The American Red Cross Los Angeles Region is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to assist individuals and families displaced by natural and man-made disasters, including home fires (the majority of responses), wildfires, earthquakes, floods, hazardous materials spills, transportation accidents and other emergencies.
If You Need Immediate Disaster Assistance call (800) 675-5799
The Red Cross L.A. Region focuses on meeting the immediate emergency needs of area disaster victims at least once a day. Depending on the circumstances, Red Cross assistance may include: shelter, food, clothing, toiletry items, clean-up items, help in obtaining prescription refills or medical equipment, mental health support, and referrals to organizations that help with long-term needs.
In addition to providing client services at disaster scenes, the Red Cross handles inquiries from concerned family members outside the disaster area. In addition, Red Cross volunteers deliver snacks and drinks to emergency responders, including firefighters and police.
All disaster assistance is free, provided through the generosity of the American public.
If you or someone you know recently experienced a natural or man-made disaster and needs assistance, please call the Red Cross at (800) 675-5799. This hotline is staffed 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.
For information about other types of assistance not related to immediate disaster needs, you may find help through L.A. County’s 211 program. This resource provides free, confidential information about non-profit and governmental social services programs in Los Angeles County. You can dial 2-1-1 or (800) 339-6993 or visit http://www.211la.org.
Most disasters never make the news. Yet families in the L.A. area are displaced every day from their homes by sudden events such as fire or flood.
The volunteers who bring help and hope to their neighbors affected by disasters are members of the Red Cross Los Angeles Region’s Disaster Action Team (DAT).
On-call DAT volunteers travel together to the disaster site, assess the scope of the disaster, and if necessary, work with the victims to identify and meet the immediate needs of the displaced residents. A well-stocked Red Cross response vehicle contains blankets, water, snacks and toiletry kits for the comfort of the clients. Diapers, formula and plush toys are also available for infants and children. During an extended response, volunteers are also prepared to support the needs of first responders.
For more information and to apply to be a Disaster Action Team volunteer, please use one of the links below.