Most of the 65,000 emergencies that the Red Cross responds to each year are local, personal disasters like home fires. They may not make the news, but we know they are just as devastating to the families affected. Trained and available, Disaster Action Team volunteers are ready to respond to these emergencies, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. From offering a shoulder to cry on, to meeting any immediate needs for shelter or supplies, to connecting people with long term recovery services, our volunteers ensure that families don’t have to face tough times alone.
Many disaster action team volunteers share these life experiences and skills:
· Team-oriented
· Availability and flexibility for at least 4-6 hours per week
· Bilingual
· Comfortable with ambiguity
· Empathetic and compassionate
· Disaster response experience
· Can remain calm and patient during stressful situations
