The American Red Cross provides disaster relief services to people affected by disasters

24 hours a day, 365 days of the year. 

Red Cross Disaster Relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs by providing shelter, food, clothing, and health and mental health services to address basic human needs.  Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 67,000 disasters nationwide, including residential fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters.

Every year thousands of Humboldt County citizens are trained in disaster preparedness, and we provide direct relief services to between one hundred and two hundred local families who have lost their homes (usually to fire).

Community Disaster Education

The Red Cross provides practical and helpful awareness and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries, and protect their families and homes during a disaster.

Additional Community Disaster Education presentations are available for community groups, businesses and organizations. Call 443-4521 to get more information.

Becoming a Disaster Volunteer

If you are interested in becoming a disaster volunteer, begin by completing:

• the online course Introduction to Disaster Services to learn about how we help those in need,
• the orientation for new Red Cross volunteers at Orientation, and
  
• the Volunteer Application.

Then call 443-4521 for an appointment. You will be asked to either bring in the Volunteer Application or mail it to our Chapter office.

Disaster Educational Presentations & Training

Many disaster presentations, classes and training opportunities are available through the Humboldt County Chapter of the American Red Cross. All of them are offered free of charge.

Our Community Disaster Education presentations cover all topics of disaster preparedness and are available for all ages at schools, community organizations, senior centers, churches, or anyone who is interested. Training for disaster services is offered for those interested in volunteering with our Disaster Services program can.

If you are interested in scheduling a presentation or signing up for our Disaster Training Classes, please call us at 443-4521.

Disaster Action Team (DAT) members are specially trained volunteers who provide 24/7 response to Humboldt County disaster victims. After training and mentoring as a DAT member, they are each periodically on-call to provide emergency services. To find out more about becoming a member of the Disaster Action Team, attend the New Volunteer Orientation or the Fulfilling Our Mission class.