NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDThe American Legion

A Program of The American Legion

The American Legion

HISTORYSince The American Legion was founded in 1919 we have been actively involved in meeting the needs of both the community and American Legion family members. In the ’20s, The American Legion entered into an agreement with The American National Red Cross, later called The American Red Cross, to assist them in disaster relief and fund raising.

The program became known as The American Legion’s Disaster Relief Program and worked in conjunction with The Red Cross for about 50 years. Over that time, The American Legion, through its many local posts, assisted our Nation’s residents with housing assistance, food, supplies and cleanup after a number of major disasters. The American Legion also raised well over $500,000 for The American Red Cross.

After Hurricane Hugo struck Florida in 1989, in order to better assist American Legion family members and posts, the National Executive Committee created what we know as the National Emergency Fund (NEF). The NEF exists to assist American Legion family members with immediate monetary assistance up to $1,500, and up to $5,000 for a post.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND

The American Legion

Since the NEF’s inception in 1989, over $8,000,000 has been provided in direct financial assistance to American Legion fam-ily members and posts. All contributions made to the NEF are deposited in a special account and are used exclusively to meet our members’ most urgent needs. Not one single contribution dollar is used for fund raising or administrative costs. The NEF has kept posts from closing and enabled American Legion family members to begin to rebuild their lives and return to some semblance of order.

The American Legion

DISASTER. It strikes anytime, anywhere. It takes many forms – a hurricane, an earth-quake, a tornado, a flood, a fire or a haz-ardous spill, an act of nature or an act of terrorism. It builds over days or weeks, or hits suddenly, without warning. Every year, millions of Americans face disaster, and its terrifying consequences. Since 2000, 426 disaster declarations were made by the Federal Emergency Management Agency, also known as FEMA. Total cost of the damage has exceeded 1 billion dollars. For the past 45 years the average number of disasters per year was 35.

Certainly, disasters are not going away. And, in fact, they seem to be on the rise. With a community’s first responders and government agencies being tasked more and more, it is now more important than ever for The American Legion National Emergency Fund to stay solvent so, at the very least, we can “Take Care of Our Own,” The American Legion family.

Funds are issued to current members in the form of a grant and provide emergency assistance due to displacement from their home for out-of-pocket temporary housing, food and clothing expenses in areas devastated by a declared natural disaster. The funds are not designed to be used in lieu of insurance compensation or to cover monetary losses from a business, structures on your property (barns, tool sheds), equipment or vehicles. Presidential Disaster Declarations

January 10, 2000 to January 8, 2008

TOTAL = 46

FEMA REGION III

SEVERE STORM

HURRICANEOTHER

TORNADO

PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATIONS

TOTAL = 29

FEMA REGION II

SEVERE STORM

SNOWFIRE

EARTHQUAKEHURRICANE SEVERE ICE

STORM

TOTAL = 28

FEMA REGION I

SEVERE STORM

FREEZING

TOTAL = 80FEMA REGION IV

SEVERE STORM

COASTAL STORM

FREEZING

SEVERE ICE STORM

TORNADOHURRICANE

TOTAL = 49

FEMA REGION V

SEVERE STORM

SNOW

TORNADO

TOTAL = 44

FEMA REGION VII

SEVERE STORM

SEVERE ICE STORMFLOOD

TOTAL = 31

FEMA REGION VIII

SEVERE STORM

FIRE

SNOW TORNADO

TOTAL = 25

FEMA REGION X

FIRE

SEVERE STORM

EARTHQUAKE

FEMA REGION IX

SEVERE STORM

FIRE

OTHER

TYPHOON

EARTHQUAKE

TOTAL = 41

FREEZING

HURRICANE

TOTAL = 53FEMA REGION VI

SEVERE STORM

HURRICANE

FIRE

SEVERE ICE STORM

TORNADO

SNOW

COASTAL STORM

FLOOD

* Reduction in the Total Count of Disaster Declarations is due in part to the recent changes in data capture and classification at the sub-county political jurisdiction level. The improved processing has reduced the number of double counts for certain counties that had sub-political jurisdictions stored with incorrect county FIPS information.** Other Includes: Dam/Levee Break, Earthquake, Terrorist, Typhoon, and Other.

