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Accomplishments
July 1, 2006 - June 30, 2007
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$130,000 distributed to 147 families for Home Fires
- Over 180 committed and trained volunteers
- Over 5,500 people were trained in Disaster Preparedness
Our Disaster Volunteers stand ready to respond to disasters ranging from single family fires to major disasters including tornadoes, floods, and hurricanes. They help "neighbors" on behalf of the Red Cross by providing food, clothing, shelter, medications, and other such emergency needs as an outright gift. The Red Cross is also responsible for sending Disaster Volunteers throughout the United States and all over the world in times of major disaster events. The Red Cross provides community education, including numerous disaster prevention and preparedness programs.
Though not a government agency, the American Red Cross authority to perform disaster services was formalized when the Red Cross was chartered by Congress in 1900 to mitigate the suffering caused by disasters. In providing disaster relief, the American Red Cross has both a legal and a moral mandate that it has neither the authority nor the right to surrender. Red Cross has both the power and the duty to act in disaster, and our prompt action is clearly expected and supported by the public. Among other provisions, the charter that was originated in 1900 and amended in 1905 charged the Red Cross
To continue and carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the sufferings caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same. - US Congress, act of January 5, 1905, as amended, 36 U.S.C.
Red Cross authority to provide disaster services was reaffirmed in Federal law in Sec. 302(b)(3) of the 1988 Robert T. Stafford Disaster Relief and Emergency Assistance Act (PL. 93-288 as amended).
NELA Chapter cases served by DS
from 7/1/07 - 4/30/08
166 home fire cases with
$109,022 disbursed
Damage assessment and financial
assistance given in the flooding in Northeast
Louisiana.
Latest DS News:
Thunderstorms with heavy rainfall
hit Ouachita Parish. Several homes had water in them due
to flash floods and there were numerous house fires due to
lightning strikes. Chapter caseworkers worked with two
very distraught ladies who had flooding. Neither client
had insurance to cover their losses. Our Chapter was able
to provide referrals as well as clean-up kits.
An elderly couple lost everything to a fire caused by
lightning. They received lodging, food, clothing, and
critical medications. Both suffered with multiple medical
conditions. The replacement of their medications prevented
further trauma in their lives.
Late that afternoon, our caseworkers met with four
individuals involved with a house fire earlier that day
that had resulted in three fatalities. These people spent
a few hours in our office receiving assistance. The
concern of our caseworkers allowed these people to take the
first step to recovery. Their names and contact
information were passed on to our Mental Health workers for
follow-up.
All these clients, as well as many others we serve, not only
received the emotional support of our case workers-- giving them
the hope and courage to continue their recovery.
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Comfort Kits Needed
The Red Cross is in need of comfort kits to be used
during times of disaster to provide those affected with
personal hygiene items. Items must be individually wrapped.
The following comfort kit items are assembled in a large
ziplock bag or other type of bag:
- washcloth
- bar of soap
- deodorant
- shampoo
- shaving cream
- shaving razor
- toothbrush
- toothpaste
- comb
- lotion or powder (or both)
- travel pack of Kleenex (optional)
Disaster Action Team - DAT
Disaster Action Teams are organized to ensure that trained Red Cross volunteers can respond immediately to Single Family Disasters and Local Disasters shortly after a disaster occurs. A DAT is a team of trained Red Cross paid and/or volunteer staff sent to the scene of a disaster to provide immediate disaster relief to those affected by disaster and as required, to emergency workers responding to the incident.
Members report to the team coordinator. A DAT member, depending on training and experience:
- Conducts damage assessment
- Initiates interviews with those affected by the disaster to meet emergency needs
- Completes any necessary reports or documents related to the incident or tot assistance including, Case Records or chapter developed incident reports, and identifies and reports needed follow-up
- Provides appropriate assistance based on the chapter's approved price list
- Arranges for any necessary follow-up or further assistance to disaster victims including assists in opening a shelter, participates in mass feeding services, provides disaster health services and mental health services
Volunteer for Disaster Action Team
Disaster Services Human Resource System - DSHR
The DSHR is the personnel and human resources management system used by the Red Cross to meet its human resources requirements in response to disaster. All Red Cross paid and volunteer staff who are qualified and available to be assigned to disaster relief operations beyond their units of affiliation are eligible to be enrolled in this system.
This system is actually designed to serve two functions:
(1) to support the efforts of local Red Cross units in disaster-affected
areas and
(2) to provide both new and veteran Red Cross disaster volunteers
with a career -development path within Disaster Services.
It is an opportunity to have more, do more, and be more on
a disaster.
DSHR Volunteer Criteria
To become a DSHR system candidate, you must be recommended by your Red Cross unit of affiliation. In addition, you must regularly participate in an extensive disaster training program - administered through the national organization - and continue to serve as a member of your Red Cross unit's disaster response team.
You must also meet the following criteria:
- Flexibility to serve on disaster operations anywhere in the United States or its territories - with little or no advanced warning - for a minimum of three weeks.
- Willingness to live under adverse conditions and work long daily hours for extended periods.
- Good health, including the stamina, endurance, and physical capability to protect the health and safety of disaster victims and other disaster relief workers.
- A sense of professional spirit and adventure.
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