Participant Guide May 2015...Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – Participant Guide May 2015 Overview-1 Notes Unit Overview: Welcome and Overview Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview

Participant Guide May 2015

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – Instructor Manual © May 2015 The American National Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services

Table of Contents About This Course ................................................................................................................................ i Unit Overview: Welcome and Overview ............................................................................ Overview-1

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview ........................................................................... Overview-1

Welcome .......................................................................................................................... Overview-2

Ground Rules ................................................................................................................... Overview-3

Course Content and Purpose ........................................................................................... Overview-4 Unit 1: The Impact of Disaster ......................................................................................................... 1-1

The Impact of Disaster Activity ................................................................................................... 1-1

Student Introductions and Ideas ................................................................................................... 1-2

Types of Disasters Answers ......................................................................................................... 1-3

Needs of People Affected by Disaster Answers ........................................................................... 1-4

Impact on Communities Answers ................................................................................................ 1-5

Flood Scenario .............................................................................................................................. 1-6

Disaster Action Teams (DATs) .................................................................................................... 1-7

Unit Summary .............................................................................................................................. 1-8 Unit 2: The Red Cross Mission in Action ........................................................................................ 2-1

Red Cross Mission Statement ...................................................................................................... 2-1

Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) .................................................................................................... 2-2

DCS Core Mission Areas: Prepare, Respond, Recover Activity ................................................. 2-3

Core Mission Areas Answers ....................................................................................................... 2-4

Red Cross Actions ........................................................................................................................ 2-6

Mission-Enabling Areas ............................................................................................................... 2-7

The Flood Continues: Benton County and the Sebastian River Activity ..................................... 2-9

The Flood Continues: Benton County and the Sebastian River Answers .................................. 2-11

The Flood Continues: Scaling Disaster Operations ................................................................... 2-13

The Flood Subsides .................................................................................................................... 2-14

The Flood Subsides: Overlapping Services ............................................................................... 2-15

Unit Summary ............................................................................................................................ 2-16 Unit 3: The Power of Community .................................................................................................... 3-1

The Power of Community ............................................................................................................ 3-1

Red Cross Partners ....................................................................................................................... 3-2

Testimonials ................................................................................................................................. 3-3

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario Activity .................................................................. 3-5

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Prepare) Answer .................................................. 3-7

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Respond) Answer ................................................. 3-8

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Recover) Answer ................................................. 3-9

Unit Summary ............................................................................................................................ 3-10 Unit 4: Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities ..................................................................................... 4-1

Working With American Red Cross ............................................................................................ 4-1

How Would You Like To Volunteer? .......................................................................................... 4-2

Volunteer Opportunities: Mission-Enabling Areas ...................................................................... 4-3

Resources for Volunteers ............................................................................................................. 4-9

Course Summary ........................................................................................................................ 4-10

i

About This Course Description This instructor-led course is for anyone involved in, or working with, American Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services, including those training to deliver services to disaster-affected clients. This includes disaster responders, disaster instructors, external community and government partners, unaffiliated (event-based) volunteers, and partners. Purpose At the completion of this course, learners will know how Disaster Cycle Services helps its clients to prepare for, respond to, and recover from local and national disasters. Learners will know how to engage with the Red Cross and will understand the role of the volunteer in the organization. Disaster responders will also understand how the disaster cycle impacts clients and the Red Cross delivery of services. Learning Objectives By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

• Identify types of needs experienced by people impacted by a disaster. • List ways a community can be affected by a disaster. • Describe how Disaster Cycle Services fulfills the Red Cross mission. • Describe the Disaster Cycle Services model and the concept of whole-cycle operations. • Identify actions the Red Cross takes to help individuals, families, and communities prepare

for emergencies. • Describe the services the Red Cross provides to people and communities during the

Respond process. • Describe actions the Red Cross takes to help clients recover from disasters. • Identify ways the Red Cross collaborates with community partners during

disaster responses. • Describe the importance of volunteers to support the three core areas and five mission-

enabling areas. • Describe opportunities for volunteers to engage with Disaster Cycle Services. • Identify the steps to volunteer with the Red Cross.

