0. Principles of American Red Cross Disaster Response
Amy Mintz American Red Cross
Washington, DC Dec. 8, 2010
Challenges faced in the midst of a disaster response
Lessons learned from how the situation was managed
Organizational priorities for improving response effectiveness
Methods for successful collaboration among different organizations across the government and private sectors.

1. The American Red Cross Mission Statement
The American Red Cross, a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, will provide relief to victims of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

2. ARC Overview Congressional Charter 1905
Specifies Nationwide System Of Disaster Relief
Independent from government
Independently Funded
Volunteer Board Of Governors
~600 Branches
35,000 Employees, 1 Million Volunteers
Charter means we don’t get to pick which disasters we respond to

3. Each Year in the United States, the American Red Cross Responds to an Average of:
75,000 Emergencies
Single Family Fires to Hurricane Katrina
Between 200 and 300 Major Disasters

4. When Disasters Occur What We Do: Feeding, sheltering
Distribution of emergency supplies
One-on-one casework/assistance
Health services
Mental health services
Family connectedness
Community recovery
Blood and blood products

5. When Disasters are not Occurring - Readiness / Preparedness
Capacity building and risk planning
Community based preparedness
Pre-positioned supplies, shelters
Volunteer recruitment & training
Disaster Plans & Drills
Planning & engaging key partners
Community outreach & mobilization 5

6. 2005: Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, and Wilma
A new kind of challenge
3.5 million affected by all 3 storms
1.4 million families displaced
400,000 homes destroyed
90,000 square miles affected

7. An International Effort
The Red Cross received over 200 international response experts
Logistics
Relief
Media
We received assistance from National Societies, the International Federation of the Red Cross and Red Crescent, and the International Committee of the Red Cross
$115 million in cash contributions from 70+ countries

8. Initial Strategic Issues
Scope Brought Unique Challenges
Receiving end vs donor end
Capacity to handle outpouring of international offers
Offers outside our scope of assistance
Relationships
Mandated roles don’t define limits of expectations
Common Standards and Process
Key Area I: Executing a plan of action to improve Red Cross business and operational capabilities.
Key Area II: Implementing vigorous internal controls to protect the organization against fraud, waste and abuse while providing improved accountability.
Key Area III: Creating a renewed and refreshed focus on serving communities and building partnerships.

9. 5 Steps to Improve international support
Risk / Needs based planning
Working with Government & Non-Government partners to prepare ahead to avoid barriers to relief
Coordination planning on cross boarder / regional cooperation and coordination
Process for accepting Staff – VISAs, qualifications
Process for accepting goods (customs, regulations)
Procedures in place, plans in place & test often
Client Assistance System (CAS) software/hardware enhancements
1,000,000 families within 10-day period and 2,000,000 over a longer term
Increased stockpiling of supplies (food, cots, blankets, comfort kits, etc.) to serve 1,000,000 meals and shelter 500,000 people per day
Tripling of warehouse space to over 1,000,000 square feet
Pre-positioning of communications equipment in 21 cities
Hiring of 6 disaster relief operation directors for major relief operations
Improvements to Human Resources (DSHR) system to track personnel in real-time
Creation of a “Disaster Welfare Information” system