0409 Newsletter

April 2009 Volume 1, Issue 8

American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, 441 East 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202

Red Cross Feeding Fargo Volunteers Around the Clock (article from www.redcross.org)

Monday, March 30, 2009 — The American Red Cross has shifted to a 24-7 feeding effort supporting the volunteers carefully watching North Dakota and Minnesota levees. This makes the 11th day that Red Cross workers have been on the scene feeding and supplying the city of Fargo as residents battle the Red River. The Red Cross will continue photo credit: Virginia Hart / American Red Cross feeding and sheltering efforts for as long as needed. At press time, more than 42,500 meals and 120,600 snacks have been served and 39 Emergency Response Vehicles (ERVs), staffed with more than 500 Red Cross workers and volunteers, have been involved in the relief effort.

www.redcross-indy.org

317-684-1441

Greater Indianapolis Red Cross ERV and Volunteers Sent to North Dakota

T

he Greater Indianapolis Red Cross is providing help and support to those fighting the flood waters of the Red River in North Dakota. The American Red Cross ERV (Emergency Response Vehicle), driven by volunteers Frank Kominowski and Jan Ferland, was deployed on March 24th to deliver supplies and meals wherever they are needed. Seven other volunteers, Lori Burts, Jennifer Jansen, and brothers, Steve and Bob Wolfe of Indianapolis; Steven Schiller of Carmel; Pamela Harr of Frankfort; and Mary Jo Lowe of Nineveh were sent out to help operate the shelters opened to offer a warm, safe, and dry place for people to stay. The tenth Greater Indianapolis volunteer, Rodney Smith of Carmel will join a Disaster Assessment team.

Sandbags at the FargoDome in Fargo, ND.

Unfortunately, Mother Nature may bring additional bad weather to the Fargo area in the form of a blizzard with high winds and as many as 14 inches of snow. Although Red River levels are falling, they are still more than 20 feet above flood level. According to local news reports, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers is concerned that the storm’s high winds may cause river waves to smash against the sandbag levees, causing them to weaken. The Red Cross is working closely with state and local officials on plans to shelter evacuees should the levees fail. Residents are being asked to stay off the streets and schools remain closed. “We need to get through this storm and have some confidence in the river levels before the city lets down its guard,” said Fargo’s mayor, Dennis Walaker.

Volunteering Is a Family Affair

F

or brothers Steve and Robert Wolfe, the Red River flood is not the first national disaster they’ve volunteered for, but it is the first disaster they’ve volunteered in the same Red Cross shelter. The volunteers from the Greater Indianapolis Chapter of the American Red Cross have volunteered for three other national disasters in recent years but haven’t had the opportunity to work together until now. “While you develop great relationships with other volunteers, it’s nice to have your brother to lean on too,” said Robert. “It’s another level of unconditional support.”

Emergency Services Newsletter

2

Greetings from the FBCI Corner… By Jillian Luttrell

The FBCI Goes Live!

M

arch has been a very busy – and rewarding – month for the Faith-Based Community Initiative.

First, Justin Gray and I presented our program at the Indiana State Disaster Services meeting. We explained what the FBCI is, how it functions, and how each chapter can start their own FBCI program. To provide extra support, we offered to travel to any chapter and work with them to start their own program. This meeting gave us the chance to display the many benefits of forging active partnerships with faith-based agencies. We were able to share not only the work that we have done but also the work our partners have done with Red Cross representatives from all over the state! March also marked the successful completion of our first MOCK DISASTER DRILL! The Mock Disaster Drill is an exercise in which Action Teams open and operate their facility as if they were really being activated as a Red Cross shelter. Fellow congregants and community members act as clients or other characters throughout the exercise. The Action Team must register and care for these “clients” and learn the best ways to deal with whatever situation may arise. Dormitory workers set up cots.

