Red Cross calls for 40,000 volunteers

[brooklynite]

BATON ROUGE, Louisiana (CNN) -- The American Red Cross put out an urgent call Saturday for 40,000 new volunteers to help feed, house and comfort Hurricane Katrina victims.

"This is a disaster of such scope and such significance, it's not going to go away in a few weeks or a few months," Red Cross spokesman John Degnan said.

"We're putting out an appeal to people to step forward and volunteer so they can be trained."

...snip...

The first shift of 10,000 recruits will be needed in two weeks to relieve 36,000 volunteers now deployed, he said.

http://www.cnn.com/2005/US/09/10/katrina.impact/index.html

[benito]

1. quoteth, The Legendary K.O.

Hurricane came though, fucked us up around here

[Psephos]

2. Forget FEMA, this is how to make an actual difference.

I'm looking into it. For once, a chance to do something instead of bitch and piss on a forum.

A close friend works for the RC and despite what the tinfoil people say, they are squared away and making a huge difference.

Peace.

[billyoc]

3. I'm leaving monday,

the AFL-CIO called for volunteers to go down there.

A lot of people have turned their backs on those workers down there, but we won't.

Billy O'Connor,
TWU Local 225
New York, NY

[Wordie]

4. I can't go...but I can at least kick this... n/t

[geckosfeet]

5. Go to the Red Cross homepage (link in msg) and ask for application. n/t

Go to the Red Cross Home Page and enter your zip code. You will be provided with your regional office. Email them and ask them to email you the forms. A couple of word docs and pdf's.

There IS an application and training process that takes a little time so the sooner you do it the sooner you can be deployed. You need to pass a CORI check and provide references etc.

I filled one out and gave it to them this past Friday. I am hoping I can do something to help provide some relief. I am so angry, so furious about what our government has done through their indifference and incompetence.

edit for spelling.

[leQ]

6. did you get a sense of what skill-set they were especially dire for?

i know they could use money (duh), but i haven't been able to track down anybody with a list of skills they're looking for.

[geckosfeet]

7. They have a section on their application that lists about 8-10

different skill sets. I heard on radio medical skills (of course) but I am sure that they can use a lot of help. Let them decide what to do. There are local efforts as well.

Teaching, administration, medical, office and even receptionist. General stuff. The form is not optimised for disatser relief. Here is content of e-mail that I was sent.



Information that Prospective Volunteers for Hurricane Katrina Need to Know

1. This will be an Extreme Hardship Assignment:

a. Workers will live in shelters, possibly with the affected population.

b. There will probably be no electricity and no running water.

c. It will be extremely hot and humid.

d. There will be bugs and snakes.

e. The air quality will be bad.

f. Food may be limited. Volunteers with special dietary needs will do better to wait to respond until the operation is more settled.

2. Workers must be in good physical condition. In many cases you will need to lift and carry heavy items.

3. Workers must be mentally strong. This disaster will be difficult for even seasoned disaster workers.

4. Assignments are from 2 to 3 weeks. You may be asked to stay longer if possible.

5. Workers must be team players and abide by the Red Cross Code of Conduct. Workers must be flexible because the situation is likely to be chaotic.

6. Workers will be assigned to a variety of different locations, but not areas that are getting the publicity.

7. Potential volunteers must submit an application to the Chapter. This includes a CORI check. Once the application and CORI have been approved, the volunteer will be notified of training opportunities.

8. Once training and an operational orientation have been completed, the volunteer will decide whether they still want to go on assignment. If so, they will be required to complete an application to the Disaster Services Resource System. This will include providing some basic health information.

9. Once the worker has been approved to respond, they will be assigned and then required to leave within 24 hours.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact your American Red Cross Chapter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

[geckosfeet]

8. If you are planning on volunteering take a look at this:

Red Cross Home Page

Information that Prospective Volunteers for Hurricane Katrina Need to Know

1. This will be an Extreme Hardship Assignment:
a.Workers will live in shelters, possibly with the affected population.
b. There will probably be no electricity and no running water.
c. It will be extremely hot and humid.
d. There will be bugs and snakes.
e. The air quality will be bad.
f. Food may be limited. Volunteers with special dietary needs will do better to wait to respond until the operation is more settled.

