0808 Newsletter

September 2008 Volume 1, Issue 2

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

www.redcross-indy.org

317-684-1441

Debbie’s Corner

DSHR News

here are not enough words to express my sincere thanks to all of you who worked so hard during the May tornados and June flooding. From the beginning when the tornados hit on May 30, the response and support was unbelievable. There is no doubt that the Red Cross made a tremendous impact on the lives of those affected and that your work has aided in their recovery and well being. This was the largest disaster in our Chapter/State history and the 228 Greater Indianapolis volunteers and chapter staff supporting the relief effort played a big part in generating these astonishing numbers:

By Kadi Best

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Cases Opened Clients Served through

3,505 10,013

Client Services Health Services Contacts

4,599

Mental Health Contacts

4,742

Persons Given Training

553

Shelter Registrations

1,390

Meals Served

42,928

Snacks Served

95,873

Bulk Items Distributed to

191,561

Clients

Going forward we hope to build on this experience by getting more people trained and involved in all aspects of the relief operation. The Emergency Department and the County Management Staff will continue to work with volunteers on an individual basis and with each of the groups/activities. FY 07-08 was a history-making year with a record 652 cases and 1,972 people served. In addition, on June 30 (last day of the fiscal year) we responded to the International Village apartment fire (DR 028-08) with 22 units and 66 individuals affected. I have to express my appreciation to all DAT members throughout our jurisdiction for the fantastic work you did throughout the year! Thanks again, everyone!

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ow, what a ride we’ve had so far this year! In just the first six months we had 6 large DRs and 3 of them were in our own state! Thanks to all of you who have been responding to my emails with your availability. When recruitment callouts come, knowing who is available speeds up the process of getting more of you assigned. I have been noticing a trend in the DR callouts. The number of requests for Mass Care workers (sheltering, feeding, bulk distribution) has been steadily dropping. Chapters around the country have been encouraged to ramp up their volunteer base for Mass Care. Chapters are heeding that call, ours included. Not only is it a cost savings for National (fewer volunteers needing deployed), it speeds up the response capacities within the community when disaster strikes. Ours included. That was evident by our own awesome rapid response to our recent floods. Within hours of when the flooding began, local volunteers around the state opened and staffed 11 shelters while rescues were still being done. Because of our local volunteers, we had to request minimal Mass Care support from National. What I am seeing increasing are requests for Damage Assessment, MSS, and RT activities. This is another excellent reason to train in all Groups and Activities. The more training and skills, the higher the chance of getting out there to serve. Check out the course schedule. There are many new trainings you can do on-line. In 2007, the average assignment length on a DR was 12 days. In 2008, it is up to 15 days. Still that is less than 3 weeks. Subsequently, the 3-week commitment requirement has been dropped. Now the time commitment will be dependent on each DR, allowing more flexibility. When considering your availability, plan for the average of 15 days. I want to thank all of you who responded to our own tornado and flood disasters. YOU ARE GREAT! ATTENTION ERV DRIVERS: ALL drivers are required to be current in Adult CPR and First Aid. If you have current cards, please send me a copy for your file. Contact Teresa Cummings at 684-4327 for registration instructions for online training.

Emergency Services Newsletter

2 Volunteer Spotlight:

Marion Harcourt Disaster Mental Health Volunteer Named Indiana Social Worker of the Year

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n 1995, Marion Harcourt completed the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health course and was the first Disaster Mental Health volunteer for the Greater Indianapolis Chapter. That same year a tornado hit Cumberland, Indiana, and Marion was one of the first Red Cross workers to the scene.

Marion has ridden a ferry across the Hudson River with grieving families from 9/11. She also has been an active DAT member for years, filling both the client services and mental health roles. She has worked in Red Cross shelters, most recently taking the night shift at the Martinsville shelter. After the June 2008 flooding, she worked in client service centers and walked neighborhoods devastated by tornados or floods. Her compassion and selflessness is inspiring to all who come into contact with her. As a member of the Red Cross Disaster Mental Health Leadership Team, Marion developed the protocol for the mental health response to an air disaster in the Indianapolis area, and she is the local lead for coordinating mental health support following an aviation disaster. She is a Red Cross instructor, the first to teach the “Psychological First Aid” course for the chapter. It was after her retirement as a social worker that Marion became involved with Red Cross. She had worked professionally helping children and families at the Marion County Health Department and then Midtown Mental Health Center. She continues to use her professional skills and experience as a Disaster Mental Health Volunteer. This year Marion has been recognized by the Indiana Chapter of the National Association of Social Workers as the Social Worker of the year. We congratulate her on this achievement. We thank her for all she has contributed as a Red Cross volunteer. As she celebrates her 80th birthday in 2008, we wish her Happy Birthday.

