The #1 disaster Red Cross responds to is a house fire. Disaster Response Volunteers (Disaster Action Team) train and respond to local communities immediately after a disaster. They provide emergency disaster assistance & hope to individuals and families affected by the disaster.
Responsibilities: Respond to local disasters when activated. Work on-scene with family immediately following the disaster. When activated, ability to respond immediately, often in personal vehicle. Provide disaster assistance as appropriate and outlined in the Response Guidelines. Work professionally with clients, first responders, and partner agencies. Attend regularly scheduled Disaster Cycle Services Volunteer meetings.
Time Commitment: In additional to regular meeting attendance, disasters happen day & night. Scheduling varies by geography. In Racine County, you will receive ongoing training and be contacted by our dispatch team when an incident occurs in your proximity. You will also be encouraged to volunteer in Milwaukee County, where due to a high volume of home fires, volunteers are asked to sign up for a 6 hour "on-call" shift at least 4 times per month. A disaster response itself can take 1-2 hours (on average).
Qualifications: Valid Wisconsin driver's license and good driving record. Availability to respond at a variety of hours with own transportation. Ability to respond to phone call in a timely manner. Strong empathy skills. Able to maintain confidentiality with client information. Open-mindedness and sensitivity to diversity. Enjoy work as a team member and ability to follow instructions. Basic computer & Internet skills. Provide clear, objective, documentation for case file. Comfortable working in stressful situations. Able to handle multiple tasks and assess incoming information quickly. Ability to lift & carry 25 pounds.
Length of Appointment: Minimum 6 month commitment
Requirements: Oriorientation the American Red Cross Online & Self Study training. Classroom training (local travel may be required to attend classroom based training) Assistance / Observation on the scene. One-on-one mentoring and support from current volunteers. Regular and consistent attendance at meetings and "on call" shifts.
TO APPLY: Redcross.org/Volunteer
