Contents: Readiness Activities | Response Activities: DAT | Response Activities: Chapter

Readiness Activities

A large part of the daily activities in Disaster Services consist of ongoing preparedness for disaster.

• Equipment and resources must be acquired, positioned, and maintained.
• Volunteers must be recruited, supported, and trained
• Records must be organized, maintained and updated
• Community/government/volunteer agency/facility and other partnerships must be sought out and supported
• Response plans and strategies must be developed, practiced and refined

All of these activities continue even when there are no local disasters requiring response. We need volunteers at all times to assist with these readiness activities, and to prepare themselves for disaster response.

• Links to the list of current openings (Volunteer Opportunities) and a detailed Readiness and Response Chart are included at the top of the Disaster Responders Volunteering page
• See the Training page for a list of Training classes and the training calendar.

Response Activities: DAT

Disaster Action Teams are the first Red Cross representatives on the ground during a local disaster, responsing quickly to assist families displaced by a disaster. Position descriptions for DAT are inluded in the Document Library in the Disaster Services Volunteer Positions section. 

Transition to a Chapter or National response. If a disaster is too large for the Disaster Action Team to handle effectively, the response transitions to the Chapter Disaster Services Leadership.

Response Activities: Chapter

When a DAT call transitions to a Chapter response, Group and Activity leadership are alerted and a headquarters may be set up at the Chapter, depending on the needs of the operation. Activities that can occur at this time include:

• Setting up a shelter
• Arranging for meals for shelter clients
• Setting up a Service Center for Client Casework
• Activating the staffing activity to contact additional volunteers for assistance
• Working with Materials Support Services to locate facilities for the operation
• Activating Partner Services for liaison activities with an Emergency Operations Center
• Coordinating Public Affairs volunteers to support media requests for information
• Activating the Chapter Fund Raising process
• Activating Transportation and Warehousing volunteers to coordinate and transport equipment and supplies
• and all the rest...

Responder Involvement. During the transition to a Chapter response, Chapter Disaster Responders are needed, often at short notice, to perform the tasks listed above. These Responders are solicited based on the Group and Activity choices listed in their volunteer records.

What to Expect. During and after the transition to a Chapter Operation, responders can expect the following:

• A phone call in the middle of the night (maybe more than one) requesting assistance
• Organized chaos at headquarters as the operation forms and organizes
• Some instances of "hurry up and wait" as assignments are made and resources are gathered. (e.g. We may need you to drive a truck, but don't have the truck yet.)
• Paperwork (even in the midst of a disaster, we have to keep track of people and things. We need to know where you are and what you are doing for two reasons: 1. so we don't assign someone else to the job you are already doing, and 2. so we can find you if there is an emergency at home.)  

What you can do.

• Keep your Red Cross ID and attire with you at all times. You never know when you may need it.
• Be honest with yourself and with staffing about your availability. Once you are assigned to a position we need you to honor your commitment. Clients and other responders are counting on you to complete the job
• Be patient. There may be a line to in-process and pick up forms. Be the voice of calm and help everyone to relax and maintain their good humor
• Be flexible. Accurate information is at a premium during a disaster and things often change based on updated reports.
• Keep the ultimate goal in mind. Remember at all times that we are doing this to help people displaced by the disaster.
• Remember and support the Fundamental Principles and Zero Tolerance policy. You are representing the Red Cross in all the actions you take on an operation.

What you should not do

• Never self-deploy.
  • If you hear of a disaster, call the Chapter staffing line, 503-280-1495, to report your availability. Do not report to the scene.
  • The only exception to the above rule is if communications are down. You may then report to the Chapter, but only if you can do so safely.
• Never walk off the job without notifying your supervisor and out-processing. Remember your responsibility to the clients and your fellow responders. If you have a problem, report it to your supervisor. If your problem is your supervisor, report it to your manager, or contact the staffing office.