Welcome and Overview

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – Participant Guide May 2015 Overview-1

Notes Unit Overview: Welcome and Overview

Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview Thank you for joining us today!



Notes

Welcome Participant Guide:

• Follow along with this Guide as the training is presented. All slides are incorporated into the Guide.

• This is your Participant Guide. Make notes for future reference. Space is provided for note-taking.

• A course evaluation sheet will be handed out at the end of the course. The course evaluation form is to be completed by everyone.



Notes

Ground Rules To ensure a comfortable and positive environment for everyone, we need to follow these ground rules:

• All cell phones and electronic devices for texting need to be turned off or put on vibrate during class time.

• Personal computers are not to be used in class to check email. • Participation in discussions and activities is important and will help everyone get the

most out of this course. • Please feel free to ask questions.



Notes

Course Content and Purpose In this 120-minute course:

• You will learn how people and communities are affected by disasters and what their needs are.

• We’ll explore what we mean by the disaster cycle as the mission in action, and we’ll look at Red Cross services and operations in each part of the disaster cycle.

• You’ll also learn how the Red Cross works with its community partners before, during, and after disasters occur.

• Finally, you will learn about volunteer opportunities with the Red Cross and how you can get involved.

We’ll turn to the Impact of Disaster unit now.

Unit 1: The Impact of Disaster

Unit 1: The Impact of Disaster – Participant Guide May 2015 1-1

Notes Unit 1: The Impact of Disaster

The Impact of Disaster Activity Disasters strike families and communities in many ways. People can be affected by everything from single-family house fires to a major disaster. Preparing for, responding to, and recovering from these disasters are all areas where the Red Cross helps individuals and the communities that they live in.

• When a disaster strikes, the people affected by that disaster have various reactions and needs.

• We will start class today with an activity that will help you recognize what these reactions and needs might be.

Activity instructions: Walk around the room with your marker and add at least one example to each easel-sheet list. The topics include:

1. Types of Disasters 2. Physical Needs 3. Emotional Needs 4. Informational Needs 5. Community Impact

This is a brief exercise, so please spend about a minute or less on each sheet. Don’t repeat something already listed. After 5 minutes, we’ll convene as a whole group and hear some of your ideas. You’ll also introduce yourselves at that point.



Notes

Student Introductions and Ideas When asked, please share:

• Your name and role in the Red Cross • Where you are from • One idea you listed during the exercise • Something you hope to learn from this course



Notes

Types of Disasters Answers What are some different types of disasters?

• Home fires (from single-family homes to larger apartment buildings) • Earthquakes • Wildfires • Tornado • Hurricane with flooding • Man-made disasters (e.g., Boston Marathon bombing aftermath,

hazardous materials spill) Large-scale disasters such as earthquakes, wildfires, tornadoes, hurricanes with flooding, and man-made disasters like transportation accidents, hazardous material spills, or civil disturbances, all require Red Cross assistance. Home fires, from single-family houses to large apartments, are far and away the most common disaster that the Red Cross workforce deals with. It's the type of disaster you might not even hear about. But to people losing their home and all of their possessions in the middle of the night, the impact is devastating.



Notes

Needs of People Affected by Disaster Answers What are the needs of individuals facing a disaster? People have different types of needs, which must be addressed.

• Physical needs: People affected by disaster whose homes have been damaged or destroyed have physical needs including food, water, clothing, and a place to sleep.

• Emotional needs: In addition to physical requirements, people have an emotional need to feel safe, to have someone ask about their well-being and to have someone listen to them. Loss of family members, property loss, and stress all can have an emotional impact on people of all ages who are affected by a disaster.

• Informational needs: Many people want to solve their problems on their own, but the impact on power sources and communication infrastructure (such as phone lines and the Internet) makes it difficult for people to get the information they need about the disaster as a whole. It may take time before people can find out how their homes were impacted and what they’ll need to do to get back on their feet.



