Each year, the American Red Cross responds immediately to more than 70,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters.

The Good News Is That We Can Help

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, clothing, food, and health 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 Red Cross also feeds emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.

To continue serving the Outagamie Chapter community, we need your support. Please help by donating today or by becoming a disaster action team volunteer.

All Red Cross disaster assistance is free, made possible by voluntary donations of time and money from the American people.

How to Get Help

If your family has been adversely affected by a disaster (fire, flood, tornado, etc.), or if you know someone who suffered a disaster and isn't sure what to do, the Outagamie Chapter is here to provide assistance.

The Outagamie Chapter's Disaster Action Team is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year to provide assistance to those affected by disasters, regardless of race, creed, income, citizenship, etc.

For 24-hour disaster assistance, call 920.733.4481 or 800.856.3667.

Please note: The American Red Cross provides disaster-related assistance. It does not provide general financial aid to individuals in need unrelated to disaster circumstances. For a list of organizations who can service those needs please see our community links.

If you have a military emergency or require any of these services and live in either Outagamie County, the Town of Harrison in Calumet County, or the Clintonville/Marion area of Waupaca County, please call the Outagamie Chapter of the American Red Cross: 920-733-4481 or toll free 1-800-856-3667.