To contact the Suffolk County Chapter of the American Red Cross for disaster assistance call our 24 hour emergency phone number: 631-924-6911.

Preparedness, Awareness and Education
Our goals are:

1. to raise the public's awareness of the natural and human-caused hazards that threaten them;
2. to educate people on what they can and should do to better protect themselves and their property; and
3. to motivate them to take those steps. We develop and distribute a variety of materials designed to educate the public through our highly acclaimed Community Disaster Education (CDE) program and the Masters of Disaster Kits.

The CDE presentations focus on three steps you can take today to prepare you and your family for a variety of disasters. If you are interested in a community presentation contact the chapter at 631-924-6700.

Get a Kit*- Prepare a family emergency kit with enough food, water, and supplies for three days. Make a Plan- Meet with family to discuss a disaster response plan and responsibilities for each member. Be Informed- Stay alert and stay tuned to your local radio, TV or NOAA weather channel for current information

For more information on these 3 steps and other useful tips visit our Hurricane Preparedness web site at: LIPrepares.org.

*To purchase a Red Cross "Go-Bag" stocked with emergency supplies call the chapter during regular office hours.

Masters of Disaster Kits

The Family Kit: Help your family become more prepared The American Red Cross Masters of Disaster® Family Kit is full of activities that help families take important disaster safety and preparedness actions together. These activities also help parents and caregivers address the questions that children ask when a disaster occurs and helps them become better prepared for the future.

Great Children's Activities: The Masters of Disaster kit comes with activities on one CD so it is easy to access when you want to use it. The series uses fun and engaging activities to educate and entertain children. The printable activity sheets on the CD are independent—you decide which are most important for your children. The kit also includes stickers, home safety checklists, a poster, and a DVD in English and Spanish. The DVD has information to educate children about hurricanes and floods, tornadoes and lightning, earthquakes and fire prevention and safety.

The Educator's Kit: Help youth become more prepared The American Red Cross Masters of Disaster curriculum is centered on a series of ready-to-go lesson plans that help organizations educate youth about important disaster safety and preparedness information. The curriculum uses fun and engaging lessons to educate children. This tool provides educators with meaningful hands-on, interactive ways to help children understand important concepts on preventing, preparing for, and responding to both natural and human-caused disasters.

Easy to integrate: Activities are independent—you decide which are most important for your students. The curriculum flexibility allows you to choose what will complement the lessons you are already teaching. Lessons meet national educational standards to reinforce student academics while building life skills, and are specifically tailored for lower elementary (K-2), upper elementary (3-5), and middle school (6-8) classes. The kit includes a CD with all lessons and activity sheets, stickers, a poster and a DVD in English and Spanish about safety for disasters.

The Masters of Disaster Family and Educator's Kits are available for purchase from the Suffolk County Chapter of the American Red Cross for $25 each. For more information or to purchase a Masters of Disaster Kit, please contact the chapter at 631-924-6700.

International Services

Restoring Family Links: In collaboration with the International Committee of the Red Cross and more than 180 national societies, the American Red Cross works to locate loved ones who are missing due to war, natural disaster, or civil unrest and sends Red Cross messages between separated family members.

American Red Cross International Family Tracing Services accepts tracing cases and traces sought persons when:

• Families have been separated as a result of either armed conflict or disaster.
• As much as possible, families should have tried normal channels of communication before requesting Red Cross tracing services.
• The family member making the inquiry provides essential information on the sought person.
• The family member making the inquiry is a close family relative, who has been in direct contact with the sought person before the conflict or disaster occurred.

What we will need to know to be able to help:

The American Red Cross cannot accept requests when there is insufficient information to conduct a search; or when it is for genealogical research; or tracing regarding legal matters such as wills, child custody etc.; or the tracing of birth parents or third party requests.

The American Red Cross Holocaust and War Victims Tracing Center is a national clearinghouse for persons seeking the fates of loved ones missing since the Holocaust and its aftermath. We accept tracing requests concerning European civilians separated from their family due to the events of World War II and its aftermath, 1933-1957. We assist U.S. residents searching for proof of internment, forced/slave labor, or evacuation from former Soviet territories on themselves or family members. This documentation may be required for reparations.

