| Item |
Definition |
| Activities |
Disaster Response Groups are divided up into Activities.
Each activity has separate training requirements. Qualification in one
activity does not mean automatic qualification in another activity in
the same Group. On an operation, each Activity has a Manager, and those
Managers report to the Administrator of the Group in which their
activity belongs. (See Groups and Activities for definitions.) |
| Activity Lead (Local) |
The designation for the local head of an activity.
Activity Leads manage the organization of the activity with the goal of
assuring that the activity is prepared to handle a local or national
response. Although it seems to correspond structurally to the job of
DSHR manager, an Activity Lead does not need to satisfy the requirements
for a DSHR manager. This is a local Support Services position that may
be filled by either a Support Services volunteer or a Disaster
Responder. |
| Administrator |
The top position within the Group/Activity structure.
Administrators lead the group on the relief operation. Their
competencies include extensive supervisory and leadership experience and
the ability to work within the operation management team to provide
oversight of the relief operation. Each group administrator reports to
the Disaster Relief Operation Director. See DRO Director in this chart. |
| Administrator (Local) |
The designation for the local head of a Group. Group
Administrators manage the organization of the Group with the goal of
assuring that the Group is prepared to handle a local or national
response. Although it seems to correspond structurally to the job of
DSHR manager, a Group Administrator does not need to satisfy the
requirements for a DSHR Administrator. This is a local Support Services
position that may be filled by either a Support Services volunteer or a
Disaster Responder |
| Blood Services |
See Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services below |
| CAT (Local) |
Canteen Action Team: Trained volunteers on call (one
week out of four at the OTC) to provide snacks and drinks to first
responders and disaster victims. (See requirements for training and
experience requirements to qualify to be a full CAT.) Definitions of
specific CAT positions can be found on the CAT page. |
| Citten |
A Canteen Action Team member in training. See Requirements and CAT for requirements and other information. |
| CrossNet |
A members-only Web page designed to provide information
for Red Cross staff and volunteers. Requires a user name and password,
the application for which is included in the DSHR application packet.
The application can also be obtained from the chapter staffing office.
See CrossNet. |
| DAT |
Disaster Action Team: Trained volunteers on call for a
specified time period (one week out of eight at the OTC) to respond to
local disasters such as residential fires. (See requirements for
training and experience requirements to qualify to be a full DAT.)
Definitions of specific DAT positions can be found on the DAT page. |
| DR |
Disaster Relief: A DR is a relief operation. When a
disaster strikes, it always starts out as a local operation, however
briefly. When the magnitude of the disaster exceeds the capacity of the
local chapter to manage the response, the chapter applies to its Service
Area for a DR number. This designation as a regional or national DR has
economic and personnel resource consequences. When a DR is declared,
funding for the operation switches from the chapter to national, and
DSHR members are recruited to fill in the chapter's personnel
shortfalls. Local operations are managed by the chapter. DRs are managed
by the regional service area or by national. |
| DRO |
Disaster Relief Operation |
| DRO Director |
Director of the particular disaster relief operation.
There are three levels of DRO Director, all considered to be at the
Administrator level in the DSHR structure: Chapter DRO Director (CD),
MultiChapter DRO Director (MD), and National DRO Director (ND) |
| DSHR |
Disaster Services Human Resources: The national
volunteer management system. All Disaster Responders are required by
national to join the DSHR system, even if they restrict their
involvement to local response. Support Services volunteers who are not
Disaster Responders are not required to join DSHR until such time as
they decide to become Disaster Responders. |
| ECRV |
Emergency Communications Response Vehicle: A large
self-contained communications vehicle, used for national response. The
OTC does not have an ECRV. The closest is located in Spokane, WA. A
national ECRV class, plus annual re-certification, is required to staff
the ECRV. (See Requirements) |
| EKRV (Local) |
Emergency Kitchen Response Vehicle: A large vehicle that
is a self-contained kitchen, used to respond where feeding services are
required. (See requirements for training and experience necessary to
qualify to work in the EKRV, and the additional training required to
drive the EKRV) |
| ERV |
Emergency Response Vehicle: A large vehicle stocked with
supplies and kept ready at all times to assist in disaster response.
