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, 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.

As a client of the American Red Cross we will work with you to help determine your needs and plan your recovery, based on the effects of the disaster on your and your family, your specific damages, your personal resources and resources in the community. We will provide assistance to meet your disaster-caused basic needs, which may be different from those of your neighbors and friends. The Red Cross provides assistance to meet disaster-caused needs, and ensures accountability with you, our donors and the American public.

All Red Cross disaster assistance and services are free, provided through donations made by the American people, and are provided without regard to citizenship, race, religion, age, culture or creed. Disaster assistance is intended to meet your emergency, disaster-caused needs and provide a basis for your recovery. American Red Cross assistance is not entitlement and is not intended to replace all disaster-caused losses, replace or reimburse wages or duplicate government and personal resources or community assistance and services.

If you’ve been affected by a house fire or other disaster and need immediate emergency assistance, please contact us at the number above so that we may help.

For Non-Disaster Related Needs
Sponsored by the United Way of the Black Hills, 211 is a special three-digit phone number connecting those in need in our communities with those agencies and organizations that can assist them. It is not for life-threatening emergencies, it is a service providing information and referral to local services. Now, instead of making multiple phone calls to try and find help, you can simply pick up your phone and dial 2-1-1 to find assistance or access their database online at www.sd211.org.




**MILITARY SERVICES
For immediate assistance, please call (800) 951-5600
Today's American Red Cross is keeping pace with the changing military. Using the latest in computer and telecommunications technology, the Red Cross sends communications on behalf of family members who are facing emergencies or other important events to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving all over the world. These communications are delivered around-the-clock, 7 days a week, 365 days a year.

American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross quickly sends these communications on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.

How to Contact the Red Cross to Send an Emergency Message
Active duty service members stationed in the United States and their immediate family members in Black Hills Area, may call the Armed Forces Emergency Service Center for help 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The toll-free telephone number is (800) 951-5600.
If you are a military member with family outside of the Black Hills Area please contact your local American Red Cross.
When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information on the service member:
• Full Name
• Rank/Rating
• Branch of Service
• Social Security Number
• Military Address
• Information about the deployed unit and the home base unit (for deployed service members only)