0508 Newsletter

E MERGENCY S ERVICES of Greater Indianapolis

NEWSLETTER

May, 2008 Volume 1, Issue 1

American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, 441 East Tenth St., Indianapolis, IN 46202 www.redcross-indy.org (317) 684-1441

Disaster Relief FY 2008

INSIDE THIS ISSUE

By Debbie Taylor

Disaster Relief and DSHR

1

DAT Information First Aid News Volunteer Development Opportunities

2 3 4

FEMA Training Offered

4

SAF- Service to Armed Forces News Volunteers Needed

5 5

This is a wonderful opportunity to express my appreciation to the emergency services volunteers of the Greater Indianapolis Chapter. To all of you who respond to fires, teach our classes, drive the ERV, help our neighbors throughout the state and the country, provide emergency messages and support to our armed forces, load the trucks, and give the hugs, THANK YOU! This year more and more people in our communities are being helped by our volunteers. At the time of this writing, 568 families have been assisted this fiscal year in all our counties. Normally, the chapter assists around 320 families per year. As you can see, there is a large increase in assistance. Thanks to all 162 DAT members and to their families for delivering Red Cross assistance all hours of the day/night.

In January, 27 Greater Indianapolis paid and volunteer staff traveled to help the Northern Indiana communities during some of the worst flooding ever in that area. Then in February, the floods came again, but this time both Northern and Southern Indiana were affected. This time, 42 Greater Indianapolis paid and volunteer staff members set up Headquarters right here in Indianapolis and supported all the chapters throughout the State with staff, stuff and guidance. Outstanding job, everyone!

DSHR Reminder By Kadi Best Reminder to all our DSHR Volunteers: You must enter your availability into the DSHR system as soon as possible. For assistance please contact Kadi Best at [email protected]

DSHR members: Susan Grisby, Larry Ross, Steve Wolfe, and Kadi Best with Client

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ARCGI ES News

Call To ACTION: Disaster Action Team Members Needed By Vicki Ingersoll

upon to respond during normal business hours.

We need additional DAT team members in Marion

Required training:

and ALL surrounding counties. As of January, we

•

Fulfilling Our Mission

have interviewed, trained, and placed 9 new DAT

•

Mass Care Overview

members.

•

Client Casework

•

DAT Orientation

As a member of DAT, you respond and are the

NOTICE

first to represent the Red Cross at the scene of disasters, mostly single-family fires. The DAT

Johnson County: Disaster Action Team Meeting

provides for the immediate emergency needs for

May 19, 2008, 7:00 PM at Franklin Office in the

clients, such as food, clothing, and shelter. DAT

Gateway Services Building, 3500 North Morton (US31).

members are on-call for after-hours coverage –

We will handout new individual DAT kits and discuss

5pm to 7:30 am weekdays and over weekends.

service issues. All current DAT members and aspiring members are encouraged to attend.

DAT members who are available, may be called

February DAT Team Meeting Recap By Debbie Taylor

The PysStart field triage quick reference tool from the

Sixty-six of our DAT team members and leaders

Psychological First Aid Training class was given out to

participated in the mandatory DAT Meeting in

assist you when you are responding to an emergency

February.

and when you need to contact the Disaster Mental Health worker immediately.

Seven ARCGI staff members led short sessions on DAT Manual updates, DAT lessons learned, Do’s and Don’ts reminders, and some exciting scenario exercises.

Remember that CAC’s and Hotel DO’s must be issued by Teresa Cummings during regular business hours. All of the other items included on the Checklist may be found in the DAT cabinet in the Emergency Services

The Volunteer Task Description for DAT team members and for the DAT Leaders was discussed and included in the DAT Manual.

Department. It is your responsibility to check your supplies and keep your DAT manual replenished and up-to-date.

“thanks for the very nice & informative recap of the recent meetings! the meetings were very helpful!!! it is so great to be associated with such caring and professional leaders and staff!!.” - Lee Braun Debbie Taylor, Emergency Services

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ARCGI ES News

What’s Going on in First Aid By Heather Starr As many of you may or may not know we have gotten the First Aid season off to a great start. In the months of February, March and April many volunteers spent their time at nine events and opened the Indianapolis Indians’ baseball season.

George Fields, Cheryl Lipman, Jim Orebaugh, Kim Orebaugh, Kim Douglas, Amy Cleveland (L to R)

In February we started the 500 Festival Training Series with the 5K run on Saturday, February 9th and

simultaneously, serving over 8,000 volunteers as

ended the month with the ever-popular Boat, Sport &

they are taking care of our city. Doubling up our

Travel Show. March brought out the second training

services on Armed Forces Day, May 17th, for the

run of the 500 Festival Training Series on Saturday,

Blue Star Salute to Armed Forces & their Families, we

the 1st. Then we all had the opportunity to enjoy the

will be out at O’Reilly Raceway Park in Speedway. On

festivities of St. Patrick’s Day with the 5K Run/Walk

the other side of the city at Conner Prairie the Civil

on the 15th and the Parade on the 17th. The saying

War Reenactment will be taking place through the

about “April Showers” held true, as at almost every

18th. Continuing with fun on the 18th the 500

one of the outside events we were rained on and it

Festival Kid’s Day & Rookie Run will be taking place

was cold. However, the volunteers persevered. April

down on the Circle. Wrapping up the end of the

12th & 13th brought those same volunteers great

month and the 500 Festival events, the 500 Festival

enjoyment. Out at the State Fairgrounds there were

Memorial Service will be held on Friday, May 23rd,

two days of great country artists and music at the

the 500 Festival Parade is Saturday, May 24th and the

HHGregg Country Music Expo. Next goes to show

running of the 92nd Indianapolis 500 starts at 1:00

how good some of the volunteers really are; that

pm on Sunday, May 25th.

