Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to over 67,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of responses), floods, hurricanes, tornadoes, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, and other natural and man-made disasters. Over 400 of these disaster responses are initiated by the Central West Virginia Chapter.

Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of national and international relief…in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods and other great national calamities". The Charter is not only a grant of power, but an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who generously support its work with their donations.

That's why twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, Red Cross Disaster Services is on the job providing free temporary housing, food, clothing, counseling and medical assistance to disaster victims. The Red Cross is able to respond almost immediately because the relief activities are initiated at the local level. When the scope of a disaster exceeds the capability and resources of our chapter, other Red Cross chapters around the nation are called to help.

The Central West Virginia Chapter is able to respond to disasters because of over 180 trained local disaster volunteers. To learn how you can help them provide emergency assistance to victims of local disasters, click here.

Disaster Education is an important part of our chapter's effort to help people prevent and prepare for emergencies. Chapter volunteers and staff make presentations throughout the year all types of community audiences, from children to the elderly. If you are interest in having a presentation to your group or getting individual disaster information, click here. If you are interested in helping to educate others in the community on being prepared, click here.

Disaster Assistance is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. If you need disaster related assistance, please call toll free 1-888-574-2459 or click here for the Red Cross office nearest you.

List yourself as Safe and Well

If you have been affected by a disaster, this website provides a way for you to register yourself as "safe and well." From a list of standard messages, you can select those that you want to communicate to your family members, letting them know of your well-being. CLICK HERE.