Justin and I knew from the beginning of our service that the Mock Disaster would be a major component of the FBCI program. We spent many hours researching, brainstorming, writing, revising, and finally producing a complete mock disaster drill. The next step was actually implementing it. We set March 14th as D-Day and contacted Shelbyville Community Church about participating. They were very enthusiastic and ready to go, so our next step was to secure a shelter manager, all of the necessary material resources, and, of course, lunch! On behalf of the FBCI team, we would like to congratulate Shelbyville Community Church on a job well done! SCC has been a very motivated partner that has put a lot of planning and thought into their shelter plan. All of their hard work was very evident the day of the drill. SCC’s Action Team had the shelter organized and was ready to accept clients within a half hour. Despite the various problems that arose, the Action Team was able to deal skillfully with each situation. It was a very educational experience on both Action Team Members explain Red Cross shelter rules to a “local reporter.” sides, and proved that SCC will be more than ready to operate their church as a Red Cross shelter if needed. Justin and I have been working on the Mock Disaster since we started and both view it as the fullest realization of the FBCI partnership. It allows our partners to utilize and apply their training at the ground level. Although disasters can be rare in our area, it is important that our partners stay active in disaster response and are well-prepared to open their facilities as Red Cross shelters. We hope to make the Mock Disaster Drill a regular, annual exercise for each of our FBCI partners. To see more photos of Shelbyville Community Church in action, check out the FBCI blog: www.rcfbci.blogspot.com. There are two more drills coming up in May, so stay tuned to the blog for more news!

Service Center Manager Mike Riley observes the shelter set-up.

Emergency Services Newsletter

3

Volunteer Spotlight: Russell and Lin Lopez by Adam Ansari

T

his month we decided to spotlight two volunteers who have been volunteering with the Red Cross for several years. Many of you have probably met these individuals in a class, in the office, or in an emergency service setting. They both have worked tirelessly in their efforts to improve the Red Cross and I am so excited to be sitting down with them both. Their names are Russell and Lin Lopez and they are the Chapter’s Disaster Assessment leads. Both Russell and Lin have helped out with a number of different disasters around the community and thankfully always seem to be there when danger calls. Their efforts have been described by Kadi Best as being “irreplaceable” and I know several other staff members feel similarly. I sat down with both of them this week and asked them a few questions. I hope that you learn more about Russell and Lin and are encouraged in your own Red Cross service. ES Newsletter: So, how did you two first get involved with the Red Cross? Russ: When I was a young person, early teens, I lived in West Virginia and I volunteered with the local volunteer fire department. However, when I grew up and as I started a family I got away from those things. Years later, I found myself in Indianapolis working out of Fort Harrison about the time of September 11th, and what happened was that my whole view kind of changed. All of a sudden I realized I used to be more involved in the community and there was nothing really holding me back from volunteering. After that I sort of started looking around for an organization that would make best use of my time and make best use of the community’s resources. And so looking around, I felt the Red Cross did an excellent job in both regards. Lin: Ha-ha, well I actually got involved because of this guy, so his story kind of sums it up. ES: What do you like most about volunteering? Lin: Basically, I feel like I’m making a contribution towards society. Russ: For me, I think it’s the satisfaction of being able to contribute to the community in some way. Different people do it in different ways; depends on your age, depends on your economic status. If you have a young family or if you’re a college student, you’re pretty limited for resources that sort of thing, but as you get older or if your situation changes then this is an excellent way of giving back to the community.

ES: What is one of your most memorable experiences at the Red Cross? Russ: Not long ago, we had a tornado that struck a rather densely populated area of Indianapolis and it hit an area of town in which the residents do not necessarily have a lot of financial resources. It was interesting because each apartment complex that we visited had a barrier and one police car in front of it; except for this one complex which had two police cars and two barriers, which I thought was interesting. So we pulled up and we introduced ourselves to the officer. I told him why we were there and that we wanted to do disaster assessment on this area. He said, “Are you really sure you want to do that?” I said, “Yea that is our job and what we are supposed to do.” He then replied, “This area has the highest crime rate in the city, are you sure you want to go back there? I won’t even go back there.” I simply replied to that, “Yes, I don’t know if you notice or not, but we are wearing different uniforms. I don’t wear a gun and I’m not here to threaten or take anyone away. I’m here to provide assistance.” So we drove back into this apartment complex and we drove around for a bit and as we were coming in we passed an elderly lady and a younger girl, grandmother and granddaughter probably. She had a look of bewilderment on her face, so we stopped and asked her if we could do anything to help. She then explained that the police won’t let her leave the area. She also said that they can’t stay at their place because the walls have been blown in and she didn’t know where to go. She was kind of in a state of shock; if your home was totally destroyed you might be very upset by that also. I then asked if she has any relatives in the area and if she could possibly stay with any of them. She said yes, and I gave her my cell phone to talk to her daughter. She talked to her daughter and was able to arrange for her daughter to pick her up. After that we gave her some more information about the Red Cross and what the organization could do to possibility help out in the future. What I think about, is that I’m not really sure what would have happened to the lady and her granddaughter had someone not come by and talked with her; she may have walked back and forth all night and not known what to do. So in the end, I felt we were able to do a good thing for these two individuals and I’m not really sure they would have gotten the service from the community had we not been there.