2. Workers must be in good physical condition. In many cases you will need to lift and carry heavy items.

3. Workers must be mentally strong. This disaster will be difficult for even seasoned disaster workers.

4. Assignments are from 2 to 3 weeks. You may be asked to stay longer if possible.

5. Workers must be team players and abide by the Red Cross Code of Conduct. Workers must be flexible because the situation is likely to be chaotic.

6. Workers will be assigned to a variety of different locations, but not areas that are getting the publicity.

7. Potential volunteers must submit an application to the Chapter. This includes a CORI check. Once the application and CORI have been approved, the volunteer will be notified of training opportunities.

8. Once training and an operational orientation have been completed, the volunteer will decide whether they still want to go on assignment. If so, they will be required to complete an application to the Disaster Services Resource System. This will include providing some basic health information.

9. Once the worker has been approved to respond, they will be assigned and then required to leave within 24 hours.

Again, thank you for taking the time to contact your American Red Cross Chapter. We look forward to hearing from you soon.

Red Cross Home Page

[Hekate]

9. I appreciate your posting this

When New Orleans drowned Bush sent a powerful message to the nation: "You're all on your own now, don't expect your government to give a damn."

Given the wreckage Bushco is making of our civil defense system and FEMA it's a good idea for all of us to do what we can to be prepared in our own communities -- thanks for posting this info.

I can't go to the Gulf Coast in person, but my hubs and I are sending what money we can via our local chapter of the Vets for Peace. Relief doesn't get more direct than the White Rose bus in Covington.

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#
#Why isn't the Chickenhawk waitin' on the levee?#

[geckosfeet]

10. Mods: Can this be moved to another forum so it stays visible?

[BrightKnight]

11. Is this really a good idea?

Why transport, feed, and house 40k people. It would be much better to use people in from the affected population.

Managing 40k people is expensive. Why not just give the money to the affected people. living in a shelter is not very dignified.

I can not provide a link but my local Television news reported that the the Red Cross was buying vehicles.

---------

How much of the donated money have they given to the people that need it?

[Hekate]

12. My husband lived through Hurricane Camille & loves the Red Cross for

the ready assistance they provided. He was stationed out there, lived in Biloxi, ended up being part of search and rescue. He and his then-wife lost everything they owned -- he's always said the Red Cross was absolutely wonderful to them.

Some people are able to step right up and start doing whatever job needs doing, but as a general rule in a massive disaster "the affected population" is in a state of shock and disarray, many of them are injured, frantically looking for loved ones, you name it. Their homes are gone.

The whole point of RC volunteers -- and they do this without compensation -- is that they come in from unaffected areas, they are not injured or in emotional shock, they have an established protocol, and they plunge right in and begin working. Everyone recognizes their logo, everyone gets it that they can be trusted to do what's right.

Anyone who takes shelter in a temporary facility run by the RC does so knowing that it will be safe, unlike the Superdome. I don't know why you think a temporary shelter is undignified -- it beats having no shelter at all, and it is not supposed to be a permanent solution, only a stepping stone.


My only hesitation about donations stems from the confusion around 9-11 donations (and yes, we gave to the RC then). We were going to give through them again this time, but by the time they got over $400,000,000 I decided to give to a smaller (MUCH smaller ;-) ) group. We'll give to the RC again, never fear.

As for local training, my observation stands: we need to take charge of our own personal and community needs as much as possible because in a crisis we may be cut off. Life is uncertain, though; if you end up on your roof for several days you may not be in any shape to "take charge" of anything at all, but it's still a good idea to have a plan.

Hekate

#Why won't the Chickenhawk cross the road?#
#Why isn't the Chickenhawk waitin' on the levee?#