Lucky Red By JoAnna Castle & Heather Starr

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t was your typical day at the State Fair. We had handed out our share of bandages and dealt with skinned knees. To break up the monotony of the day, we made our way to the birthing center for the cows to watch a birth. We had been waiting on “Hannah Montana” to deliver all day. We had just left about 20 minutes earlier to take a break. Upon our arrival back at the birthing center, she had begun pushing. One hoof was out, but she was not progressing. After some time, Rich, the manager of the birthing center, decided it was time to give Hannah some assistance. They hooked the chains around the hoof. After a lot of pulling, and with the assistance of three others, here came the calf. Heather and I were watching from the fence line, and we were so excited. We had been waiting on this all day. But, as we continued to watch, we realized things were not as they should have been. We saw Rich attempting to stimulate the calf. The delivery had been so difficult that the calf was likely going to die. We watched for several intense moments thinking this cannot happen; we cannot just stand here. Heather told one of the ladies working there that we had oxygen and equipment if they wanted it. The next thing I knew I was running to our cart, grabbing our bags, and we were in the pen with Hannah and her calf. There was a faint heartbeat, but he was not breathing. We hooked him up to a non-rebreather and some high-flow oxygen, but it just wasn’t enough to expand his lungs. We decided to use a bag-valve-mask. After a few minutes, things slowly started to progress and the calf started to get color to his eyes. His heartbeat became stronger; he started to move his head around some. Heather and I couldn’t believe it. We were both in tears. We just saved this baby. It was such a joyous moment. We had this amazing situation that we had literally walked into. At 3:15 on this day “Lucky Red” came into the world. He was our baby. We spent the next several days visiting our “boy.” We became regulars there at the birthing center. He was our pride and joy.

Emergency Services Newsletter

DVMT (Disaster Volunteer Management Team)

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Volunteers: Mark Your Calendars for This Event!

September Update

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any of the ‘process’ activities being conducted by the DVMT were put on hold for 6 weeks as everyone was part of the Relief Operation for DR 81608. And what an experience it was to work with so many of you to help those in need of our assistance and compassion. Our people are simply the best. That means YOU, the Volunteers, who make the Red Cross what we are. We’ve been very busy the past few weeks updating and adding additional training classes. We have increased our new volunteers pending list (those potential disaster services volunteers going through the disaster services training and being matched with assignments) by 400% since January. We have over 500 potential new volunteers! One of the lessons learned from Staffing Activity in the recent disaster was that as a Chapter we need increased capacity building - particularly in the DSHR areas of (DA)-Disaster Assessment; (SS)-Staffing; (FSI)-Financial & Statistical Information Management; (SH)-Shelter Management & Teams; and (PS)Partner Services.

Volunteer Recognition

We are currently looking for qualified volunteers who are interested in a lead or member role in these group/ activities.

September 18, 2008

Please contact Vicki Ingersoll ([email protected]) or Kate Ayers ([email protected]), or give us a call at 684-4329 for more information.

6:30 pm

Also check out the new training schedule for upcoming class dates and prerequisites for:

Conseco Fieldhouse

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Collaborating to Ensure Effective Service Delivery

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Supervision on Disaster Assignment

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Fundamentals of Disaster Assessment

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Supervision in Disaster

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Emergency Operations Center/Incident Command Liaison

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Fundamentals of Disaster Operations Management

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Service Delivery Site Management

Please register online at www.redcross-indy.org or contact Terese Cummings at [email protected] or at 684-4327 for more information.

ARCGI Emergency Services Newsletter Composed and published by our Disaster Volunteer Newsletter Team Jenny Davidson, Brian Thomason, Cindi Moon

Emergency Services Newsletter

4

Attention Red Cross Nurses! By Kate Ayers

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n 1909, the Nurse Enrollment Program began as a way to recruit and build up a reserve of nurses. During World War I and World War II, the program fulfilled this role and thousands of American Red Cross nurses excelled in their call to service. Today, the program is still in place to honor nurses who demonstrate outstanding voluntary service and dedication to the Red Cross. When the program began, Nursing Pioneer Jane Delano created the tradition of the Red Cross Nurse Pin. Jane Delano’s pin was Jane Delano number 1, and each enrolled nurse receives a unique pin with an individualized, engraved number. Join a century-old tradition and show your Red Cross pride by ordering your Nurse Pin at no cost to you! Eligibility: You must be a registered nurse, licensed practical nurse, or licensed vocational nurse who is currently licensed and has given at least 20 hours of volunteer service to the American Red Cross. If you are a student nurse, you must have given at least 10 hours of service. Pins are engraved to show whether you are an RN, LPN, LVN, or student nurse. To enroll and receive your pin, contact Kate Ayers at [email protected]

For more information about the Nurse Enrollment Program, go to http://www.redcross.org/services/ nursing/0,1082,0_389_,00.html