Notes

Impact on Communities Answers

• Power outages and communication breakdowns due to destroyed infrastructure • Additional help may be needed by local community organizations and responders • Shortages of fuel, food and other material resources due to closed local businesses or

inability to receive shipments • Serious financial impacts and long recovery



Notes

Explain flood scenario:

Flood Scenario Take this one particular flood, for example. It started out small, but is quickly escalating… Depending on the scope of event, the Red Cross response may be scaled up to become regional, divisional, or national operations. Newscaster Script: “It looks like our rain event is going to be more than we bargained for. The National Weather Service has issued a warning for creek and small stream flooding possible in northern parts of Benton County until midnight…”



Notes

Disaster Action Teams (DATs) What comes first? A Red Cross Disaster Action Team (DAT) from the same community arrives and helps the families come up with a plan for recovery. DATs are teams of Red Cross disaster workers who at any time of the day or night, 365 days of the year, show up on the disaster scene first and remain there for as long as needed. DATs deliver preparedness, response, and recovery services at the local level. Red Cross scales its response depending on the type of disaster as well as individual and community needs. This ensures a thorough and appropriate response to each disaster, large or small.



Notes

Unit Summary You now know some disaster types, that home fires are the most common disaster that Red Cross assists with, and the many ways that both people and communities can be affected by widespread disasters. In the next unit, you’ll learn about the core mission that guides our work and how Disaster Cycle Services work to fulfill this mission.

Unit 2: The Red Cross Mission in Action

Unit 2: The Red Cross Mission in Action – Participant Guide May 2015 2-1

Notes Unit 2: The Red Cross Mission in Action

Red Cross Mission Statement The Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.



Notes

Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) The Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services (DCS) is committed to ensuring a nationwide disaster program that provides the American people with preparedness, response, and recovery services that are:

• Accessible • Timely • Relevant • Predictable • Scalable • Consistent with the intent of Red Cross donors

The purpose of Disaster Cycle Services is to help communities and individuals to be more resilient by: reducing the impact of disasters on clients, meeting urgent human needs, and facilitating the community’s and individual’s recovery, through both direct action and by leveraging and supporting resources within the community. Disaster Cycle Services aligns with government and private partners to provide services to clients and communities that are local and also available across all communities. This approach ensures that local leadership, local knowledge, and local presence are at the leading edge of providing Disaster Cycle Services preparedness, response and recovery services, and that the services we provide our clients are consistent and integrated regardless of the location and scale of the disaster and operation.



Notes

DCS Core Mission Areas: Prepare, Respond, Recover Activity The three core mission areas within Disaster Cycle Services (Prepare, Respond, and Recover) each have their own purpose that enables the Red Cross to help people as much as possible before, during, and after a disaster. While each of these processes represents a different phase in a disaster, they are seamless to those who need these services. What do you think the purpose of each core mission area is? [For example, what do you think are some services provided and/or activities that might take place in each of the core mission areas?]



Notes

Core Mission Areas Answers The purpose of the Prepare process is to take action that will:

• Promote awareness of risk and preparedness steps. • Help a person, business, organization or community to take action before, during, or

after a disaster or other emergency. • Limit the impact of the event and help people and communities bounce back faster and

more fully. • Foster a culture of preparedness in our communities.

The purpose of the Respond process is to meet immediate disaster-caused needs of:

• Individuals: Provide food, water, and temporary shelter to those impacted by disaster or emergency. Meet urgent needs for health or mental health services.

• Families: Disseminate timely and accurate information about the disaster’s impact and resources available to individuals and families affected.

• Communities: Coordinate efforts with governmental agencies and partner organizations to address the needs of communities.

The purpose of the Recover process is to:

• Assist clients in bridging the gap between what they can accomplish on their own and what is necessary to allow them to move through the recovery process.

• Assist and support community leaders, government, and relief agencies to organize and execute an effective recovery strategy.

• Provide value to our partner agencies and be supportive of their efforts on behalf of disaster-affected families.



• Ensure that our assistance aligns with and complements governmental disaster relief programs.



