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Sat 10 Sep, 2005 03:32 pm
BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (CNN) -- The American Red Cross put out an urgent call Saturday for 40,000 new volunteers to help feed, house and comfort Hurricane Katrina victims.
Quote:
"This is a disaster of such scope and such significance, it's not going to go away in a few weeks or a few months," Red Cross spokesman John Degnan said.
"We're putting out an appeal to people to step forward and volunteer so they can be trained."
It was the first time in the organization's history it had launched such a massive recruitment drive.
But, Degnan said, an extraordinary response is needed for "a disaster unprecedented in its impact and scope in the United States."
"We're not going to be able to fix this overnight," Degnan said. "We're going to need a long time and a lot of people."
He added that the first shift of 10,000 recruits will be needed in two weeks to relieve 36,000 volunteers now deployed.
More than 160,000 Hurricane Katrina survivors are staying at 675 shelters in 23 states, he said. Last night the Red Cross served 500,000 hot meals.
http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/10/katrina.impact/index.html
There was no specific information within the article on how to go about signing up. I'll try to find out and post the info.
What's going on??? The red cross needs help, and Bush refuses help from other countries!
it's the Red Cross that needs help in the shetlers - go to the houston website and read about volunteer
training, it's not so much about activity in the NO area
Re: Red Cross calls for 40,000 volunteers
Quote: Last night the Red Cross served 500,000 hot meals.
Perhapes Ma Bush could volunteer to do a bit of washing up?
If her son can't russle up any food for survivors... and he is the President of the US (isn't he) ... surely its the least she can do.
There would be plenty of woman very qualified to give her instructions on how to go about it.
You plunge and scrub...plunge and scrub....
Out damn spot
I begin my disaster services training on Monday. There are a number of courses I need to take, and they will probably keep me on reserve for local issues for now, sending the more senior people out of area, but once I have the training I will be available to go where ever I'm needed. Even if I'm not sent to the Gulf coast this year, there will be other disasters in other years and there's got to be something I can to help.
J-B--
Man is born to trouble as the sparks fly upward--and you'll be ready.
Hold your dominion.
Quote:
Training:
Introduction to Red Cross
Orientation to DAT responsibilities, activities, and organizational structure, including the team's relationship to the chapter's disaster leadership, disaster preparedness and operational response, disaster staff, and general information about how to respond to the media.
Orientation to the Chapter's Disaster Response Plan
Introduction to Disaster Services
Family Service
Residential Fire Workshop
Damage Assessment I
Mass Care: An Overview
Shelter Operation
Shelter Simulation
Standard First Aid/CPR
Other recommended training:
Defensive Driving
Public Affairs I
Serving the Diverse Community
Administering a Small Disaster Operation
Other:
Familiarity with ARC policies, regulations and procedures for Disaster Services
Performance that abides to the Code of Conduct and the Fundamental Principles of the Red Cross and adheres to the standards of ARC identification and personal attire.
Able to work under stressful conditions and able to work with and serve a wide diverse population
Thanks, guys. Defensive driving? Cool :wink:
J_B--
Share your class notes, please. I don't qualify for Red Cross training because I can't tote-that-barge and lift-that-bale any more, but I have a feeling that informed civilians are more useful in disaster than uninformed civilians.
Meanwhile, I can always organize half-day story "hours".
Today was the intro to volunteer opportunities. A open-call of sorts to give us general information and sort us into groups whose primary interest is in a local deployment for Katrina/Rita issues, the national deployment for Katrina/Rita issues, and ongoing volunteer opportunities not associated with the current situation in the Gulf coast.
My interests are in the national deployment to the Gulf coast and I will begin training immediately. The greater Chicago area has been requested to deploy 1,900 individuals (of the 40,000 mentioned in the title of this thread) as soon as possible. Training classes will be held throughout October and, given the large numbers of people coming from this area, there is now a 50/50 chance of being deployed before the end of the year.
The list of classes I posted earlier are the full-boat of training but only a few of them are required before someone can be deployed.
The national deployment is considered a 'hardship deployment'. You have to be able to live in the same conditions as those you are there to help. You have to be in good general health, be able to lift 50 lbs, and be willing to be deployed for up to three weeks. The focus is to provide food, clothing and shelter to meet the immediate needs of the victims, to assist in procuring any medical or mental health needs and to help them get a fresh start.
I'm hoping to complete my paperwork, etc this week and be available for the training sessions as soon as they want me.
Great News, does anyone here offered to volunteer?
Hello, Damalla. Welcome to A2K.
I have partly completed the training. The next step is a medical release from my dr stating I'm fit to go. Not an issue other than a chronic back problem flaired up last week and I need to get that under control before he signs me off. I hope to complete training by the end of the month and be available for deployment by November.
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