The American Red Cross links members of the U.S. Armed Forces with their families during a crisis. Twenty-four hours a day, 365 days a year, the Red Cross quickly sends emergency communications to deployed service members on behalf of their family. Military members can have peace of mind knowing that when they are on a mission, in training or stationed far from home-and leaving cell phones and emails behind-they are still connected to home.

While providing service to 1.4 million active duty military personnel and their families, the Red Cross also reaches out to more than 1.2 million members of the National Guard and Reserves and their families living in nearly every community in America.

Red Cross workers in hundreds of chapters and on military installations briefed 974,573 departing service members and their families regarding available support services, and explained how the Red Cross may assist them during the deployment.

Both active duty and community-based military can count on the Red Cross to provide emergency communications that link them with their families back home, access to financial assistance in partnership with the military aid societies, information and referral and assistance to veterans. Red Cross personnel form a global network in 700 U.S. chapters, military installations worldwide and in forward deployed locations in Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq.

The Chapter sends Next-of-Kin letters to the families of new recruits to inform them of the emergency communication service and how to contact the chapter in the event of an emergency. Volunteers routinely meet with local Guard and Reserve Units to update the members on emergency communication procedures in the event of their activation.

Military emergency calls are handled through the SAF Emergency Communications Call Center at 1-877-272-7337.

National Links:

• Emergency Communications Services
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For More Information Contact:
American Red Cross Piedmont Chapter
104 Garner Road, Spartanburg, SC 29303
Tel: 864-583-8000
FAX: 864-594-6757
Internet: volcoordinator@piedmontarc.org