FBCI Program Off and Running! By Jillian Luttrell

The Faith-Based Community Initiative (FBCI) of the Red Cross is off to a strong start. The FBCI is a program designed to build stronger partnerships between the Red Cross and the area faith-based community. FBCI partners form their own Action Teams who undergo Red Cross Training. The presence of a trained Action Team allows for the partner site to act as a self-staffed shelter in an emergency. Congregants will be responsible for opening their facility as a shelter and providing the bulk of the volunteer base while their facility is acting as a shelter. VISTA Thelma Slisher began working on the program in the late spring, developing contacts in Johnson, Shelby, and Morgan County. VISTAs Justin Gray and Jillian Luttrell came on board in late June and have focused not only on cultivating the work Thelma has already done, but also documenting and codifying the FBCI process to ensure uniformity and sustainability. In the past two months, this team of FBCI coordinators has worked to produce a manual that will be a written guide for the program. Furthermore, they have continued training churches in the program. To date, three more churches have become FBCI partners: Plainfield Christian Church, First Church of the Nazarene, and Traders Point Christian Church. The FBCI coordinators are also very active in making new contacts and seeking new partners in Marion County and the surrounding “donut” counties. They are currently creating a database that will provide an electronic record of their partners, and they are also working on a Mock Disaster Drill. The Mock Disaster will be a way to keep church Action Teams energized by giving them a chance to practice their skills and turn their training into a reality.

Have a Submission for the Newsletter? Send to [email protected] by the 20th of each month. Newsletters are published monthly.

Emergency Services Newsletter

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Who Are Those VISTAs? By Emily Kubiszewski

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n July of 2007 the American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis started its first VISTA and has been joined by

many more since. Over the past year VISTA members have made a powerful impact and they continue to do so. Not quite staff, but rather very unique volunteers, VISTA members commit to a year of service and are assigned full time to organiza“Your pay will be low; the conditions tions that serve those in need. of your labor often will be difficult. AmeriCorps*VISTA or “Volunteers in Service to America” was But you will have the satisfaction of established as the domestic Peace Corps over forty years ago. leading a great national effort and VISTA volunteers work behind the scenes in non-profit organizations building their capacity to fulfill their mission. Members use you will have the ultimate reward their life and professional experience to practice citizenship at its which comes to those who serve their highest level, by serving other Americans. By living and working fellow man.” in the community they serve, VISTA members leave behind lasting solutions to some of our country’s toughest problems. With —President Lyndon B. Johnson passion, talent, and dedication to the mission, VISTA members are implementing new ideas and enhancing the American Red Cross’s ability to help communities prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.

Available VISTA Positions: •

Indianapolis-Disaster Volunteer Coordination

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Indianapolis-VISTA Leader (Must have completed one year as a VISTA member)

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Hamilton County-Community Outreach

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Tippecanoe County-Fundraising and Outreach

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Fort Wayne-Volunteer Coordination

Benefits include: a modest subsistence allowance; choice of $1,200 cash stipend or $4,725 education award upon successful completion; personal and sick leave; a free medical benefit; non-compete status for federal employment; a unique and rewarding experience.

Emergency Services Newsletter

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Helping Others Serve Others By Vicki Ingersoll