same morning they got up extra early and worked the last of the 500 Festival Training Series, the 15K -

As you can see, your fellow volunteers keep very

cold, rain and all. What dedication! Rounding out the

busy during the year, see a lot of the city and have

middle and end of the month we have two

fun while doing it.

exceptional events that we are very proud to be a part of. April 19th brought over 50,000 entrants for

I cannot thank the First Aid Team enough for their

the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure and April 27th

hard work and dedication for the hours that they

we were also there to help those that walked for the

have committed so far this year and the hours they

homeless at the Homeward Bound 5K Walk.

will put in, in the coming months.

Is there anything else? We have only just begun!

Keep a look out for the upcoming calendar of events

You’ve heard of March Madness, well in First Aid, its

of ‘What’s Going on in First Aid’ and don’t forget

May Madness. On May 3rd we have the finale for

those Indians’ Games! I’ll see you all in the field

what everyone has been training for, the OneAmerica

soon. If you would like to join the First Aid team you

500 Festival Mini Marathon. Sunday, May 4th you can

should contact me at: hstarr@[email protected] .

join us for the Deaf School PTCO Day. We’ll show off more of the volunteers talents at a brand new event, Lilly Day of Service – Keeping Indiana Beautiful. They will be in three different major parts of the city

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ARCGI ES News

Volunteer development opportunities – Consider leadership Do you have a desire to get more involved? Disaster Services need more Activity Leaders. Please

current job tools and resources. Prerequisites: The basic or intermediate disaster training course for the activity in

consider getting prepared to help out in disaster

which the applicant expects to become a supervisor.

relief operations as a Supervisor. We offer two great

Experience as a worker in the activity in which the

training courses that will help you prepare for taking

applicant expects to become a supervisor

a leadership position in a disaster relief operation. Mass Care II training prepared Red Cross workers to These classes are only offered by demand and have

establish on a multi-chapter or national disaster relief

had to be cancelled at least twice in the past

operation so that client needs are met in a timely and cost-

because of interest / low enrollment. At least 10

effective manner. Prerequisites: Mass Care Overview, Shelter Operations and Simulation, Supervision in Disaster,

participants are required for each class.

and experience in the Mass Care on a disaster relief Supervision in Disaster training provides new

operation.

supervisors with the knowledge & skills required to competently perform their roles & responsibilities

Contact Terese Cummings or Vicki Ingersoll @ (317-684-4327

according to elevated expectations and using

for more information.

FEMA TRAINING FOR RED CROSS EMPLOYEES AND VOLUNTEERS INVOLVED IN DISASTER RESPONSE

Recently an announcement was made regarding Red Cross disaster workers completing courses from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA). These courses can be taken online and as independent study at no charge. FEMA offers many course options for emergency responders and relief workers through their Emergency Management Institute (EMI). Here are the suggested courses for all Red Cross employees and volunteers who have a direct role in disaster response: •

Introduction to Incident Command System (IS100)

•

ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents (IS-200)

•

National Incident Management System (NIMS), An Introduction (IS-700)

•

National Response Plan (NRP), An Introduction (IS-800)

In addition you may also find The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management (IS-288) an appropriate course to take among others specific to your role in disaster services. Once completed, you will receive a confirmation via email. You should provide a copy of the email to a member of the Emergency Services Department. Although compliance with NIMS is not mandated for Non-governmental Organizations (NGOs), adherence to NIMS procedures and terminology, and requiring staff with disaster related missions to take appropriate training will support the continued integration of NGOs into a our preparedness efforts. Your interaction with community partners, including your local emergency management agency and other responding agencies, will be enhanced with this recommended training. Here’s the URL for FEMA’s Independent Study Program: http://training.fema.gov/IS/crslist.asp

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ARCGI ES News

VOLUNTEERS NEEDED For the following positions

- DAT Team Members - DSHR administrative assistance - Newsletter editor - SAF (Service to Armed Forces)

Logan, honorary ARCGI DSHR wonder dog

News from SAF – Services to Armed Forces By Sheila Conrad From July 1, 2007 through March 31, 2008, American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis sent / received 955 messages for service members. Service members and retirees were helped with a total of 60 loans or grants in that same time frame. We’d like to extend a warm welcome to volunteers - Susan Cabian an,, our newest SAF Caseworkers. Grigsby and Jose Cabi an In April, we had presence at two events: April 5th – the American Legion Spring Conference ARCGI information booth volunteers Annette Clardy, Barbara Fearnow, and David Fearnow. April 12th – Indiana National Guard Family Days. Information booth volunteers were Carl Bischoff, Susan Grigsby, James Brown.

We’re on the Web! Visit us at: www.redcross-indy.org