American Red Cross trains volunteers for disaster relief

Intermountain Catholic

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An American Samoa shelter was home for a dozen Utah Red Cross volunteers for about three weeks after the recent tsunami. The Utah Region Red Cross volunteers continue to distribute food, water, cooking supplies and other items to those in need in Samoa. Photo courtesy of the American Red Cross

SALT LAKE CITY — "We're in the middle of a disaster," were the first words Susan Thomas, American Red Cross communications director, said in an interview with the Intermountain Catholic, the day the earthquake and tsunami affecting American Samoa Sept. 30.

The Red Cross deals with at least two disasters each week, Thomas said, adding that 12 disaster-trained Red Cross volunteers from Utah responded in American Samoa while at the same time three helped with the flooding that occurred in Georgia.

Community members can help by becoming a Red Cross disaster volunteer, learning how to shelter, how to lead, and how to take care of people in a disaster.

"A Red Cross volunteer will get an intense training," said Logan Sisam, a Red Cross emergency services director. "They will get a chance to do a walk through and do a shelter simulation where they will open cots, set up cots, and not only follow the National Red Cross policies and guidelines, but actually see it done."

During an incident, the Red Cross uses the resources of its partner agencies to set up a shelter, Sisam said. "Sometimes a shelter is set up even before the Red Cross can get there. For example, we recently did a partner training with the University of Utah. We have trained about 30 of their emergency managers so in the event that something big happens, and the Red Cross is at multiple other locations, the University of Utah will already have people trained on location and they will already have supplies until the Red Cross can get their to offer support and assistance. This is a way for us to create different pockets of disaster action teams that have Red Cross knowledge on how to shelter."

In Utah, the Red Cross responds to emergencies such as a flood or a neighborhood evacuation by opening a shelter and helping people with essential needs like shelter, food, clothing, eye glasses and emotional support, Sisam said. "But for big disasters when there could be 5,000 people who need help all at one time, that is when partner training would come into play."

In areas farther from Salt Lake City, the Red Cross uses Disaster Action Teams (DAT) that provide the initial assessment or assistance with what is taking place. A DAT recently was organized for Uintah, Duchesne and Daggett counties. "We are really excited because they are providing really good coverage," Sisam said. "About a month ago they had the opportunity to help a client family who was displaced from a single family fire see to someone face-to-face and know that someone does care. They provided the family with shelter and gave them money for food, and clothing."

Most disasters happen in the middle of the night, leaving people "standing on the sidewalk in their pajamas without eyeglasses, shoes or anything," Thomas said. "They are just happy to be alive and have their family safe and sound. These clients can be in a little bit of trauma or shock from what they have just gone through and they may not even realize they need a place to stay, food to eat, or clothes to wear. Our DAT teams are so well trained they know what these people need and help them. Our shelters also serve as information centers and gathering places as well."

To volunteer, call the American Red Cross at 801.323.7000, or visit www.utahredcross.org.