What it takes to be ready

The focus is on preparation with a new initiative from Disaster Cycle Services Having trouble viewing this message? Click Here Dear Friend, I am no stranger to the Red Cross, but since January, Ive been honored to take on the role of senior vice president of Disaster Cycle Services. Its a job that will bring me closer to the process of helping individuals, families, and communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In the twelve years that Ive been with the Red Cross, Ive seen first-hand the devastating toll that disasters can have, most recently in my prior role leading the Northern Coastal California Region, but also in leading the recovery efforts for Superstorm Sandy and the 2013 Oklahoma tornadoes. Today, the need for disaster services is not abating. Its more crucial than ever. Every year, we see record-breaking storms and fires natural disasters of grand scale that have become the new normal. And while these are the stories that make the news, on average its home fires that kill seven and injure dozens every day. Its clear to me that the best way the Red Cross can fulfill its mission is to be ready for these disasters, big or small, so I am excited to usher in the Disaster Cycle Services Readiness Initiative.Readiness. We define this as having the capacity and capability to reliably accomplish our mission with our partners. But what it means in practice is much more than that:Its what you see when our volunteers mobilize to be present for thousands of shelter-seekers. Its what you experience when our staff can communicate with you in your own language. Its what you receive in food, tarps, blankets, and essential items exactly when you need it. And most of all, it is the hope you feel because weve made a connection that you can rely on. After my first month in the job, Im fired up to make this initiative a reality, together with our whole team under Harvey Johnson, our president of Humanitarian Services. And, I look forward to partnering with amazing supporters like you to achieve our mission of preventing and alleviating suffering in the face of emergencies. Thank you for all that you do to help us be ready for the next family impacted by disaster and Ill stay in touch! Sincerely, Trevor RiggenSVP of Disaster Cycle Services Subscribe | Contact Us | Privacy Policy Staying in touch via the American Red Cross email list is the best way we have of keeping in regular contact with supporters like you, letting you know about how you can protect yourself and your loved ones from disasters and other emergencies, and how you can support our life-saving work. Click here to unsubscribe from our list, but please know that if you leave, it will be harder for you to stay involved with the Red Cross and continue the work of which youve been such a critical part. It is only because of supporters like you that the Red Cross is able to respond when a disaster strikes or a home is impacted by fire, when someone needs CPR or a lifesaving blood transfusion, or when a family needs to contact a deployed service member in an emergency. And we dont want to lose you! Thanks for your support! 2019 American Red Cross | 431 18th Street NW Washington DC 20006 Donate by phone: 1-800-RED CROSS (1-800-733-2767) | Donate by Mail Help people affected by disasters big and small. An average of 91 cents of every dollar the American Red Cross spends is invested in humanitarian services and programs.