Call Us at: (952) 467-4449 or E-Mail us at: info@carvercountyredcross.org
Disaster Classes
Classes in Spring 2008
Please Call the Red Cross Office (952-467-4449)if you can't find a class that meets your schedule needs
Disaster Classes
| Thursday, May 29 | 6-10PM | Psychological First Aid | Roy Clay Bldg, Norwood Young America | 319 W. Elm St |
| Wednesday, June 4 | 6:30-9:30PM | Fulfilling Our Mission | Red Cross Office, Norwood Young America | 315 W. Elm St |
| Saturday, June 28 | 9AM-5PM | Fundamentals of Public affairs | Red Cross Office, Norwood Young America | 315 W. Elm St |
Psychological First Aid: Purpose of this class is to prepare all ARC workers to provide basic care,
comfort and support to people who are experiencing disaster-related stress. Instructor: Vonnie Thomas
Fulfilling Our Mission: The purpose of this course is to enable participants to translate their care and
compassion into community action, thru a uniform message. Understand the mission of the Red Cross,
the principals and values that support the mission and the expected behavior of volunteers. Instructor: Tim Fogarty
Fundamentals of Public Affairs: The purpose of this course is to prepare Red Cross Disaster Public Affairs
employees/volunteer to initiate the public affairs activity at their local chapter. Instructor: Tim Fogarty
Disaster Relief
The American Red Cross is a humanitarian organization led by volunteers and guided by its Congressional
Charter and the Fundamental Principles of the International Red Cross Movement that provides relief to victims
of disasters and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies.
Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 67,000 disasters, including house or apartment
fires (the majority of disaster responses), hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous
material spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters.
In FY 2000, the Red Cross responded to more than 67,460 disasters. In that year, over 326,234 people
were sheltered and more than 127,835 individuals and families received financial assistance from the Red Cross.
Everyday, American Red Cross chapters work with their community partners to help the public anticipate,
survive, prevent and recover from disasters. Thus, the Red Cross provides practical and helpful awareness
and educational information that shows the public how to save lives, reduce injuries and protect their
homes disaster. The Carver County Red Cross responds to from 6 to 8 fires a year in which a family has
been displaced from their homes. These families are provided with food, new clothing, and shelter as
needed to meet their immediate needs. We also can provide additional resources if it will result in
the family being able to live in their home. These services are provided at no cost to the family
and is funded by generous donations from the Carver County community.
Red Cross disaster relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs.
When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, and health and
mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core
of Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by
disaster to enable them to resume their normal daily activities independently. If needed, the
Red Cross provides the means to pay for needed items including groceries, new clothing, temporary
housing, emergency home repairs, transportation, essential household items, medicines, and
occupational tools. The Red Cross also helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when
all other resources, including insurance benefits, community and personal resources and government
assistance are not available or are inadequate. All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs.
The Red Cross also feeds disaster victims and emergency workers, handles inquiries from
concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster
victims, and helps those affected by disaster to access other available resources.
The Carver County Red Cross is also active in their support to Minnesota State and National disasters.
We supply trained volunteers to the American Red Cross national Disaster Services Human Resource (DSHR) system.
This is the system that is used to supply trained volunteers for response to a state or national disaster.
Members of the Carver County Chapter have responded to flooding in Granite Falls MN, tornadoes in Siren and
Ladysmith WI and Glenville MN, Flooding in Roseau MN, tornadoes in southwestern MO,and hurricanes in
Rocky Mount NC.
Although the American Red Cross is NOT a government agency, its authority to provide disaster
relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of
national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the suffering
caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods and other great national calamities, and to devise and
carry on measures for preventing the same." The Charter is not only a grant of power, but also an
imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims, and to the people who
generously support its work with their donations.
If you have a desire to help your friends and neighbors in time of need, we would welcome you to
join our group of volunteers. We would welcome all of your time and talents that you could provide
to our group. We invite you to look over the wide range of volunteer opportunities that we have and
select one that you feel most comfortable in. The Chapter holds training classes frequently, or we
will help you find classes locally to improve your skills in your chosen specialty.
Disaster Service Human Resource (DSHR) System
The DSHR system is the pool of trained volunteers that are used for callup for Local, State, or
National Disasters. For more information on DSHR
The
DSHR System |
If this appeals to you, Call Us at: (952) 467-4449 or E-Mail us at: info@carvercountyredcross.org.