado Chapter responds to an average of 60 disasters annually, helping an average of 300 people – most of which never make headlines. These "silent" disasters aren't the ones that appear on the evening news. They may be the single-family house fires or the apartment blazes that all boil down to one terrible moment for a family whose lives are changed forever. In fact, single-family fires are the most common type of disaster in our community.

At the Red Cross, there is no such thing as a small disaster. In every single case it is the Red Cross’ mission to help people affected by disaster meet their emergency needs that include shelter, food, clothing, and health and mental health services. Loyal Red Cross disaster volunteers serve selflessly to provide a bridge of assistance until individuals and families can resume a normal life.

Our disaster volunteers are the heart and soul of our mission to respond to emergencies and provide relief to victims of disasters. They serve in a number of capacities, including:

• Disaster Action Team Member
• Disaster Assessment
• Caseworker
• Mass Care Feeding
• Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) Driver
• Shelter Manager/Staff Member
• Disaster Health Services
• Disaster Mental Health

For more information about becoming a Red Cross disaster volunteer, contact your local branch office. No previous experience is needed, and all training is free.