Red Cross trains volunteers for disaster response
GLENS FALLS, N.Y. » The sheer size and number of people impacted by Hurricane Harvey reminds Cary Eddy of another major storm he responded to, Rita, which devastated the Gulf Coast in 2005, shortly after Katrina.
Eddy, a Greenfield resident and American Red Cross volunteer, spent Tuesday registering people for a rapid deployment boot camp the Red Cross is holding from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. Wednesday at Cool Insuring Arena, the former Glens Falls Civic Center.
Red Cross moved the event to this larger venue, from its Warren Street office, because response has been so great from people who want to lend
a hand in Houston.
“You’ve got to be flexible,” said Eddy, who has responded to a dozen national disasters including Hurricane Matthew last year, in South Carolina. “You’ve got to be ready to do whatever they need.”
“Right now, the biggest need is to work in the shelters, setting up cots, handing out meals and chatting with people because they’re upset,” said Michel Lee, a fellow volunteer, of Schroon Lake. “We have already deployed 15 to 20 people from the region. The first one went out on Friday morning.” However, Red Cross Facilities Specialist Sandy Orban said teams will likely continue being deployed to Houston for several weeks, perhaps longer.
“We’re going to have to send people in waves,” she said.
The Northeastern New York chapter has four emergency response vehicles.
“Once waters recede they’ll take vehicles like this and feed people in local neighborhoods,” Orban said. Wednesday’s boot camp is for people who have never deployed to a major disaster before. It starts with a background check, health questionnaire and introduction to the Red Cross mission statement, which is to relieve suffering in the wake of a manmade or natural disaster.
Healthcare professionals and bilingual people are especially valuable. But the most important helpers are “people that just care,” Orban said. “This is about helping your fellow human being.”
Volunteers going to Houston must be willing to serve at a shelter for a minimum of 14 consecutive days. The Red Cross pays for all training and transportation costs.
For those who can’t attend Wednesday’s session, another one is planned Thursday in Utica.
“You need a lot of patience,” Eddy said. “Anyone who goes, should come back tired.”
To register for Wednesday’s boot camp, call (518) 694-5103.
Red Cross is also seeking financial donations to help with relief efforts. This can be done online at redcross. org, by calling 1-800-REDCROSS, or texting the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation.