National Disasters

Every disaster starts as a local disaster. When disasters are too large for local resources to handle, such as 9/11 and Hurricane Katrina, specially trained Red Cross volunteers from around the country, including the Twin Cities Area, deploy to the affected area to help provide emergency services to those in need.

Hurricane Recovery Program

Twin Cities Response

Local volunteers, like Dave and Kitty Dornfeld, have been deployed on a number of national Red Cross assignments. For them, the most rewarding part of volunteering is being able to help people through the initial trauma of a disaster.

According to Dave, “The reward for helping is the gratitude expressed in words, body language and the look in their eyes. After a disaster, people are confused, in disbelief and full of despair. Then the Red Cross arrives - soothing the physical and mental pain and helping them recover.”

Dave adds that the hardest part of being a disaster volunteer is not knowing when disaster will strike. “But once you’re called to serve, you enter into an entirely different world where your own personal problems are far less important; helping other is (the priority.)”

Hurricane Recovery Program

The story of the 2005 hurricane season is told in the faces of those who weathered three monsterous hurricanes and survived and those who reached out to them offering a lifeline-lives touching lives, neighbors helping neighbors.

After mounting the largest response to a disaster in its 125-year history, meeting the emergency needs of 1.4 million families, the American Red Cross continues to serve those affected by Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma through its Hurricane Recovery Program (HRP). 

The HRP is focused on four areas where the Red Cross can help the most: Helping families plan their recovery

• Providing emotional support
• Providing vital information and recovery resources
• Meeting emerging needs.

Two HRP initiatives are available to help individuals and families with their recovery regardless of where they now live. Those experiencing disaster related emotional distress are eligible to enroll in a benefit program, Access to Care, that is focused on reducing barriers to receiving needed mental health and substance abuse services. Case managers, in conjunction with long term recovery committees, have an additional tool, Means to Recovery to help individuals and families implement their recovery plan.

The American Red Cross is one of many partner community organizations which have gathered resources to help individuals and families with their disaster recovery. The Hurricane Recovery Program Links & Resources can direct you to some of these partner organizations and resources.

Over 90% of the resources donated to the American Red Cross by the American public for Hurricanes Katrina, Rita and Wilma have already gone toward basic, life-sustaining needs like food, clothing and shelter right after the storm. The remaining funds continue to provide services through the Hurricane Recovery Program.