Disaster Relief

: Photo: Richard Gwin/Lawrence Journal World; Douglas County Chapter disaster volunteers provided shelter, food, clothing, comfort, and counseling to over 100 individuals who lost their homes at the Boardwalk Apartment Fire on October, 2005.

Disaster strikes our community almost every day. When house fires, floods, violent storms, hazardous spills and explosions, or transportation accidents occur, the Douglas County Chapter of the American Red Cross is ready to respond immediately. Our staff and volunteers are on–call 24 hours a day, 7 days per week to respond when disaster strikes. Disaster workers focus first on basic emergency needs such as food, clothing, and shelter for victims. American Red Cross volunteers are there with groceries and other emergency necessities and will stay as long as necessary to help people rebuild their lives. In fact, Red Cross is involved long before a disaster occurs, educating the community on how to stay safe should a disaster occur.

All American Red Cross assistance is based on verified disaster–caused needs and all assistance is free – literally a gift as the result of the generous support of time and money from the American people.

The Red Cross also feeds disaster victims and emergency workers, handles inquiries from concerned immediate family members outside the disaster–affected area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and links disaster victims to other available resources.

When does Disaster Services respond?

: Photo: Thad Allender/Lawrence Journal World; Douglas County Chapter volunteers responded immediately to the tornado that struck southwest Lawrence in May, 2003 and assisted with relief efforts.

DAT (Disaster Action Team) members are specially trained to provide assistance to individuals and families affected by disasters. Locally, they respond to single and multi–family fires, floods, transportation accidents, chemical spills, ice storms, and other disasters. They are trained to provide families with their immediate disaster — related emergency needs, and help them on their way to recovery. We work closely with the Douglas County Fire Department so that when living units are affected, our on–call Disaster Action Team members are notified and respond, 24 hours a day and 7 days per week.

How can I volunteer to help locally?

Joining our Disaster Action Team is a great way to become involved locally in Red Cross disaster relief. DAT members provide emergency assistance at the scene of small disasters and initiate response to larger disasters which pave the way for full–scale mobilization of Red Cross disaster relief.

Volunteers are also needed for day–to–day activities of disaster relief and disaster preparedness. Our Douglas County disaster volunteers may be out in the community dealing with disaster victims directly, working as caseworkers to provide follow–up assistance, helping educate schools, churches, businesses and the general community on disaster preparedness, or learning how to help if a major disaster affected the Douglas County community.

We are always looking for people willing to dedicate their time and efforts in learning skills such as how to help run a shelter, how to mass feed large groups of people displaced by a disaster, how to help people in a one–on–one scenario in a service center; running the records and reports function in shelters and at the temporary headquarters established for the disaster, fund raising, public affairs, local disaster volunteer recruitment, and so many more functions. When a large disaster occurs in our community, Red Cross trained volunteers are always there to help make a difference!

How will I be trained?

The Douglas County Chapter offers many basic disaster training courses that are conducted at our offices. Intermediate and advanced courses can also be taken at the Topeka and Kansas City chapter offices. This training prepares disaster workers for a wide variety of jobs including individual assistance, mass care, logistics, disaster health and mental health services, and damage–assessment just to name a few. All training is provided free of charge.

How can I volunteer to help at large disasters around the country?

When a large disaster happens anywhere in the United States, the local Red Cross chapters in a disaster area often require support from outside the area. The Disaster Services Human Resource (DSHR) system fires into action on large disasters, moving highly trained and experienced Red Cross disaster volunteers into affected areas quickly and efficiently.

To become a part of the DSHR system, you will need to attend Red Cross disaster services training and gain some experience locally (usually as part of a DAT). If you're available and interested to serve as little as three days or more within your state, or three weeks anywhere in the U.S.A. on a national assignment, you should sign up for the DSHR system. Find out more by contacting our chapter office at 785–843–3550.

How can I get in contact with a family member in a disaster area?

If a loved one is in a disaster–affected area, family members from outside the area can contact their local Red Cross chapter and request assistance in determining the well–being of their family member. Contact the Douglas County Chapter at 785–843–3550.

How can I help my family prepare for disasters?

That's part of our mission! The American Red Cross offers a collection of resources to help you and your family prepare for disaster. Online information is available at www.redcross.org or contact our offices for more information and assistance.