Notes

Red Cross Actions

• Match Red Cross actions with their corresponding core mission area. • Some descriptions of actions taken by disaster workforce members from a local Red

Cross chapter:

1. Help clients determine their next steps after a disaster. Prepare? Respond? Recover?

2. Volunteers speak to community organizations about emergency preparedness. Prepare? Respond? Recover?

3. A shelter is opened. Prepare? Respond? Recover? 4. The Red Cross and its community partners conduct a meeting to create emergency

plans together. Prepare? Respond? Recover? 5. Clients are given referrals to a community organization that has offered to replace

their furniture for their new apartment. Prepare? Respond? Recover? 6. A hot meal is brought to an evacuation shelter. Prepare? Respond? Recover?



Notes

Mission-Enabling Areas Disaster Cycle Services core mission areas of Prepare, Respond, and Recover are supported by five key mission-enabling areas:

1. Engaging volunteers and employees 2. Mobilizing the community 3. Aligning with government 4. Providing information management and situational awareness 5. Deploying materials, workers, and technology

One way to think of it is that the core mission areas are “what” we do, while the mission-enabling areas are the “how.” The following “Mission-Enabling Areas Actions” table gives some examples of the mission-enabling areas in action.



Mission-Enabling Areas in Actions Engage Volunteers and Employees

• Recruit, train, and support volunteers and employees. • Organize and lead trainings to prepare volunteers to respond. • Meet with volunteers to match their interests with opportunities

in disaster services. • Enter training records into the Learning Management System.

Mobilize Community

• Present preparedness information to community organizations on how to help families and communities prepare their homes and what to do or where to go if they are evacuated.

• Talk to community groups on how to prepare and decrease the impact of a future disaster.

• Partner with fire departments to install smoke alarms in homes and distribute fire safety information.

• Convene a meeting with government and community partners to address the long-term recovery needs of clients.

• Help set up a multi-agency resource center where disaster-affected individuals and families can come to get help from multiple agencies in the community.

Align With Government

• Work with local governments to build and strengthen relationships. This will enhance communities’ abilities to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters.

o For example, work with local governments to develop a flood response plan.

• Represent the Red Cross in the local, county, and State Emergency Operations Centers during disasters.

• Meet with the county’s emergency management team to review the community’s disaster plan (usually Red Cross leaders).

• Provide information for caseworkers to share with clients about resources available through governmental agencies.

Information Management and Situational Awareness

• Collect information about the impacts of a disaster so Red Cross workers can respond effectively.

• Perform a risk assessment for your local area. • Work with the media. • Collect and report information about services provided by the

Red Cross. Deploy Materials, Workers, and Technology

• Open shelters and provide support. • Provide workers, equipment, and supplies such as food, cots,

and cleanup kits to distribution centers and shelters. o For example, in a regional operation, Red Cross

workers, equipment, and supplies are brought in from adjacent counties.

• Load and unload vehicles. • Set up computer networks for workers on disaster operations. • Assist with recruiting, assigning, and deploying workers for

disaster operations.



Notes

The Flood Continues: Benton County and the Sebastian River Activity Newscaster Script: “Well, that rain keeps coming down, as we have a stalled high pressure system to the east that’s preventing the storm from moving on through. The National Weather Service has extended the flash flood warning to all parts of Benton County until 6:00 a.m.…” Newscaster Script: “Okay, folks, it looks like we have an update from the National Weather Service. Seems our rain system is going nowhere. Now, Sebastian River flooding is expected, and flood levels may rise to 4 feet. This warning is extended to all parts of Benton, Miranda, and Falls counties and is in effect until 12:00 tomorrow…” Disaster Cycle Analysis Using the “Mission-Enabling Area Actions” table, and drawing from your own experiences, list one or two possible Red Cross actions that might fit under each of the three core processes—Prepare, Respond, and Recover—for the weather report that you just heard. Prepare ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ Respond ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________



Recover ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________ ____________________________________________________________________________



