Dozens of organizations respond to natural disasters, ranging from federal agencies that fund rebuilding to local nonprofits that hand out hot meals. The help available depends on where you are, what you need, and how far along the disaster recovery process has gone. Here’s a breakdown of the major organizations, what each one actually does, and how to access their services.
FEMA and Federal Government Assistance
The Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) is the primary federal agency responsible for disaster relief in the United States. After a disaster is declared by the president, FEMA activates its Individuals and Households Program, which provides financial assistance and direct services to people with uninsured or underinsured losses. That can include rental assistance or hotel reimbursement while your home is unlivable, funds to repair or replace your primary residence (including private driveways and access roads), and money for other disaster-caused expenses like medical bills or damaged personal property.
In areas where rental housing simply isn’t available, FEMA can provide a temporary housing unit. The agency also runs less well-known programs: Disaster Unemployment Assistance for people who lost work because of the event, crisis counseling, and free disaster legal services.
To apply, visit DisasterAssistance.gov or call FEMA’s helpline at 1-800-621-3362, which operates 7 a.m. to 10 p.m. in your time zone, seven days a week. Hours may extend during major disasters. You’ll need basic information about your household, your address, and your insurance coverage. FEMA assistance is available regardless of income level, but it’s designed to cover gaps that insurance doesn’t.
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross is often the first nonprofit on the ground after a disaster, and all of its services are free. During the immediate emergency, the Red Cross opens shelters that provide a safe place to sleep, meals, snacks, and water. Health services at these shelters cover first aid, refilling lost prescriptions, and replacing lost eyeglasses. Emotional support, mental health counseling, and spiritual care are also available on-site.
Red Cross Service Sites (which operate separately from full shelters) offer many of the same resources plus charging stations for cell phones and medical devices, emergency cleanup supplies, and access to caseworkers who can help with disaster recovery planning and financial assistance. During some emergencies, shelters also provide childcare and laundry services.
Once you’re ready to return home, the Red Cross and its partners can provide cleanup supplies, deliver meals to areas without power or water, and connect you with a caseworker to help access repair funding. If your home isn’t ready, they’ll help you locate transitional housing. You can find your nearest open shelter through the Red Cross website or app.
International Red Cross and Red Crescent
Outside the United States, the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) coordinates disaster relief through 191 national societies worldwide. In 2024, the IFRC’s Disaster Relief Emergency Fund allocated 85.3 million Swiss francs across 167 operations, supporting 97 national societies and reaching more than 24 million people affected by crises. Whether a typhoon hits Southeast Asia or an earthquake strikes the Middle East, local Red Cross and Red Crescent societies provide the frontline response while the IFRC coordinates funding, supplies, and expertise.
United Nations Disaster Coordination
The United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) doesn’t deliver aid directly to individuals. Instead, it brings together the many humanitarian organizations responding to a crisis so they’re not duplicating efforts or leaving gaps. OCHA’s mission is to coordinate the global emergency response to save lives and protect people. One of its key tools is the United Nations Disaster Assessment and Coordination (UNDAC) system, which deploys teams to disaster-affected countries within hours to assess needs and help organize the international response. For large-scale disasters in developing nations, OCHA is typically the organization that issues emergency funding appeals and tracks which areas still need help.
Doctors Without Borders
Doctors Without Borders (Médecins Sans Frontières) provides emergency medical care in disaster zones, particularly in countries where local health systems are overwhelmed or destroyed. Their teams set up operating theaters, clinics, nutrition programs, and vaccination campaigns. They also mobilize a global logistics network to resupply local health facilities with essential medicines. Beyond trauma surgery and emergency care, the organization provides sexual and reproductive health services and medical care for survivors of gender-based violence, needs that spike during displacement but often go unaddressed by other responders.
World Central Kitchen
World Central Kitchen (WCK) has become one of the most visible disaster relief organizations in recent years, focused entirely on getting hot meals to people in crisis. Founded by chef José Andrés, WCK describes its team as “food first responders” who mobilize quickly, use local resources and restaurants, and adapt meal preparation in real time based on conditions on the ground. Their model prioritizes speed: rather than shipping pre-packaged food from warehouses, they partner with local cooks and kitchens to prepare fresh meals, which also supports the local economy during recovery. WCK responds to natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies, and man-made crises worldwide.
Habitat for Humanity
While most organizations focus on the first days or weeks after a disaster, Habitat for Humanity focuses on long-term housing recovery. Their Disaster Response program collaborates with community leaders, local government, and other aid organizations to begin construction of transitional shelter and permanent housing as quickly as possible. This includes home repairs, full reconstruction, and building new homes for families who lost theirs.
Habitat also educates communities on stronger building techniques and disaster risk reduction, so rebuilt homes are more resilient to future events. This work continues for months or even years after the initial disaster, long after news cameras have left. If your home was damaged but not destroyed, Habitat’s repair programs can help you get back in sooner and safer.
ASPCA and Animal Relief
Pets and animals are often overlooked in disaster planning, but the ASPCA’s National Field and Disaster Response team specifically rescues animals from crisis situations created by hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, and wildfires. Their primary goal is removing animals from danger, providing veterinary care, and eventually placing rescued animals into homes through a network of response partners. If you need to evacuate with pets, many Red Cross shelters now coordinate with animal organizations, though policies vary by location. The ASPCA also responds to large-scale animal cruelty situations like hoarding cases, which sometimes overlap with disaster scenarios.
How to Access Help After a Disaster
If a disaster has just happened, your first step is ensuring your safety and following local evacuation orders. Once you’re safe, the most important action is registering with FEMA through DisasterAssistance.gov or by calling 1-800-621-3362. This single registration can connect you to multiple federal programs and is also used by other organizations to coordinate aid in your area.
For immediate needs like food, shelter, and first aid, look for the nearest Red Cross shelter or service site. Your local emergency management office (usually reachable through 211, the community services hotline) can point you to additional organizations operating in your area, since many smaller local and faith-based groups also activate during disasters. Salvation Army, local food banks, and community foundations often fill gaps that larger organizations don’t cover, such as replacing work tools or helping with utility deposits for new housing.
Keep in mind that different organizations serve different phases of recovery. The Red Cross and WCK are strongest in the first days. FEMA funding takes longer to process but covers larger expenses. Habitat for Humanity and similar groups step in weeks or months later for rebuilding. Applying early and to multiple organizations gives you the best chance of getting the help you need at each stage.