1. Community Events (Preparedness) Training Class
Welcome!
Community Events (Preparedness) Training Class

2. Who Are You?

3. Who is Red Cross?
The American Red Cross prevents and alleviates human suffering in the face of emergencies by mobilizing the power of volunteers and the generosity of donors.
We have more than 500 chapters in the U.S. and we are in nearly 200 countries (Red Crescent societies). More than 500,000 volunteers and 31,424 paid employees.

4. Clara Barton Founded the
5 Core Services
Services to the Armed Forces
Communication
Blood Services
Drives / Donations
Disaster Services
Prepare / Respond / Recover
Health & Safety Services
CPR/First Aid/AED, Pet First Aid, Babysitting, Aquatics
International Services
189 countries around the world
Clara Barton Founded the
American Red Cross May 21, 1881

5. Every 7.5 Minutes the Red Cross Responds to a Disaster
In 2011, that was 1 earthquake, 4 blizzards, 10 wildfires, 15 hurricanes, 27 floods, 29 tornadoes and nearly 70,000 home fires.
An average of 91 cents out of every dollar that you donate goes to fulfill our humanitarian mission.

6. What We Do Prepare Respond Recover Community outreach
Fire canvass events
Pillowcase Project
Respond
Food
Clothing
Shelter
Comfort
Care
Recover

7. On May 11, 2014 a EF2-EF3 tornado hit the towns of Sutton, Garland, Cordova, Daykin and Beaver Crossing.
Beaver Crossing took a direct hit with 90 mph winds, 103 homes were damaged in town and another 20 in rural areas.
1 shelter opened, 13 people sheltered, 65 volunteers on the job, 5 Emergency Response Vehicles

8. June 3, 2014 Storms

10. Pilger / NE Nebraska Tornadoes
Tragically two individuals lost their lives.
20 were hospitalized.
Staffed 2 local EOCs, plus the State EOC.
3 shelters were opened; one in Wakefield, Norfolk and Wayne.
127 well-trained disaster workers, 5 Emergency Response Vehicles.

12. What Should I Know?

13. Clara Barton Founded the
5 Core Services
Services to the Armed Forces
Communication
Blood Services
Drives / Donations
Disaster Services
Prepare / Respond / Recover
Health & Safety Services
CPR/First Aid/AED, Pet First Aid, Babysitting, Aquatics
International Services
189 countries around the world
Clara Barton Founded the
American Red Cross May 21, 1881 12 12

14. How People Can Help Make a financial gift to disaster relief
Donate blood or host a blood drive
Sponsor an employee giving or matching gift program
Donate ad space
Place a Red Cross banner on their website
Text “REDCROSS” to to make a donation
Become a Red Cross volunteer 13

15. How People Can Volunteer
Disaster Action Team
Ready When the Time Comes
Preparedness Volunteer
Pillowcase Project Presenter
Services to Armed Forces
Donate Blood
Take a Class, Save a Life, Become a Volunteer Instructor
Your personal profile through Volunteer Connection
Go to and click on “Volunteer” and scroll down to find your nearest chapter/office location to complete the online application. 14

16. What is Preparedness?

17. Prepare Like It’s 1999 Help yourself Help your neighbor
Peace of mind
Independence
Help your neighbor
Help your community
Build resilience
Focus on your job
Lessen the load on community resources
EMT’s 1 : 374
Firefighters 1 : 280
Red Crossers 1 : 660
Remember 1999? Spent the whole year preparing for the worst!
Can’t help others until you help yourself.
Knowing home and family are safe then you can focus on your community and in your case, your job. 16 16

18. Who Should Prepare Businesses Individuals/Families Ready Rating
Ready When the Time Comes
Individuals/Families
Get a kit
Make a plan
Be informed
Mobile apps
Home Fire Safety Plan
What happened after ALL that Y2K planning? Nothing! But we were prepared as well as having a plan for any other natural disaster to hit the power grid.
Despite that, did you have a plan then? Probably not! Do you have a plan now? Probably not! Why? Because it’s never going to happen to me!! 17 17