DISASTERS BY TYPE

MAPPED TOTAL = 426SEVERE STORM

HURRICANE

OTHER **SNOW FIRE

TORNADO

SEVERE ICE STORM

COASTAL STORM

FREEZING

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND

The American Legion

Presidential Disaster DeclarationsJanuary 10, 2000 to January 8, 2008

TOTAL = 46

FEMA REGION III

SEVERE STORM

HURRICANEOTHER

TORNADO

PRESIDENTIAL DECLARATIONS

TOTAL = 29

FEMA REGION II

SEVERE STORM

SNOWFIRE

EARTHQUAKEHURRICANE SEVERE ICE

STORM

TOTAL = 28

FEMA REGION I

SEVERE STORM

FREEZING

TOTAL = 80FEMA REGION IV

SEVERE STORM

COASTAL STORM

FREEZING

SEVERE ICE STORM

TORNADOHURRICANE

TOTAL = 49

FEMA REGION V

SEVERE STORM

SNOW

TORNADO

TOTAL = 44

FEMA REGION VII

SEVERE STORM

SEVERE ICE STORMFLOOD

TOTAL = 31

FEMA REGION VIII

SEVERE STORM

FIRE

SNOW TORNADO

TOTAL = 25

FEMA REGION X

FIRE

SEVERE STORM

EARTHQUAKE

FEMA REGION IX

SEVERE STORM

FIRE

OTHER

TYPHOON

EARTHQUAKE

TOTAL = 41

FREEZING

HURRICANE

TOTAL = 53FEMA REGION VI

SEVERE STORM

HURRICANE

FIRE

SEVERE ICE STORM

TORNADO

SNOW

COASTAL STORM

FLOOD

* Reduction in the Total Count of Disaster Declarations is due in part to the recent changes in data capture and classification at the sub-county political jurisdiction level. The improved processing has reduced the number of double counts for certain counties that had sub-political jurisdictions stored with incorrect county FIPS information.** Other Includes: Dam/Levee Break, Earthquake, Terrorist, Typhoon, and Other.

DISASTERS BY TYPE

MAPPED TOTAL = 426SEVERE STORM

HURRICANE

OTHER **SNOW FIRE

TORNADO

SEVERE ICE STORM

COASTAL STORM

FREEZING

The American Legion

HOW YOU CAN HELPThe American Legion was founded on four pillars — a strong national defense, vet-erans’ affairs and rehabilitation, fostering Americanism and mentoring children and youth. By actively engaging your post in the community with a disaster preparedness program, your post will be fulfilling needs in these areas.

The American Legion has produced the booklet “Disaster Preparedness and Response for American Legion Posts.” It is a guide to planning, organizing and execut-ing a disaster preparedness and response support program with your community. Copies can be acquired from your depart-ment headquarters or downloaded directly from the national headquarters Web site (www.legion.org).

As military veterans we under-stand the value of readiness. American Legion posts offer islands of expertise, motivation and resources across the coun-try. Whatever level of response and involvement you and your post undertake, know that the Legionnaires, Auxiliary members and Sons of The American Legion who serve in this endeavor will be making a very real differ-ence in your community.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUND

The American Legion

MAIL TO: The American Legion, National Emergency Fund, P.O. Box 6141, Indianapolis, IN 46206

The National Emergency Fund exists only through your donations.

Yes, I'm proud to help my fellow Legionnaires in their time of need.

Enclosed is my contribution in the amount of $_________________.

This donation represents contributions from (Please Check)

Post Unit Squadron Individual

Name ___________________________________________________________________

Address _________________________________________________________________

Post# and Location _______________________________________________________

City _______________________ State ___________ Zip ______________________

Email address ___________________________________________________________

TO DONATEUse the donation coupon below. Each donor will receive an NEF lapel pin. Contributors of $5000 or greater will receive a mounted certificate of appreciation from the National Commander.

NATIONAL EMERGENCY FUNDThe American Legion

P.O. Box 6141 • Indianapolis, IN 46206PH# 317.630.1330www.legion.org

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