American Red Cross

The American Red Cross is actively involved in helping Disaster victims as well as helping prepare for potential disasters. To learn how you can help protect yourself and your family, click on the image to the right and be a part of our Be Red Cross Ready campaign. Requires Adobe Flash.

You can also visit the American Red Cross online store by clicking below. From first aid kits to shirts, you can order it online. Many of these items are also available at the Cimarron Valley Chapter locally, allowing you to save on shipping and have the items immediately when you need them. For information on what is available or pricing, call the chapter office at 580-237-5994.

The American Red Cross Disaster Services mission is to ensure nationwide disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, and response that will provide the American people with quality services in a uniform, consistent, and responsive manner.

Long before a disaster strikes, the Red Cross plans what it will do. A disaster response plan identifies what it will take to respond to various disasters, what resources are needed, and how they will be coordinates and used. As part of the planning process, local chapters also practice by participating in drills and exersises. Such planning enables chapters to respond efficiently and effectively.

When a disaster threatens or strikes, dedicated paid and volunteer staff in over 1,400 communities around the country respond to the immediate needs of their neighbors. When a disaster exceeds the local Red Cross chapter, a nationwide network of people and material resources is activated.

This network of trained disaster workers is composed of people from all walks of life, and all segments of the community. They bring their life experiences to help when needed. Materials are strategically located around the US, and ready to move into an area on a moment's notice.

The Red Cross opens shelters for those evacuated or displaced and provides meals to families and emergency workers in the impacted areas. Trained Red Cross interviewers meet one-on-one with individuals and families to determine their disaster-caused needs and how the Red Cross can help. The Red Cross also lets people know about other available community resources and helps those needing long-term assistance when other resources are not available or inadequate.