Overview: The American Red Cross Response to the September 11 Attacks

As of 3/07/02: While it seems like just moments ago that the country experienced the most tragic attacks in our history, six months have passed. For many, the emotional wounds are still raw, but for tens of thousands of people who looked to the American Red Cross for help after the September 11 tragedies, their recovery has been smoothed by the financial and emotional assistance made possible by caring volunteers and donors.

Moments after the attacks, the Red Cross responded immediately in New York City, at the Pentagon, at the crash site in Pennsylvania and around the country where grieving family members and stranded travelers needed help. We've deployed more than 52,000 volunteers to provide relief from the September 11 tragedies -- volunteers who readily give up their time away from their families to help others in need.

Generous Americans responded like never before, and more than $933 million dollars have been donated to the American Red Cross to help victims of the September 11 attacks. In the past six months, we've spent $558 million in providing relief to victims, and we'll continue to be there with life saving relief in the years ahead. The Red Cross has been diligently working to put direct financial assistance -- $439 million to date to nearly 55,000 families -- in the hands of those who need it most: families who lost loved ones, people who were seriously injured, those who were displaced from their homes and workers who suffered economically.

The attacks killed more than 3,000 people, and many others were seriously injured. These families suffered the most devastating losses, and to ease their tremendous financial burdens, the Red Cross implemented the Family Gift Program. Through this program, financial assistance is provided to families of people killed or injured in the World Trade Center, the Pentagon, and the aviation crashes, including first responders and emergency personnel. The immediate financial gifts, in the form of a tax-free grant, are helping families of victims with financial needs such as mortgage or rent payments, utility bills, funeral and related expenses as well as for transportation, food, clothing and other expenses.

Americans were not the only ones affected by this enormous tragedy -- residents from 88 other countries were killed during the attacks. As with all other disaster victims, Red Cross assisted these families with travel to memorials and funerals and providing support through the Family Gift Program.

While the disaster rocked many to their core by severely injuring or taking away a loved one, thousands more lost their homes and/or the places where they went to work everyday. They too, have been able to look to the Red Cross for a hand in beginning their recovery. Because of the severe emotional trauma caused by September 11, many of these victims are only now able to face what has happened to their lives and come forward for needed assistance.

The financial needs are tremendous, but the emotional needs run much deeper. Red Cross Disaster Mental Health workers have provided emotional support and grief counseling to more than 231,000 individuals. A nationwide hotline, 1-866-GET-INFO, is stills providing information, assistance and a supportive ear to callers - including those who were directly affected who have needs.

Since September 11, the Red Cross has served more than 14 million meals and snacks to families and tens of thousands of emergency, rescue and recovery workers. For months, the Red Cross played at vital role at Ground Zero, providing hot meals, shelter, counseling and much more for the dedicated and heroic workers at the disaster site. These Respite Centers were Red Cross facilities initially opened to provide rescue workers with a place to relax, clean up and get recharged right where they were working at Ground Zero. Not only were warm meals, counseling, and first aid provided here, but workers also had access to showers, massages and AA meetings. A visitor to the Respite Centers could see row after row of toes wrapped in new socks sticking up from the donated recliners while weary workers stole a few minutes of rest.

Six months later, the needs are changing, and the Red Cross is continuing to respond to these emerging needs. Throughout New York City, Red Cross facilities remain open to those with needs. At the end of January, an average of 575 people each day were receiving help daily at these sites where Red Cross workers are providing a range of services to take care of physical, emotional and financial needs.

Even now, outreach teams continue to scour the areas immediately surrounding the World Trade Center to find disaster victims who may not have sought help from the American Red Cross yet. Through the disaster victim help line, those who are unable to travel to a Red Cross service site can arrange for an Integrated Care Team (ICT) to come to them. The ICT consists of a caseworker who can determine disaster-caused needs and provide financial assistance, a mental health worker to offer counseling and a nurse or other medical professional for healthcare related assistance.

This is the largest disaster response in Red Cross history, and we've helped so many in so many ways. As we do with every disaster, we've worked to improve upon our procedures as we learn lessons from this unique relief operation. We have taken extraordinary steps to ensure that we are meeting our clients' needs and honoring the intent of our donors. With the guidance of former Senate Majority Leader George Mitchell, we will ensure that Liberty Fund monies are utilized to best provide relief for the victims of September 11. The Red Cross has joined with other relief agencies to form the United Services Group, a coalition committed to streamlining the assistance process for those affected. Red Cross Disaster Services personnel have developed a new Disaster Cases Tracking to track important case notes to help serve disaster victims better while cutting down on duplications in service and highlighting any cases that may be fraudulent.

We know, from our 120-year history of providing disaster relief, that there is much work to be done, and we are committed to serving those affected in the most effective manner -- as the world watches intently. While many thousands have been helped and are progressing in their recovery, many victims are just now discovering that they have needs that the Red Cross can help them with. The Red Cross is committed to being there for those affected by the terrible events of September 11 - now and for the months and years to come.

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