The chapter plans to upgrade its response capabilities for disasters that may occur within the community.
In response to the events of Sept. 11, and in preparation for the 2002 hurricane season, the chapter has undertaken an effort to build its base of disaster volunteers. Volunteers are needed to respond to disasters in both Moore County and nationwide.
The local chapter responds to and provides assistance to victims of single-family fires that occur in Moore County. Whenever a family is forced from their home because of fire, the Red Cross provides emergency assistance. This assistance includes shelter, food, clothing and other emergency needs.
A group of local volunteers is on-call 24 hours a day, seven days a week to meet this need. The chapter is recruiting additional persons to serve in this capacity.
When a large-scale disaster affects Moore County such as a hurricane, flood or tornado, the local Red Cross chapter must have an adequate number of volunteers to establish and maintain a disaster relief effort for several days. This includes opening and maintaining shelters and feeding disaster victims.
It is the local chapter’s responsibility to establish a relief effort before assistance arrives from other Red Cross chapters within North Carolina and across the country.
The chapter also maintains a group of volunteers who have received special training and have made a commitment to respond to disasters outside the area. These volunteers are part of the national American Red Cross system that helps other chapters in times of need. Recently local volunteers have responded to the events of Sept. 11 in New York City and in Washington, D.C.
A schedule of classes to train new volunteers is as follows:
n Introduction to Disaster Services, Feb. 19, 6-9 p.m. This is a prerequisite for all other Disaster Services classes.
n Mass Care: An Overview, Feb. 26, 6-9 p.m.
n Damage Assessment, March 6, 6-9 p.m.
n Shelter Operations, March 9, 9 a.m. to noon.
n Family Services: Providing Emergency Assistance, March 19 and 26, 6-9 p.m. Participants must attend both classes.
All classes are held at the Moore County Chapter house, 244 South West Broad St. in Southern Pines. All disaster services training is free, but pre-registration is required. To register, please call the chapter at 692-8571.