Notes

The Flood Continues: Benton County and the Sebastian River Answers Disaster Cycle Analysis Prepare In the Prepare phase, the Red Cross may help develop a flood response plan. The Red Cross volunteers get information out to the rest of the community on how to prepare for the rising water. These volunteers can also direct families and individuals on how to prepare their homes and what to do or where to go if they are evacuated. Red Cross leaders meet with the county’s emergency management team to review the community’s flood response plan. Respond In the Response phase, the Red Cross volunteers follow the flood plan. The Disaster Action Team works with community leaders and decides to open shelters as needed. Arrangements are made for affected residents to sleep in a local recreation center, and they are served a hot meal and given access to information about the flooding. At the same time, a Red Cross public affairs team gives the local media information about the response, as well as the location of Red Cross shelters and other services. Meanwhile, Red Cross health and mental health services volunteers help to meet urgent needs of those affected. Recover The Recover process begins when Red Cross caseworkers meet with a few of the families whose homes are so damaged they will not be able to return home in the immediate future. The caseworkers help families with developing a recovery plan, problem solving and direct them to



other community resources. Scaling The disaster operation scales up and down as needed. Local Red Cross disaster workers remain at the heart of operations of every size. But, depending on the situation, human and material resources can be moved from outside the hardest-hit communities to provide services to everyone in the affected area. To see how, let’s take a look at that scenario again.



Notes

The Flood Continues: Scaling Disaster Operations Newscaster Script: “Okay, we have some good news and bad news to deliver. It looks like that stalled high pressure system to the east has finally moved on, and right behind it, so will our storm clouds. However, due to the heavy rains, Sebastian River flooding is expected to peak at 8 feet above flood level, with peak flooding over the next 36 hours, beginning in Benton County and extending south to Miranda and Falls counties. Local officials and the governor have recommended people evacuate from low-lying areas…” Disaster Cycle Analysis – Scaling

• As the rain continues, the river floods towns in several counties, more shelters open, and more support is needed.

• This disaster becomes a regional operation. Red Cross workers, equipment, and

supplies are brought in from adjacent counties.

• When another river in a neighboring state starts to flood additional communities, Red Cross divisional leaders are called in to help, and national headquarters steps up to support as more resources are needed.



Notes

The Flood Subsides Newscaster Script: “Well, good news for folks in the northern part of Benton County, as the flood waters have receded up there and everyone can start drying out and cleaning up and getting on with their lives. Peak flooding is still expected for those downriver in Miranda and Falls counties over the next 24 hours…”



Notes

The Flood Subsides: Overlapping Services As the Response process gears down as flood waters recede in the first community, local Red Cross disaster workers are still there to:

• Wrap up the response. (Respond) • Meet with those affected to help them recover. (Recover) • Talk to community groups about how to prepare and decrease the impact of a future

flood. (Prepare)



Notes

Unit Summary You now know the Red Cross’s mission, the core mission areas of the disaster cycle, and the mission-enabling areas, and how they all come into play in a disaster. In the next unit, you will learn how communities work with the Red Cross in the Disaster Cycle Services.

Unit 3: The Power of Community

Unit 3: The Power of Community – Participant Guide May 2015 3-1

Notes Unit 3: The Power of Community

The Power of Community Since its founding in 1881, the American people have relied on the Red Cross to be there in times of disaster. Chartered by Congress, the Red Cross mission is to prevent human suffering and provide relief to people affected by emergencies. But the Red Cross doesn’t do it alone. It relies on the power of community. What are some agencies or groups that respond to disasters and emergencies besides the Red Cross? ____________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________________ Disaster preparedness and response is a community-wide effort.



Notes

Red Cross Partners Disaster preparedness and response is a community-wide effort. It involves government and civic authorities; volunteer organizations and businesses; charities; faith-based organizations; and individual volunteers. Each of these groups has something unique and valuable to offer, and the Red Cross works with all of them to plan for, respond to, and recover from a disaster.



Notes

Testimonials

Red Cross partner: “Oh, we've been working with the American Red Cross for, oh gosh, 25 years now, and it has been a great partnership between the two of us. Each one of us works very well together because each one of us knows what we are responsible for. Our jobs are very well defined and we know what to expect.”

Red Cross worker: “I go out to different organizations and meet with their leadership and their volunteer staffs in order to understand what they do and to make sure that they understand what the Red Cross does.”

