Description:
MISSION STATEMENT
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
WHAT WE DO
The Dakotas Region of the American Red Cross serves nearly 1.7 million people covering all of North Dakota, South Dakota, and 10 counties in Western Minnesota. The people of the region are served by 650 active volunteers that provide the following services from the Red Cross:
Immediate, short-term disaster assistance for victims of fires, floods, earthquakes and other natural or man-made disasters
Community disaster education
Safety classes for adults and youth
International communication to locate family members separated by disaster or warfare
Emergency communication for military families
The region also mobilizes local volunteers and resources to help respond to disasters across the nation.
In 2011, the region:
Responded to a disaster or prepared a member of the community every 4 hours.
During the 2011 Western North Dakota flood response, the Red Cross provided approximately 16,500 overnight stays in shelters, nearly 500,000 meals and snacks and also handed out more than 300,000 relief items.
Over 36,000 community members learned lifesaving skills in CPR, first aid and water safety.
Over 7,500 units of blood were collected in Western Minnesota.
Emergency communication services to military families when illness, death or births need to be reported; and processing aid society loans for emergency travel. Anyone needing military emergency communications or military financial assistance should call 877-272-7337.