so depends upon the disaster. If an individual family, then that is easier to know what they are needing immediately. If a regional disaster, then $$--sent to a reputable non-profit, tends to be more tailored for whatever is needed. When I did Red Cross volunteer work, one goal was to not only help individual households, but to also do so in a way that helps the infrastructure in the area--so for instance if a grocery is still operable, Red Cross attempts to purchase needed goods at the local grocery, or lumberyard, etc in order to keep the businesses open and the impacted families employed.
Occasionally a disaster will have a need that isn't typical--for instance, wildfires in rural KS may warrant the donation, and transport, of hay or fencing materials (and people to help fence), grains, etc.