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American Red Cross Assistance Comes in Many Forms
Tuesday, June 24, 2008 — As residents affected by flooding and severe weather in the central United States begin the slow process of recovery, the American Red Cross is still on the scene across eight states, providing food, comfort, information and other assistance to those in need.
Sarah Ommen looks through photographs of her flooded home at a Red Cross service center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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To date, the American Red Cross has provided more than 713,000 meals and snacks, distributed more than 40,000 kits to help people with the clean-up, and has processed more than 7,500 client cases.
Over 7,500 client cases have been processed. What does that mean? How does the Red Cross help? The situation for the individual or family is initially assessed by a trained Red Cross caseworker. An interview takes place to determine the extent of need, and the amount and type of assistance the Red Cross can supply to the affected individual or family.
Questions during this interview include:
- Can you tell me what happened?
- What are your emergency needs?
- How do you plan to recover?
- Do you have any emergency health-related needs? Are you on any medications that need replacing?
- Are you able to continue living in your home?
Michael Rector, whose home was damaged by flooding speaks with a Red Cross volunteer at a busy Red Cross service center in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
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There are two types of assistance the American Red Cross can provide – hard and soft. Hard assistance provides material items and may include feeding, shelter, clean-up kits, comfort kits and financial assistance. When disaster-related emergency needs have been verified, financial help can be delivered in the form of a Client Assistance Card. This is a pre-paid debit card that allows victims of the disaster to get essentials which may include anything from diapers and baby formula to shoes and clothing. Soft assistance minimizes immediate disaster-caused suffering through listening, guidance, advocacy, and counseling.
Additionally, the American Red Cross coordinates with hundreds of partner organizations. If there is a need that the Red Cross cannot address, referrals can be made to government agencies as well as community and faith-based organizations. This allows the service site to be “one-stop shopping” – those affected can get all of the information they need in one place.
Donald Webster’s home in Cedar Rapids, IA, was destroyed during the flooding. “I’m feeling a lot better after getting help from the Red Cross,” he said, “I feel like something has started. I'm looking forward to getting a new bed and bedding so I can finally have a good night's sleep. It's time to start a new life.”
The experience for the Red Cross caseworker is very rewarding; knowing someone in need is being helped. “It's such a meaningful and worthwhile experience – sitting across from a person in need and being able to give them help,” said Carol A. Blaisdell, “It's the best thing.”
People affected by the flooding need your help. Please click here to donate now.
About the American Red Cross:
The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and counsels victims of disasters; provides nearly half of the nation's blood supply; teaches lifesaving skills; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a charitable organization – not a government agency – and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its humanitarian mission. For more information, please visit www.redcross.org or join our blog at www.redcrosschat.org.
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