(cont. on page 4)

Emergency Services Newsletter

4

(cont. from page 3)

ES: Wow, four different disciplines that is crazy. Alright, last question, if you could give one piece of advice to new volunES: Wow that is a great story. Moving in a more lighthearted teers, what would it be? direction; what is your favorite book or movie? Lin: Try everything once. There is a lot of work to do and Lin: It would be a work of fiction; it would probably be the surely in there, there is something that you are going to like. entire Lord of the Rings series/Hobbit series. I had read them Training may seem to take forever to do but it is worth it. ages ago before the movies came out and when the movies Even the most basic classes give you a good feel for what you came out I obviously had to watch them. are trying to accomplish. Russ: I actually began listening to the Lord of the Rings series on disk after Lin had mentioned it a few times, and I ended up getting sort of interested in the story too. Instead of listening to the same forty songs over and over, I began listening to the books on car rides.

ES: What might your fellow Red Cross volunteers be surprised to know about you? Russ: I think people would be surprised that when I was a youth, I actually did a large amount of martial arts training and I am a black belt in four different disciplines; Judo, Karate, Iado, and Kendo.

Russ: Explore the Red Cross. The Red Cross has many different avenues, many different ways that people can serve. I am sure that whoever you are, you are likely to find some particular avenue that you are comfortable with, that gives you satisfaction. The Red Cross is more than one particular function. So, I would encourage them to explore different activities and find the activity that brings them the most satisfaction. In the end, that activity will probably be the place where they do the most good for themselves and the clients. Thank you, Russell and Lin, for your dedication and excellent service to the Red Cross!

Lin: I don’t think there is anything that people would be really surprised by me. I think people really get a feel for who I am when first meeting me.

DRO Certificates of Appreciation Have Gone Green

Service to Armed Forces Update By Sheila Conrad

By Debbie Taylor

B

eginning this calendar year, the Disaster Operations Human Resources unit is using electronic certificates of appreciation for all Level III and higher operations. The new certificates were used on the first five Level III and above disaster relief operations of calendar year 2009, resulting in a cost savings of over $4,200. Based on feedback from over 100 individuals receiving the first 1,100 certificates, recipients strongly favor this method by a ratio of 8 to 1. Electronic certificates will be sent to all DSHR members and local staff registered in DROMIS Staffing on disaster relief operations with viable email addresses. The affected chapter’s Staff Services person will also be emailed a template which enables local partners, vendors, and staff without email addresses to be individually recognized.

T

he month of March has been a busy one for the Service to Armed Forces. We have done 5 financial cases and so far 100 communications. There is still a need for caseworkers who can help one morning or day a week. I am also looking for volunteers to help pass out brochures at different events; no real training needed, just a smiling face and a willingness to help. Call Sheila Conrad at 317-684-4322 if you can help. A special thanks to Diane Nelson-Roberts for doing the Coping with Deployment class for the Shelbyville Family Readiness Group. The reviews were great!

Emergency Services Newsletter

5

The Day Isn’t Done Until the Paperwork Is Complete (and Turned In)! By Chris Gilbert

A

s trained Red Cross workers, we do a really good job at providing assistance to those in need after a disaster. Already this year Red Cross chapters across the state have responded to and provided assistance during a major winter storm, tornadoes, and flooding. This is in addition to the house and apartment fires that we respond to every day.

Mass Care - General F 5266SMC – Disaster Operations Control, Mass Care Worksheet. Excel-based form that gets sent to OM/FSI to fill in the 5266. F 6454 – Mass Care Daily Operations Report. Excel-based form for keeping all the Mass Care daily numbers.

