Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross*

Red Cross Provides Disaster Relief, Trains Volunteers

In a normal time for the Central Arkansas Chapter of the American Red Cross, there may be emergencies that require many of the chapter’s staff to be working in the field.

But on days like Jan. 21, the Arkansas division of the congressionally chartered organization goes into overdrive, bringing in volunteers from the heart of the state and beyond to try to help. No one has been available from the American Red Cross recently to discuss the organization’s past or its future, since most have been dealing with the present and the after-effects of the tornadoes that swept through Arkansas.

The organization has been in the state for more than 80 years, providing not only the personnel to deal with emergencies, but also training and educating volunteers. The Central Arkansas Chapter has the equivalent of 24 full-time employees and 1,100 active volunteers, all serving 64,000 people annually.

The Central Arkansas Chapter’s plans for the future include ensuring the necessary support to deliver services, attracting and retaining volunteers and paid staff, promoting the Red Cross as an important charity, improving methods of producing revenue and providing a full-service disaster relief program.

During cases like the late January tornadoes, the chapter acts as the state disaster lead response unit, working with government officials to help coordinate a response. In dealing with the tornadoes of March 1997, the Central Arkansas Chapter was the primary responder, helping provide relief for 3,600 families in 22 counties.

The Red Cross and the Central Arkansas Chapter also work with members of the military as an information service. The organization provides emergency communications to members of the military in case of a birth, serious family illness or death.