In 1949, the Red Cross spent over 12 million dollars for relief and rehabilitation on 303 different disaster operations in the United States.
Red Cross assistance in response to a disaster is directed toward the things most vitally needed by the sufferers: food, clothing, shelter, and medical attention. Trained volunteer staff are supplemented by paid chapter staff and provide the foundation for many relief services.
When disaster strikes, we're here for our community
Disaster Relief and Recovery
The American Red Cross helps people prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. Last year, almost a million volunteers and 35,000 employees helped victims of almost 75,000 disasters. The American Red Cross immediately responds to house or apartment fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. Over the past year, the Greenwich Chapter alone responded to 4 local disasters, provided support for rescue workers, assisted local individuals and families in emergency relief cases and provided 11 families with our 24-hour, 365-day on-call Service to the Armed Forces program, which includes the transmission of emergency messages between members of the military and their families.
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 time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims and to the people who generously support its work with their donations.
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health services, and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently.
The Greenwich Chapter also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside a disaster area, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources. Last year, the Greenwich Chapter provided 28 disaster education programs to community members to help them be prepared and 25 emergency services training courses that strengthened the experience and knowledge of our volunteers to truly be there for the community in emergency situations.
To learn ways to be safe in emergency situations and prepare for disasters, call Jessica Chapman, Director of Preparedness & Community Outreach, at 203-869-8444, ext. 119 or email
The Language Bank
The Greenwich Chapter has skilled volunteers fluent in a variety of languages who provide unbiased, confidential oral interpretation and written translation assistance in emergency and non-emergency scenarios. Our services are available for people in certain emergency situations or for whom access to other interpretation services is limited or cost-prohibitive.
A Red Cross volunteer provides unbiased linguistic service between the requestor and the non-English speaking client, maintaining confidentiality in each setting. Each interpreter is required to sign an interpreter Code of Ethics as well as the American Red Cross Standard of Conduct.Currently, volunteers registered with the Language Bank represent 39 different languages and dialects.
Typical services provided are:
Assistance with parent-teacher conferences
Interpretation at PTA and school functions
Translation of simple written documents
Interpretation at housing meetings
Referrals to other local service providers
Interpretation in person and by telephone
If you need Language Bank assistance, please call Tim Wall, Director of Disaster & Emergency Services, at 203-869-8444, ext. 115.
To volunteer with the Language Bank, please call Andrew Sindell, Director of Community Services, at 203-869-8444, ext. 122, or email
Disaster Preparedness
Community Disaster Education (CDE) helps the Greenwich community be aware of the natural and human-caused hazards that threaten our area, as well as educating our community members on what they can and should do to better protect themselves and their property. Free CDE classes are held at the Chapter and through Greenwich Continuing Education and other community organizations. Classes run for approximately two hours, including time for questions; light refreshments are served. Information and materials about preparing for potential disasters that can affect this area are disseminated during the class, and chapter. Additionally, the Greenwich Chapter distributes a variety of preparednesss materials throughout the year at local fairs, events and special occasions.
To learn ways to be safe in emergency situations and prepare for disasters, call Jessica Chapman, Director of Preparedness & Community Outreach, at 203-869-8444, ext. 119 or email
Service to the Armed Forces (SAF)
Red Cross Service to the Armed Forces (SAF) provides emergency communications 24 hours a day, 365 days a year between local families and their loved ones serving in the US Armed Forces. SAF volunteers help send emergency messages regarding the death or serious illness of a family member, the birth of a child, or other family emergencies.
If you need Service to the Armed Forces assistance, please call Tim Wall, Director of Disaster & Emergency Services, at 203-869-8444, ext. 115.
To volunteer with Service to the Armed Forces, please call Andrew Sindell, Director of Community Services, at 203-869-8444, ext. 122, or email
First Aid Stand-Bys (FASB)
FASB teams work at local events year-round by providing first aid and assistance while awaiting the arrival of EMS, if necessary. Events include local fairs, run/walks, and special occasions such as the Salute to Veterans over the July 4th holiday. Official Red Cross vehicles are used, and each team member is trained and certified in Adult CPR/AED, Infant/Child CPR, and First Aid.
If you would like to have a FASB team at your event, please call Maureen Hopper, FASB Team Leader at 203-869-8444, ext. 108, or email
To volunteer on the FASB Team, please call Andrew Sindell, Director of Community Services, at 203-869-8444, ext. 122, or email
