At every sort of disaster from apartment fires to hurricanes the Red Cross shows up. They offer everything food, shelter, clothes and comfort.
But they need someone who can show up. They need disaster team volunteer.
Its sort of like fire calls. We could go two weeks without a call and then have three in one day, said Angela Smith, with the Terrell Red Cross.
She is looking for volunteers to will be trained to answer local calls. The agency also is looking for volunteers to answer phones, teach CPR classes and work with learning swimmers.
There will be an overview session from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. Saturday, Feb. 16 at the Red Cross office, 109 Tejas Drive, Suite 700. For information call 972-563-1030.
Ms. Smith said it is becoming more and more difficult to find disaster response team members because so few people have time.
Disaster team members usually are on call during the week or on the weekend. When there is a problem, they are called, meet at Red Cross headquarters then go to the scene.
There team members interview clients to determine what their needs are. They then help meet the needs, sometimes by supplying vouchers for housing, food or clothes. Other times simply by being there and talking victims through the problem.
They also are trained to work in setting up and running shelters in times of major emergencies such as Katrina.
Ms. Smith says other types of volunteers are needed as well those to help in the office, help with swimming lessons and other chores.
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