Red Cross Seeks Volunteers to Respond During Disaster Season

Catastrophe is only one hurricane, one wildfire or one tsunami away, and now more than ever, the American Red Cross needs people to help.

“We’re preparing for disaster season, and it’s critical to have a trained, ready volunteer workforce to make sure we can provide relief at a moment’s notice,” Diane Peters-Nguyen, CEO of the American Red Cross, Pacific Islands Region, said in a press release. “Disasters can happen quickly, and we need to have more local volunteers prepared to respond!”

The Red Cross is looking for new volunteers to support disaster shelters to help with reception, registration, dormitory, information collection and compassionate care for clients.

Volunteers are also needed to work in disaster shelters to address people’s health needs and provide hands-on care, such as registered nurses, licensed practical nurses/licensed vocational nurses and EMTs. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19-like illness among shelter residents could also be required.

Worker and supervisory level opportunities are available.

Should major disasters strike this year, the Red Cross plans to open congregate shelters and also will continue many of the safety precautions implemented during the pandemic, including masking, cleaning procedures and encouraging social distancing when and where possible.

Volunteers to be part of local disaster action teams to help provide 24-hour emergency response to disasters, particularly home fires, ensuring those affected can access resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing.

So far this year, the Pacific Islands Region of the Red Cross has provided immediate emergency assistance to 515 people after 80 home fires and other disasters.

For more information, click here.