 |
|
|
General Information
Our Disaster Services Mission
The American Red Cross, Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter Disaster Services mission is to ensure disaster planning, preparedness, community disaster education, mitigation, and response at the local level is consistent with the overall mission of the National American Red Cross and that our community receives the highest quality services in a uniform, consistent, and responsive manner.
The Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross responds to disasters such as Single Residences or Apartment fires, Haz-Mat evacuations or other local situations that cause immediate human suffering as well as larger calamities like hurricanes, floods, earthquakes that create human needs that those affected cannot alleviate without assistance.
Planning to Respond
Long before a disaster strikes, the Red Cross plans what it will do. A disaster response plan identifies what it will take to respond to various disasters, what resources are needed, and how they will be coordinated and used. As part of the planning process, the Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter of the American Red Cross practice and participates in drills and exercises. Such planning enables us to respond more efficiently and effectively.
Preparing to Respond
Every Red Cross Chapter works continuously to be ready to respond by coordinating and collaborating with other local community based organizations. As part of this process, we identify places to set up as shelters and service centers, make arrangements with vendors for needed supplies, and work with local merchants.
Our ability to respond also depends on having people who are trained and ready. Each month we offer free basic disaster course training to new volunteers who can then provide consistent, quality services to people affected by disasters.
Last year, the American Red Cross responded to more than 60,000 disasters across the nation and locally we responded to an average of eighteen to twenty incidents from single-family residence and apartment fires to several brush fires in the San Gabriel Mountains.
Red Cross Services to People Affected by Disasters
The Red Cross works in partnership with people affected by disasters to help them return to living independently as quickly as possible.
Disaster Action Teams & Function Committees
Disaster Action Teams
Respond to the incident, evaluate Red Cross participation, and provide emergency assistance to families and emergency workers during local disasters. Establish initial response of mass care or shelter as needed.
Mass Care Sheltering and Feeding
The Red Cross opens shelters for those evacuated or displaced by a disaster and provides meals and snacks to families and to emergency workers in impacted areas.
Individual and Family Emergency Assistance
Trained Red Cross interviewers meet one-on-one with individuals and families to determine their disaster-caused needs and how the Red Cross can help. The Red Cross also lets people know about other available community or government resources and helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when other resources are not available or are inadequate.
Disaster Health Services and Disaster Mental Health Services
When a disaster strikes, the Red Cross assists in meeting the physical and emotional health needs associated with the disaster.
Contacting Family in the Disaster Area through Disaster Welfare Inquiries
If a loved one is in the affected area, family members from outside the area can call their local Red Cross chapter and request assistance in determining the well-being of their family member.
How You Can Help
There are many ways you can become involved in Disaster Services or help your community through the Red Cross.
Giving Your Time and Skills
Start by contacting your local chapter, and ask to speak with someone about volunteering with Disaster Services. Let your chapter know about your skills and interests, and they’ll match them with Red Cross disaster activities.
Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) and
Disaster Action Team (DAT) Membership Requirements
Baseline Criteria for DAT, DSHR & Deployment in Glendale/Los Angeles County
o Provide a Social Security Number
o Minimal Education Requirement-High School Diploma or equivalent
o Hold current certification in both CPR (within 1 year) and First Aid (within 3 years) recognized by the American Red Cross
o Completion of American Red Cross course Introduction to Disaster Services ARC 3066
o Completion of American Red Cross coursework applicable to your chosen Group/Activity (formerly known as Function). See below.
o Successful participation in Glendale-Crescenta Valley Disaster Services' organization
o Be in good health and sign an annual statement attesting to that effect:
Annual signature on Personal Statement Attesting to Good Health
o Annual signature on Code of Conduct
o Annual signature on Statement of Understanding
o Personal E-Mail address
Introduction to Disaster Services (ARC 3066) - 3 hours
Introduces participants to the American Red Cross, Disaster Services. Provides basic information about disasters and their effects on the community. Outlines the roles of Red Cross, private agencies and government in a relief operation and guides you through a process to find were you fit in Disaster Service. Prerequisite to all disaster training.
Standard First Aid 4 Hours & CPR 4 Hours
This course will teach you how to give Cardio-Pulmonary Resuscitation (CPR), basic first aid to control bleeding, splint a fracture and fundamental knowledge of medical emergencies.
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, two basic courses and Disaster Service office approval.
Red Cross Volunteer Experience
Participate in local disaster responses and Red Cross sponsored community events such as: Information Booth, Disaster Services Project, Drill and/or Exercise. Become a member in the Disaster Services Human Resource (DSHR) system at the local, state or national level in a Group and Activity.
Groups
COMMUNITY SERVICES (COS)
Mass Care Overview (ARC 3068-1) 3 hours
Provides basic information about Red Cross procedure for mass feeding and sheltering. Steps on how you can help with opening, managing and closing a shelter, as well as assisting with providing food services for large numbers of victims and/or disaster workers on a disaster.
Prerequisite: ARC 3066
Shelter Operations (ARC 3068-11) 4 Hours & Shelter Simulation (ARC 3068-12) 4 Hours
This course is designed to prepare Red Cross volunteer staff to effectively manage shelter operations as a team, provides information on how to open, manage, maintain, and use shelter space, equipment and supplies to meet the needs of people displaced as a result of disaster. Prerequisite: ARC 3066 & 3068-1.
Emergency Response Vehicle (E.R.V): Ready, Set, Roll (ARC 3068-402) 6 Hours
This course prepares the individual to safely and effectively use the Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV) and its equipment to meet feeding needs and other services of people affected by a disaster
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3068-1, CPR & First-Aid, Valid California Driver License and a copy of a DMV report with a good driving record. Complete a successful driving test on the vehicle.
INDIVIDUAL CLIENT SERVICES (CLS)
Family Services (ARC 3072-1) 8 Hours
Trains you on how to become a Red Cross Family Services caseworker to meet the disaster caused emergency needs of families and individuals. Focus is on your interviewing skills, Red Cross policies and procedures and the use of resources to meet the emergency needs of victims of disasters. Prerequisite: ARC 3066 & 3068-1
INFORMATION MANAGEMENT SUPPORT SERVICES (IMS)
Disaster Assessment I (ARC 3067-1) - 3 hours
Prepares an individual to become familiar with the damage assessment process, become part of the assessment teams and how to obtain and report damage assessment information in the field and provide support to other functions of a disaster relief operation immediately following a disaster. Perquisite: ARC 3066
Weapons of Mass Destruction / Terrorism (ARC 3079-2A) 3 Hours
This course provides basic information about the issues and safety concerns in performing our work in an environment involving a WMD / T event within our jurisdiction.
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3068-11 & 3068-12
ALL DISASTER SERVICES COURSES ARE FREE!
Click her to enroll now
Courses DO NOT need to be taken in sequence after the Introduction to Disaster Services
Pre-register ahead of time to avoid class being cancelled.
American Red Cross,
Glendale-Crescenta Valley Chapter
1501 S. Brand Blvd,
Glendale, Ca 91204
818.243.3121
M-Th 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Friday 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m.
|
|
|
 |