19. Get a Kit / Make a Plan Talk with your family Develop a plan
List of responsibilities
Meeting places
Evacuation routes
Pet plan
Safe & Well
Customize your kit for your family
Meet with your family or household members to discuss how to prepare and respond to emergencies.
Identify responsibilities for each of your household and work together as a team.
If a family member is in the military, plan how you would respond if they were deployed. In your plan identify two places to meet if you and your family are separated – one outside your home (in case of a fire) and one outside your neighborhood in case you’re evacuated and cannot return home (in case of flood or tornado). If you have to evacuate, plan your route.
Choose an out of area emergency contact person. It may be easier to text or call long distance if local phone lines are overloaded or out of service.
Are you “on call” for your job during a disaster? Then it’s best to have a plan at home so you can focus on work.
Use the Red Cross “Safe & Well” website to let your family and friends know you are safe. Or call Redcross and select the “Disaster” option.
PRACTICE evacuating your home twice a year, drive your route, review your kit, plan ahead for pets, make sure you have updated contact info.
Take your kit with you in case you go to a shelter then you have things YOUR family needs and makes you feel better. 18 18

20. Be Informed Mobile Apps Preparedness at your fingertips
Volunteerism at your fingertips
Six different mobile apps and they’re all FREE! Most useful would be First Aid, Tornado and Team Red Cross Apps. Team Red Cross app is the allows you to help your community with Red Cross related activities should a disaster occur in your community. You can receive and respond to notifications for volunteer jobs based on your location. 19 19

21. Preparedness Initiatives
Home Fire Preparedness Campaign
The goals of the strategy are to save lives that are lost to preventable causes like fires, disasters, choking, and cardiac arrest and to improve the resilience of the social safety net in the face of disasters.
The Pillowcase Project
The Pillowcase Project is a preparedness education program for children in grades 3 – 5, which teaches students about personal and family preparedness, local hazards, and basic coping skills.   
Coming Up!
September – National Preparedness Month
October – Fire Prevention Month (Oct. 11) 20 20

22. The Role of a Community Events (Preparedness) Volunteer

23. What Will I Do? Display Booth/Table
Health fairs, preparedness booths, safety fairs, etc.
Set up table with preparedness materials
Table cover, informational materials, not too much
Engage participants
No sitting behind the table!
TALK to people – have them download apps, fill out a family safety plan, complete a communications plan, do they have a home fire evacuation plan, smoke alarms
Tracking
Try to record the number of participants talked to and/or materials shared
Attire
Typically business casual – red or Red Cross shirt, khakis, avoid blue jeans, shorts okay if an outdoor summer event
Look and act professional – you are a representative of the Red Cross

24. What Will I Do? Public Speaking
May be anywhere from 5 minute to 60 minute presentation
Variety of different groups invite the Red Cross to speak – Clubs, Women’s Groups, Church Groups, School Groups, Business Lunch & Learns, etc.
Engage participants
Ready made presentations and templates
Encourage participants to download apps, fill out a family safety plan, complete a communications plan, do they have a home fire evacuation plan, smoke alarms
Tracking
Community Disaster Education (CDE) survey when appropriate
Try to record the number of participants talked to and/or materials shared
Attire
Typically business casual – red or Red Cross shirt, khakis, avoid blue jeans, shorts okay if an outdoor summer event
Look and act professional – you are a representative of the Red Cross

25. What Will I Do? Other Services to Armed Forces Events
Outdoor Events – fairs, cooling stations, displays, parades (optional)
Fire Canvass / Home Fire Preparedness Initiative
Pillowcase Project Presenter – teach youth ages 8-11 how to be prepared
Requires an online training class and teachback/skill review
Always Engage Participants
Always record the number of participants talked to and/or materials shared
Always record your hours

26. What Will I Do? Use Volunteer Connection
Check regularly for event opportunities
My Shifts
Community Events OR Trainings & Meetings
Pillowcase Project Presentations if a trained presenter
Register for the event or class
Volunteer Hours
Make sure you use Volunteer Connection to track your hours
If you’ve registered in Volunteer Connection and once you’re marked ‘Attended’, you hours are recorded

27. Disaster Preparedness Specialist
Welcome to the Team!
Cindy Pfennig
Disaster Preparedness Specialist
American Red Cross
(712)
(402)
Thank
You!