Disasters happen everyday. Whether it’s a major earthquake or a single family house fire, the Red Cross will respond.

Local Disaster Responses

The American Red Cross doesn’t just respond to national disasters, it also responds to local fires and events that affect people in the community. Locally, volunteers with the Disaster Action Team (DAT) respond to house fires and similar events from Canyon Country to Ridgecrest. When a call is received, volunteers respond to the scene of a house fire or similar disaster and provide services to those affected, caring for their immediate needs, making sure they have a place to stay and a way to get back on their feet.

Local Shelters

When wildfires threaten our communities, the AV Chapter responds, opening shelters for residents being evacuated from affected areas. During the Crown and Station fires, local volunteers set up shelters for displaced residents at a local park, providing shelter and food until people were able to safely return to their homes.

National Disaster Response

Several AV volunteers recently deployed to national disasters, including the recent tornadoes in Alabama and the flooding along the Mississippi River.

How to become a local disaster volunteer

If you would like to become a disaster volunteer, please complete the application here, and attend a Volunteer Orientation and Disaster Services Overview class, held the 4th Monday of each month at the Palmdale office.