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n June, the State of Indiana experienced one of biggest natural disasters of our history. I witnessed so much compassion and commitment from everyone – individuals, young and old from all walks of life, organizations, businesses big and small, and agencies all pulling together to help our friends and neighbors. I am so proud to be an American and a Hoosier! Most people naturally want to be in the front lines – helping those in need. And like most people, I have always thought of the Red Cross when I think of disaster response. Little did I really know all that is required to perform the services that the American Red Cross delivers to those affected by disaster – not only day to day assistance for typical smaller disasters like single or multi-families house fires – I’m talking about the “infrastructure” and skills required for the really big ones. Let me regress a moment to set the stage….. With over 30 years’ experience in technology, business, and management, I had taken early retirement from Corporate America in 2006. I also had previously taken a sabbatical from 2001 - 2003 to serve 28 months in the Peace Corps Volunteer in the business development program in Ukraine. So I have years of experience in capacity building and sustainability in the business and international non-government agency environments. After spending a little over a year in retirement, I decided that I needed to reach out again to fulfill my passion of serving others. I immediately thought of VISTA, viewed as the ‘domestic version’ of the Peace Corps, so that’s when I applied for the VISTA volunteer position in Emergency Services. I was excited about gaining experience in and helping our domestic non-profit community in eradicating poverty in our own country. FAST FORWARD to 2:25 a.m. May 31st when I received the call that a tornado touched down in eastern Marion County. A level 3 Disaster Relief Operation (DRO) was initiated and supported immediately by our Chapter. A shelter was opened and volunteers were deployed to meet the immediate needs of those affected by the tornado. Local and regional volunteers were recruited based on their training and/or expertise for damage assessment, mobile feeding, sheltering, bulk distribution, client casework, health services, mental health services, public affairs, fundraising, etc. Even with a few hundred volunteers working, that first week seemed manageable from my perspective. But Mother Nature was not yet finished with us – the violent storms the next week created a dire emergency situation with flooding affecting 44 counties in the State of Indiana. The Disaster Relief Operation was quickly elevated to a level 4, and then a 5! This was now a major level disaster, probably the worst ever in the State, requiring full implementation of disaster operations infrastructure. I was fortunate to have participated and witnessed it from a bigger picture infrastructure perspective; to really understand how ARC responds to a large disaster. Just as important, is the lessons learned that can help our Chapter and other State Chapters better prepare and respond, even if we aren’t able to prevent these devastating disasters from occurring. For me, this experience and my insights validated the work that I am doing with Disaster Volunteer Management and the contribution I am making. The need to better recruit, match, train, support, recognize, and retain all kinds of wonderful volunteers with diverse knowledge, expertise, skills, and desires to serve others in all kinds of capacities. I got to be a part of a total of 1,247 staff and volunteers deployed from all over the country to this DRO. Before the operation was over, a total of 9,867 clients were served; 4,137 clients were sheltered; 42,613 meals and 94,185 snacks were served. And not since Katrina had so many spontaneous volunteers come forth. As a Baby Boomer, I grew up inspired by President Kennedy and his famous words: “Ask not what your country can do for you – ask what you can do for your country” – and what better way to give back to my country and to my community than to help others to serve others?

Emergency Services Newsletter

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Trial by Fire (or Tornado and Floods) Orientation By Kate Ayers

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started my AmeriCorps*VISTA term at the American Red Cross by working on a disaster (also known as a DRO). For the first five weeks of my term, until July 7, my training and job description were put on hold while I worked alongside Red Cross staff and volunteers. After the storms the second weekend in June, I had no idea what to expect upon my return to the office. When I got in on Monday morning, the atmosphere had drastically changed as the disaster response grew. Since I had virtually no training, I made myself useful doing various tasks around the office. I helped fellow VISTA, Vicki Ingersoll, with staffing volunteers. I also became the assistant to the Administrator of Client Services, Teresa Ellis. As the disaster grew, I became surrounded by a whirlwind of new names, faces, concepts, and especially acronyms and terms which make up a language that only a Red Crosser would know! A conversation between Teresa and me would go something like this: “Tell RTT we need 20 computers for CAS training.” “What’s RTT? And CAS?” When I found the RTT desk, a volunteer said: “You need a greenie.” “What’s a greenie?” “It’s a Disaster Requisition. It’s a white sheet.” Talk about confusing! To make the most of my experience, and to make myself feel as useful as possible, I decided to get better trained in client casework. One night, two wonderful volunteers stayed late to teach me how to fill out necessary paperwork. I also attended a latenight session with local volunteers to learn how to work on cases in the Client Assistance System (I learned what CAS was!). While my brain was being loaded more and more each day with new information (and acronyms), I was getting antsy. I jumped at the chance to go on disaster outreach, which involved visiting homes to do casework. While doing disaster outreach, I visited about ten homes. While out one day, we met a man who needed Red Cross assistance. Charlie (not his real name) was 79 and outside cutting the grass. We spoke with him outside of his mobile home, which was too damaged to enter, let alone live in. We filled out his paperwork and gave him a Client Assistance Card which he could use to buy food, groceries, and much needed clothes. Every activity in the Red Cross has the ultimate goal of serving people by providing emergency needs, but I feel lucky to have had the opportunity to do a little of the “feel good” work of personally delivering the assistance, even though it was just once. Over five weeks, I watched the national disaster grow significantly and then come to a finish. When I told fellow volunteers or staff that my Red Cross experience started on June 4, I got one of two reactions. They said either “that was really bad timing,” or “this was a great time for you to start.” At first, I agreed with the former. Eager to serve, I felt limited by my inexperience. I learned that it’s possible to feel both overwhelmed and antsy at the same time. In some ways, however, I think that my trial by fire (or tornado and floods) orientation will give me invaluable insight during the remainder of my VISTA term. From my inside view of the disaster, I learned the immense importance of communication, collaboration, and flexibility. Perhaps most important to my volunteer management position in Emergency Services will be my perspective of what volunteerism looks like in the Red Cross. I quickly gained a lot of respect for Red Cross volunteers. I was amazed at how knowledgeable they are and how much responsibility they have in a disaster situation. The Red Cross truly is “led by volunteers” as the mission states. As I look forward to a year of service, I am excited to work with an organization whose volunteers are competent and motivated, all with the same ultimate goal of serving people in need after disasters.