see also
Disaster Services
Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters throughout the country. The Morgan-Lawrence County Chapter is prepared with paid and volunteer staff to respond to disasters including house fires, floods, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, and other natural and man-made disasters 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.
Disaster Action Teams
Disaster Action Teams respond to calls from both Morgan and Lawrence Counties, focusing their efforts on meeting people’s immediate disaster-caused needs of food, clothing, shelter, and replacement of prescription medicines. After immediate emergency needs are met, clients are given referrals to other agencies for additional assistance when appropriate.
Recruiting Information:
The Disaster Services Program is currently recruiting new members to join our Disaster Team. We always need new ideas and new members willing to train in disaster to assist in the Morgan-Lawrence Counties disaster relief program. Options include office duties, joining our Disaster Action Team, Special Events or passing out water and gatorade to clients and firefighters. Disaster Volunteers are recognized as the backbone of the Red Cross and we need you if you are between the ages of 16 and 90, willing to serve others and enjoy the rewarding feeling of helping your community. For as little as one hour a month to weekly on-call positions are available.
Contact Linda Johnson, Director of Emergency Services 256-353-4891 or email ljohnson@morglawredcross.org
History
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.
In addition to direct disaster response, the Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to diaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster access other available resources.