In Northern Nevada we've seen disasters such as wildfires strike in our area, now we're seeing fires all across Los Angeles leaving people without homes, food and at a loss of where they can go to seek help.
The American Red Cross is one of the non-profits on scene that's there during a state of emergency, or even on a smaller scale of one single person losing their home.
The Red Cross explains that 'how' they allocate a donation is based off of intent.
Heidi Ruster, the Regional CEO of the American Red Cross in Utah and Nevada says "If we have a designation for a specific disaster event and it requires that amount of funds then yes we'll take it and use it accordingly, if it's beyond that dollar amount we'll go back to the donor and say 'Hey it's too much would you be open to it addressing the disaster cause needs going forward into the future or for other disaster events'."
First and foremost the Red Cross looks at the disaster at hand which is when they will do an assessment.
Ruster explains "If it's a house fire is what we'll respond to day in and day out, we'll look at the extent of that disaster it may be a lot of smoke damage and a kitchen was effected so if that's the case we may not give them as much resources as we would if the whole house burned down and all their clothes are gone."
The Red Cross provides a certain amount of resources based off the 'disaster cause need'. The 'disaster cause need' they allocate is meant to get the victim through the emergency phase 'only' which means a hotel room for the night or some money for meals. it's meant to get you back on your feet in a sense but not exactly rebuild your house or your life.
She goes on to say "Our case workers will then follow up with them see how they're doing and what other needs they have and then we'll refer them to more long term resources."
The Red Cross is there to help the victims find resources after a disaster, not pay for everything to be fixed.
Ruster goes on to explain "We're part of the emergency support function six which really focuses on mass care initially in a large disaster, so we're very active in that role and in that situation other volunteer organizations active in disaster will also be present and we'll be connecting the dots with them but it's the responsibility of that emergency entity to help coordinate that activity."
It's important to note that some donations sent to the Red Cross are rescinded because the donor may not want their money to go towards other disasters when their intent was to cover a specific disaster.
If donation are needed then the Red Cross uses those funds to go toward the intended disaster of the donor, unless the Red Cross says they no longer need money for a specific disaster, then they would ask the donor if they would like to donate bigger disaster causes or future disaster funds.