Red Cross worker: “We build partnerships by being out there in the community, working day to day with our government partners, with our non-profit partners, with our business partners, learning what they do and how they do it, what they do on a day-to-day basis as well as what they’re capable of in an emergency.”

Pam Spring, Dir., Emergency Ops. Unit, MD State Dept. Human Resources (Government Partner): “Right now we’re working on the State annex for the feeding plan; we're working on the shelter plan. So we bring all of our partners—our State partners, our NGOs such as the American Red Cross, Salvation Army—we all come to the table together to work on planning. In addition, we also do exercises in the State, both at the local level, regional, State exercises.”

Jamie Carter, Dir., 2-1-1 Virginia, N. Region, CrisisLink (Red Cross Partner): “After disasters occur, there’s many different places that people can turn to during a recovery phase… resources such as food, clothing, appliances, household goods, household repairs…”



Red Cross worker: “We work with the client individually to look at their short-term and long-term recovery plan. Traditionally, there is a lot of resources from other agencies that is available in the communities.”



Notes

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario Activity What Do You Think? PREPARE The communities to the north of Benton County were fortunate because the rain stayed to the south. But what if they aren’t the lucky ones next time? List some ways in which the Red Cross and community organizations could work together with communities north of Benton County to prepare. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ RESPOND Let’s say that rain hits several of those communities in Bear County. List some ways each of the following five community partners could contribute and work together during the Response phase in Bear County:

• Individual volunteer: ___________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________



• Neighborhood association: ______________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

• Business: ____________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

• Non-profit organization: ________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

• Local government: ____________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________ _______________________________________________________________________

RECOVER Once the rain moves out of Bear County, there will be a need for recovery assistance. List some ways in which the Red Cross and community organizations could work together in the Recover process. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________



Notes

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Prepare) Answer Some of the ways that Red Cross and community organizations work together in the Prepare core area are to:

• Make sure relationships and services are understood before disaster strikes. o Jobs, roles, and expectations should be well-defined, ensuring

better cooperation. o Put partnership agreements in place with non-governmental agencies so that

each knows the role they play and how they can best contribute to relief efforts. • Create alliances with organizations and businesses.

o Bring all partners to the table for planning (e.g., feeding plan, shelter plan, etc.). o Do exercises together at the local, regional, and State level. o Work closely with local, tribal, State, and the Federal Government to plan for

and respond to disasters. • Educate organizations and businesses on what they can achieve.

o Go out to different organizations and meet with their leadership and their volunteer staffs in order to:

Understand what they do. Make sure that they understand what the Red Cross does.

o Make contact with local businesses about things they can do to help, such as: Donating money, supplies, and facilities. Making their employees available as Red Cross volunteers. Sending their employees to training courses so they’ll be better

prepared to help when a disaster happens in their community.



Notes

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Respond) Answer Some ways each of the following five community partners could contribute and work together during the Response phase in Bear County are as follows:

• Individual volunteer o Assist in a shelter. o Distribute bottled water.

• Neighborhood association o Provide prepared meals. o Gather information about damage and disaster needs.

• Business o Donate money to relief effort. o Donate needed supplies, like bottled water. o Support their employees in disaster volunteer work.

• Non-profit organization o Gather information about damage and disaster needs. o Assist in a shelter. o Provide recovery information and resources.

• Local government o Send first responders including: police, firefighters, and ambulance workers. o Ensure public safety. o Provide facilities.



Notes

The Power of Community – Flood Scenario (Recover) Answer Some of the ways that Red Cross and community organizations could work together in the Recover process are to:

• Locate and access long-term resources. • Support clients and the community to develop recovery plans. • Advocate for clients on behalf of their needs.



Notes

Unit Summary In this unit you learned how communities and the Red Cross work together throughout the disaster cycle. In the next, we’ll explore volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross.

Unit 4: Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities

Unit 4: Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities – Participant Guide May 2015 4-1

Notes Unit 4: Red Cross Volunteer Opportunities

Working With American Red Cross Testimonials of Three Red Cross Volunteers

“Love my job. I love my job. It's hard work. But I love helping people.”