The OTC ERV is actually owned by national and is in the custody of the
chapter. When national puts out the call for the ERV, the chapter is
required have it ready to hit the road within 12 hours of the alert
call. Chapter volunteers qualify as ERV drivers by taking classes
specified by national ARC. (See Requirements) |
| Evaluation |
The assessment of performance provided to each volunteer
at the end of their service on the relief operation. The evaluation
should be used by the responders supervisor as a tool to comment on
positive performance, recommend further training and experience needed
to advance within the system, and to indicate areas where improvement is
needed. A disaster responder is entitled to request an evaluation for a
DR job lasting at least three days, and must receive one for job
lasting at least seven days. |
| Function |
Disaster Response activities are currently divided into
Groups and Activities. This is a relatively recent reorganization.
Previously, disaster response classifications were referred to as
functions. You will still hear the reference from long-time volunteers
and in training classes. |
| Group |
Disaster Response activities are divided into seven
major Groups (plus an eighth, Operations Management, which requires
additional experience and training). The Groups are Individual Client
Services (CLS), Mass Care (MC), Partner Services (PS), Information
Management Services (IMS), Materials Support Services (MSS), Staff
Services (SS), and Organization Support (OS). (see Groups &
Activities) |
| Manager |
Manager is the third of the four positions in the DSHR
Group/Activity structure. A disaster responder with local and national
experience as a DSHR Supervisor in a particular activity can apply to be
a Manager in that activity. All applicants must satisfy, at least, the
minimum training requirements listed in the DSHR Activity Requirements. A
Manager is a subject matter expert and must demonstrate qualification
in the specific Activity. All Managers must be DSHR members in good
standing and satisfy all the DSHR requirements. It is not likely that a
person will qualify as a Manager without national response experience |
| MIT |
Member in Training: the pre-qualification status for
volunteers who want to be DAT members. MITs respond to local disasters
under the supervision of a DAT and are required to have a minimum of
training before being eligible to participate in the MIT program. (See
requirements for training and experience requirements to qualify to be a
MIT.) |
| Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services |
The Red Cross is divided into two major activities:
Blood Services and Chapter Services. The blood services in our area are
provided by the Pacific Northwest Regional Blood Services division
(PNWRBS). This division provides blood services to Oregon, Washington
and Alaska. The Oregon Trail Chapter and the PNWRBS share space in the
Red Cross building at 3131 N Vancouver in Portland. For more information
about blood services see the PNWRBS Web page. |
| Regional Chapter |
Under the new ARC ONE initiative an additional
management layer was created between chapters and service areas. This
layer is filled by Regional Chapters. This restructuring primarily
affects the Development activities of the chapters with the Regional
Chapter in the role of administrative lead. Development activities are
now coordinated on a regional level rather than within the exclusive
authority of the local chapter. The OTC is the Regional Chapter for
Oregon. |
| Service Area |
The country is divided up into Service Areas that assist
the regional and local chapters within their geographic jurisdiction.
The Oregon Trail Chapter is located in Service Area 2, but our DSHR
activities are currently being managed by Service Area 1. This structure
was created after the resignation of the Senior Associate at SA2 and
the decision was made to transfer the DSHR responsibilities rather than
fill the position. |
| Service Associate |
All disaster responders, both local and national, start
out as Service Associates. Initial requirements for Service Associates
are listed on the Requirements page. Although the training requirements
are not strictly enforced for local response, all volunteers are
encouraged to take the training classes required and recommended for
their chosen activities. (See Requirements) |
| Supervisor |
Supervisor is the second of the four positions in the
DSHR Group/Activity structure. A disaster responder applies to be a
supervisor of a particular activity. Qualification for Supervisor is
flexible, depending on the applicant's life experience, but all
applicants must satisfy, at least, the minimum training requirements
listed in the DSHR Activity Requirements. All Supervisors must be DSHR
members in good standing and satisfy all the DSHR requirements even if
their work is limited to local response. |
