Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized in 1905, when the American 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 national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." Our Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to those affected by disaster, and to the people who generously support our work with their donations.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief focuses on meeting people's immediate, emergency, disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross can provide shelter, food, mental health, and other services to address basic human needs. In addition, the core of Red Cross Disaster Relief is the assistance given to those affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief also supports emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside of the affected area, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.
