By: Ruby Ramirez

Since the organization's inception by Clara Barton 140 years ago, the American Red Cross has relied heavily on its ability to quickly help alleviate human suffering and bring help and hope to those impacted by disasters big and small. 

That ability has evolved dramatically over time, as the photo here demonstrates. Pictured in the early image is an ambulance driver outside of the office of the American Red Cross in Camp Tomas, Georgia, during the Spanish-American War (1889). Today, instead of relying on horse-drawn wagons, the organization can count on its fleet of vehicles to deliver aid to those who need it most, including a next-generation Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV), which the organization added to its lineup in 2020. 

The new high-tech Red Cross truck was used during recent recovery efforts in Newnan following a devastating tornado, which damaged over 350 homes and displaced hundreds of families. 

"The addition of the next-generation ERV gives us the capacity to deliver larger quantities of food and supplies in disaster-stricken communities. It also helps our clients start the recovery process more quickly," said Danella Hughes, Disaster Officer for the American Red Cross of Georgia. "This vehicle allows us to get closer to the people affected, in their neighborhoods, instead of them traveling to us at a set Red Cross location for food or supplies."

The new Red Cross vehicle allows the organization to deliver water, meals, and supplies in hard-hit areas that were more difficult to access previously. The truck will help carry 400-500 meals per trip for families impacted by disaster, increasing from the 100-200 meal capacity of previous ERVs. 

As technology and innovation evolve, so has the Red Cross's ability to address people's emerging needs as disasters become more frequent. The organization is training more local volunteers near disaster-prone areas and leveraging mapping technology better to identify the needs in the different communities across the country. 

As for the future of the Red Cross and Disaster Cycle Services, Hughes shared, "I see the use of drones in our future. I see us working closely with our partners that have the technology that can allow us to improve our location assessments when disaster passes. If there are blocked roads and we can’t get to a neighborhood, or there's a downed tree, we can better asses how many homes the disaster has impacted so we can deliver help more quickly,” she said.

Hughes added, “We've come a long way in the last 40  years. With the help of our volunteers, the organization working to better understand the needs of our clients, plus the use of everchanging technology, we will continue to chart our path forward toward being an innovative organization and continuing to deliver our mission more effectively," she closed.  

While we can't stop emergencies from happening, we can help ensure that people never have to face them alone. Join us to provide relief and care wherever it's needed – today and for years to come. Visit redcross.org  today to learn how you can get involved. 

To learn more about our history and our 140 years of service, please visit: www.redcross.org/about-us/whowe-are/history/red-cross-anniversary.html