Training American Red Cross volunteers and employees on how to respond before, during and following a disaster event is a critical part of disaster planning. It is essential that emergency response teams know their roles inside and out. Last week, the Red Cross of Colorado and Wyoming held a Specialty Vehicle Service Delivery workshop to do just that – prepare for disaster.
Eric Oubre, Senior Disaster Program Manager, proudly explained that dedicated volunteers came from across our two state region to train. Linda Bisset, Specialty Vehicle Program Lead, reported that 22 emergency response vehicles (ERV) trainees attended the workshop. Five Red Crossers attended to audit the workshop so they could hold the workshop at their own home chapters.
“This workshop was developed specifically for our region so that our drivers will know what to expect the first time they deploy to a disaster response operation (DRO) for feeding or distribution of emergency supplies in one of our region’s six specialty vehicles,” said Linda.
Emergency response vehicles play a critical role in Red Cross DROs. The iconic branded vehicles deliver more than just food and relief supplies, they also deliver hope, often arriving as one of the first signs of relief in hard hit areas. They provide ample room for supplies and are easily transformed from day-to-day local emergency responses, to hauling supplies for a larger disaster.
“These vehicles and the amazing volunteers operating them are able to go out into the community and provide care and compassion following a disaster,” said Eric.
Families in our community are facing another active wildfire season, as the effects of climate change continue to mount a devastating toll. As climate disasters increase, more people are depending on the Red Cross for shelter and emergency assistance. But we can’t do it alone — we need your help to join our team of volunteers. If you’d like more information about how you can get involved, visit our website.