“I'm a logistics volunteer here at the chapter and I make sure that all the materials and supplies get out to a shelter and to whoever needs it … It gives me a sense of doing something for my community.”

“I was surprised by all the opportunities to volunteer at the American Red Cross. I spent a little time and found so many opportunities, and now you can, too.”



Notes

How Would You Like To Volunteer? When thinking about how you can help, start with what interests you. An example of one volunteer area that often interests people is interacting directly with clients or customers. These activities are in the core mission areas—Prepare, Respond, and Recover—and are what you often see Red Cross workers doing publicly or in news reports. Here are some examples of volunteer services that align with the three core mission areas:

• Prepare – Give people preparedness information in a booth at a local fair. • Respond – Work in a shelter, or prepare and serve meals. • Recover – Provide information to clients about resources available in their community.

Now, let’s look at some other types of activities that you can do, besides what you see on TV. These other activities align with the mission-enabling areas, which we’ve also learned about in this course. What do YOU like to do? What gives you personal satisfaction? I like to….

1. Plan and organize. 2. Speak in public. 3. Gather and evaluate data and find and coordinate resources. 4. Drive trucks, deliver supplies, and use my hands. 5. Use technology.

Refer to the documents on the next several pages to find volunteer opportunities that match your interests.



Volunteer Opportunities: Mission-Enabling Areas



How Would You Like To Volunteer? I like to: 1. Plan and organize. One of these mission-enabling areas may be a good fit… Align with Government

• Plan joint trainings with government partners. Engage Volunteers and Employees

• Meet with volunteers to match their interests with opportunities in disaster services. Information Management and Situational Awareness


Mobilize the Community

• Work with local governments to prepare sheltering plans for schools and recreation centers.

NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________



I like to: 2. Speak in public. One of these mission-enabling areas may be a good fit… Engage Volunteers and Employees

• Recruit and train volunteers and employees. Information Management and Situational Awareness

• Work with the media. Mobilize the Community

• Present preparedness information to community organizations and the general public. • Train employees of local businesses so they can assist in Red Cross disaster operations.

NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________



I like to: 3. Gather and evaluate data and find and coordinate resources. One of these mission-enabling areas may be a good fit… Align with Government

• Work as a liaison between the Red Cross and local emergency agencies. Deploy Materials, Workers, and Technology

• Assist with recruiting, assigning, and deploying workers for disaster operations. Information Management and Situational Awareness


• Perform a risk assessment for your local area. NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________



I like to: 4. Drive trucks, deliver supplies, and use my hands. One of these mission-enabling areas may be a good fit… Deploy Materials, Workers, and Technology

• Provide food, cots, and cleanup kits to distribution centers and shelters. • Load and unload supplies.

Mobilize the Community

• Partner with fire departments to install smoke alarms in homes and distribute fire safety information.

NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________



I like to: 5. Use technology. One of these mission-enabling areas may be a good fit… Deploy Materials, Workers, and Technology

• Set up computers for workers to use on a disaster operation. Engage Volunteers and Employees

• Help volunteers with Volunteer Connection. • Enter training records into the Learning Management System.

Information Management and Situational Awareness

• Collect and report information about services provided by the Red Cross. NOTES ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________



Notes

Resources for Volunteers

• Contact your local chapter for guidance on getting involved. • Visit www.Redcross.org. • Update your Volunteer Connection profile information if you haven’t done so, at

https://volunteerconnection.redcross.org.

http://www.redcross.org/



Notes

Course Summary

• In this course, we’ve learned that there are many different types of disasters, and they impact people and communities in many ways.

• The Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services is guided by the mission, fundamental

principles, and values of the organization. While the Red Cross has a deep history, our basic mission has remained the same: to help!

• Disaster Cycle Services fulfills the mission of the organization through the three core

mission areas of Prepare, Respond, and Recover, and the five mission-enabling areas.

• Welcome to the team! The next step is to meet with someone from your local chapter to discuss the next steps toward becoming an active volunteer.

• Please fill out and hand in your course evaluation before you leave.

Documents

Participant Guide May 2015...Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview – Participant Guide May 2015 Overview-1 Notes Unit Overview: Welcome and Overview Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview