Mission

Established in 1989, the Disaster Assistance Response Team (DART) is a not-for profit organization dedicated to helping individuals, families and communities across the United States affected by natural and man-made disasters. Through a  partnership between the New York City Fire Department and the American Red Cross in Greater New York, DART rapidly deploys highly trained teams to impacted areas, distributing emergency relief supplies, assessing damaged areas and assists with coordination between local, state and national agencies. 

Standing Ready to Serve

We are the only disaster response team of its kind, dedicated to serving those who need us most. Disaster Assistance Response Team (D.A.R.T.) is a registered not-for-profit corporation comprised of both active and retired New York City Firefighters who stand ready to deploy across the United States of America and its territories.

Nationwide Deployment

Our response is immediate and our typical response lasts 2 weeks or more depending on the needs of the community. For larger events, D.A.R.T. can deploy for as long as necessary due to our extensive network of firefighters and our affiliation with the American Red Cross.

D.A.R.T. has real world experience in many of today’s more notable disaster situations including 9/11, the Oklahoma City bombing, Hurricanes Katrina and Sandy, the tornadoes in Joplin, MO and Moore, OK as well as a host of other natural disasters such including major floods and wildfires.

Our Team

D.A.R.T. members include active and retired firefighters of the F.D.N.Y whom in addition to extensive fire / rescue experience also receive training from the American Red Cross in areas such as Logistics, Bulk Distribution, Disaster Assessment and Government Liaison Operations. This valued partnership allows D.A.R.T. to give assistance where needed and provide a sense of normalcy where lives have been upset by disaster.

Our members bring the fire service trademarks of dedication, esprit de corps and teamwork to everything they do. Active F.D.N.Y members donate their vacation time to respond alongside our retired members to provide assistance and disaster relief for families in communities across the nation. All team members adhere to strict standards of conduct and training while remaining mission ready at all times.