The priority actions during a disaster relief operation depend on the nature of the disaster and the needs of those affected. While the focus of a disaster relief operation is on services to clients, support for these services is also important.

• Sheltering. Well-identified shelters are often the first sign of relief efforts to people in affected communities. These facilities address basic human needs for food and shelter, and their prompt establishment is essential. Sheltering people affected by disaster may include congregate sheltering in facilities such as schools, churches or other large facilities, or the use of commercial facilities, such as motels and hotels, as shelters for individuals or families.
• Feeding. The Red Cross provides regular meals in its shelters as well as emergency community feeding through mobile distribution and fixed sites for affected families, individuals, and workers throughout the affected area. Food service may also be provided for emergency workers or other groups providing disaster relief at the discretion of the administering unit.

  Mobile feeding is critical to meeting the immediate needs of affected communities and establishing the presence of Red Cross relief efforts. It is provided from vehicles to affected families and individuals and relief workers returning to and cleaning up disaster-damaged homes. Mobile feeding may also be provided in instances of severe disruption to power and other utilities. The Red Cross will attempt to initiate mobile feeding within six hours of safe access for Red Cross personnel and vehicles, and will strive to increase its feeding activities to the scale of the disaster-caused need within 72 hours of the disaster.

• Bulk Distribution. In some disasters, essential items that clients need to begin their recovery might not be immediately available in the local area. In such cases, the Red Cross will initiate distribution of items such as comfort kits, clean up kits, water, ice, shovels, insect repellant or other items that may be needed. The Red Cross determines appropriate distribution items to meet needs based on the circumstances of the event in coordination with community partners and government. Bulk distribution may be done from fixed sites or through mobile service delivery.
• Health Services. The relief operation ensures appropriate health care workers are available at shelters, emergency aid stations, feeding sites and other service delivery sites as needed. The initial focus is direct needs of disaster victims and emergency workers, including Red Cross employees and volunteers, although most employee and volunteer health needs will be handled by Staff Health Services.
• Disaster Mental Health. Mental health services are provided in service delivery sites and other appropriate settings to people affected by the disaster and Red Cross employees and volunteers engaged in disaster relief operations.
• Welfare Information. Chapter employees and volunteers respond to calls from concerned family members and provide information about available resources that can help families communicate with one another during times of emergency. In addition, Red Cross employees and volunteers process welfare information requests that focus on those family members who have serious health problems and are in an area affected by a disaster.