To be at our best for the coming year, it’s time to review the paperwork that goes along with the jobs and functions that we do. Everyone should take some time to review training mate- Feeding rial, forms, and other documents for your areas of interest and F 5972 – Mass Care Mobile Feeding Unit Daily Activity Rereview the forms and how they are filled out. Still have quesport. Excel-based form that can also be printed and tions? Feel free to sign up for a class, even if you’ve had it used in the field. before! Shelter Operations Properly filled-out paperwork helps paint a complete picture of what you are doing for others, the assistance needed, and F 6564 – Shelter Facility Survey. Opening a new shelter? the assistance given. Operations Management uses the inforYou’ll need this form. mation to develop assistance methods and budgets, Fund Raising uses it to tell our story to the public, Partner Services F 5972 – Shelter Registration Form. Clients fill out this form when staying at a shelter. Also available in Spanish uses it to keep our partners informed, and much much more. (F 5972S). Below is a list of the most common forms used at the start of a National Shelter System. Not a form but a web-based shelter disaster. Review the list and find the forms most commonly population reporting system. This is the system of used for your function and take some time to review them. record for shelter data in the American Red Cross. These forms and a complete list can be found by going to Online training can be found online at CrossNet (crossnet.redcross.org) and clicking on Forms in the nss.communityos.org. top menu bar. General

Operations / Financial & Statistical Information

F 5266 – Disaster Operations Control. Excel based because it needs to be. Using Excel will keep your total from day to day and other things. Other forms, such as the Daily Narrative Situation Report. Numbers don’t always paint F 5266MS, help gather information for this form. a complete picture of what’s going on or what you This form depends on information gathered on many plan to do in your function. This report is a critical other forms to complete. part of relaying that information. F 5266D – Disaster Operations Control, Line-by-Line InDisaster Assessment (DA) structions. Instructions for the F5266 and a must have for the inexperienced 5266 user. F 5233 – Damage Assessment Summary Sheet. Excel-based form used for the PDA and to sum up the 5739s for a F 2066 - Statistical and Cost Report of Disaster Operation DDA. Instructions for using the form are on the first Material Support Service (MSS) tab; different variations of the 5233 are on the following tabs. Using the form in Excel will calculate totals for you. There is a blank printable copy on one F 5266MS – Disaster Operations Control, Logistics Worksheet. Excel-based form that gets sent to OM/FSI to of the tabs if needed. fill in the 5266. F 5739 – On-Site Detailed Damage Assessment Sheet. Don’t F 6455 – Resource Record. This is where information regardmiss any applicable blanks! Remember, you are ing In-Kind donations and other resources is repainting a picture for others. corded.

F 6409 – Disaster Requisition. The form that gets stuff for you to do your job!

Emergency Services Newsletter

6

Red Cross Links and Resources Preparing for floods. What you need to know. http://www.redcross.org/portal/site/en/menuitem.53fabf6cc033f17a2b1ecfbf43181aa0/? vgnextoid=a3871c99b5ccb110VgnVCM10000089f0870aRCRD

Red Cross/Fargo flooding updates on Flickr. http://www.flickr.com/photos/americanredcross/

Curious about the history of declared disasters? Check out FEMA’s website. http://www.fema.gov/news/disaster_totals_annual.fema

Brooding sky as rain approaches. Shot from the ARC front courtyard facing west on 3/31/09. Photo by Teresa Cummings

Emergency Services Newsletter Johnson County Service Center Welcomes Two New Volunteers

T

By Stefanie Davis

he Johnson County Service Center would like to welcome two new volunteers.

Dianna Jennings has joined the Red Cross in Morgan County. She is helping at the Morgan County office on Thursdays, and will begin volunteering with the Disaster Action Team for the southern half of Morgan County beginning in April. We would also like to welcome a new volunteer to our Shelby County team. Gordon Craig will be volunteering with the Shelby County Disaster Action Team. We all send our warmest welcome to Dianna and Gordon, and hope that they enjoy their volunteer experiences with the Red Cross.

ARCGI Emergency Services Newsletter

7 Drivers Needed in Morgan County By Stefanie Davis

T

he Morgan County office offers a transportation program to assist persons in Morgan County who need to get to medical appointments, but do not have transportation. With the strains that the economy is putting on individual and family finances, the Morgan County office is seeing an increase in the need for their transportation services. If any current volunteers would like to volunteer or know someone else who may want to get involved with the Morgan County Transportation Program, they may call Stefanie at the Johnson County office at (317) 736-0650. We can always use extra volunteers to help drive residents to their doctor’s appointments.

Have a Submission for the Newsletter?

Published by our Emergency Services Volunteer Newsletter Team Jenny Davidson and ES Staff

Send to [email protected]