To begin a search call 631-924-6700 and ask to speak with an International Caseworker.

Military Members and Families

Emergency Communications Services
American Red Cross communication services keep military personnel in touch with their families following the death or serious illness of a family member or other important events, such as the birth of a child. The Red Cross quickly sends these emergency communication messages on behalf of the family to members of the U.S. Armed Forces serving anywhere in the world, including ships at sea, embassies and isolated military units. The information or verification in a message assists the service member's commanding officer with making a decision regarding emergency leave.

To contact a military caseworker at the Suffolk County Chapter to request an emergency communication service call 631-924-6911.

When calling the Red Cross to send an emergency communication message to a family member, it is helpful to have the following information:

Service member's: full name, rank/rating, branch of service, social security number, military address, and information about the deployed unit and the home base unit.

Emergency Financial Assistance
The Red Cross works with the military aid societies (Army Emergency Relief, Navy Marine Corps Relief Society, Air Force Aid Society and the Coast Guard Mutual Assistance). This partnership helps to provide financial assistance for emergency travel that requires the presence of the service member or his or her family, burial of a loved one, or with assistance that cannot wait until the next business day (food, temporary lodging, urgent medical needs, or the minimum amount required to avoid eviction, utility shut off, etc.).

To access Red Cross Military Services call your local chapter, the on-base Red Cross office, or the Armed Forces Emergency Service Center?fs toll-free line at 1-877-272-7337 7 days a week, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Note, when applying for financial assistance the same procedures are followed; however, applications are reviewed by the respective military aid societies and are approved by the respective aid society.

For more information on Red Cross services to military members and their families visit: www.redcross.org.

Health & Safety Services

The Red Cross continually brings the most updated courses to professional rescuers and the general public by providing the following courses:

CPR, First Aid, Child Care, AIDS Education, Canoeing, Kayaking, Water Safety, Lifeguard Training, Professional Rescuer courses, Sailing, Small Craft and Sports Medicine for coaches.

The Red Cross course material is developed by our National Headquarters in conjunction with professionals from the medical field. Any changes in procedures recommended by the Journal of the American Medical Association are included in our course updates.

For further information and/or course registration please call the Health & Safety office at 631-698-3688.

Senior Nutrition Programs

		Since 1974 the Suffolk County Chapter, in cooperation with the Suffolk County Department for the Aging, has provided Senior Nutrition Programs for the elderly of our community. Meals for these sites are prepared and distributed at our Central Kitchen located at Brookhaven National Lab. All American Red Cross Senior Nutrition Programs offer transportation to and from the sites for those no longer able to drive. We also provide homebound meal delivery for those unable to attend the regular program.
For more information on these programs please call:     Bellport Senior Nutrition Program 631-758-5500 631-289-7000 fax Coram Senior Nutrition Program 631-698-9830 631-698-0956 fax

Community Service Program

The Adult Alternative Sentencing program provides a productive, cost effective alternative to jail for non-violent, first-time offenders. The community benefits from the volunteer service provided through the program, and program participants are able to make restitution in a meaningful, constructive way.

The Juvenile Alternative Sentencing Program, which began in 1983, is also a cost-effective rehabilitative alternative for juveniles, ages 14 to 16 years. Since the programs inception, individual juveniles have "paid back" countless hours of service to the community.

For assistance call 631-853-5182

DWI Program

The goal of this program is to deter drunk driving and make people accountable for their actions. First time DWI defendants are given the opportunity to voluntarily participate in this program. The defendants can fulfill their agreement with the District Attorney by being placed and monitored at a not-for-profit agency.

The American Red Cross in its administration and oversight of the program takes no stand as to a personís guilt or innocence. Our objective is to facilitate placement and monitor completion. Additionally, and at the request of the DA, the Red Cross conducts a two-hour intake process, which includes an interview, placement at a work site and education and referral to other support services if required.

For assistance call 631-853-6124