The American Red Cross is a volunteer-driven humanitarian agency dedicated to prevention and mitigation of human suffering. The Red Cross provides relief to victims of disasters and helps people to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergencies. The Western Illinois Chapter of the American Red Cross is responsible for providing services within Knox, Warren and Henderson Counties, Illinois. Among the services supported in this jurisdiction are emergency financial assistance and communications for families of deployed military and retired veterans, health and safety certification training classes, disaster planning on a community level as well as assistance to individuals and households who have suffered a residential fire or the impact of a natural disaster, such as tornado or flood.