Needs From: United Way of Northeast Florida

Volunteer with the American Red Cross and participate in all DAT program support and capacity building activities necessary to ensure effective service delivery during a DAT response.  

Must be able to: Follow and execute requests received from supervisor with little or no supervision. • Adapt to change, negotiate compromise and tolerate ambiguity. • Build effective relationships with others who can help with work-related goals. Team member may work towards the DAT Service Associate response position.

Disaster Action Teams provide 24-hour emergency response to local disasters, particularly house fires, ensuring that those affected have access to resources for basic necessities such as food, shelter and clothing. This position is responsible for the tasks involved in the Disaster Action Team program including:

1. Supporting the annual goals, RDO objectives, and regional/chapter plan for DAT services through participation in meetings, projects, and local response activities.

2. Completes all required training and maintains current training standard as DAT program requirements change.

3. Attends regular team meetings and training as required by the region/territory.

4. Completes assigned projects and local response activities according to the needs of the DAT program. (Preparing vehicles, response materials, administrative support of the DAT program and other tasks assigned by the DAT Leader.

Disaster Action Team (DAT) volunteers are the heart of American Red Cross disaster relief efforts. DAT members respond immediately to a disaster when called by emergency dispatch. Specially trained DAT volunteers assess the scope of the damage and meet with the affected family or families to determine their immediate disaster-related needs and ensure that those needs are met. Depending upon their individual needs, the Red Cross can provide assistance to disaster victims, helping them secure shelter, food, clothing, medical needs and mental health counseling.

Necessary Attributes:

• The willingness and availability to respond to emergencies anytime during their self-selected "on-call" shift • A sensitivity to people's needs in difficult situations
• The ability to work objectively and compassionately with diverse individuals
• Respect and concern for the people you serve and work with

• The ability to maintain confidentiality
• The ability to work well in a "team" environment
• DAT training is free, part of the American Red Cross disaster preparedness training. For more information on the classes that need to be taken to become a DAT member, see our course schedule.

Get trained to help provide direct services: e.g. local Disaster Actions Teams (DAT) , Health Fairs, volunteer in military clinics an hospitals, promoting blood collection team, first aid stationing.

Get trained in specialized disaster counseling skills and the travel to disasters to help victims and relief workers deal with the trauma and stresses of disaster. 

Community Outreach Volunteers (Presenters and instructors) 

Represent the Red Cross in your community at fairs, festivals, and other special events.

Educate the public about our lifesaving work, and share ways individuals can get involved. 

Get trained to respond to the local or national disaster relief efforts.

Disaster responders meet the needs of those clinics and hospitals, promoting blood collection team, first aid stations. 

DISASTER KITS

Please be sure to acknowledge the DIY and Kits Project Waiver, and follow the directions carefully

WHAT TO DO:

To create a disaster kit, please put 10 of the following items into a clear plastic storage 'shoe box' (preferably with a lid that sticks). Most items can be purchased at a dollar store. 

Items: 

- Disposable poncho

- Small flashlight with batteries 

- extra batteries 

- First-aid kit

- small 8 oz. bottle of water

- Food item not requiring can opener (canned meat with crackers, peanut butter crackers, power bar etc.)

- Activity for kids (puzzles, activity pad, book etc.)

- Whistle 

- Glow sticks 

- Packs of tissue 

- Hand sanitizer 

- Emergency blanket 

Please do not include matches, can-openers, scissors or other items to hazardous for schools

If you would like to hold a drive, you can find some helpful tips HERE.

More helpful tips for completing DIY projects can be found HERE.

For anyone collecting service hours, we will grant half an hour (travel time) plus one hour for each kit.

Kits must contain EVERY item listed and be in a decorated bag with a decorated card to receive full service hours.

When finished, contact our project coordinator here to let them know how many kits you have and to coordinate drop-offs. Please note: due to the limited staff capacity of our team and our partners, it may take 3-5 days to respond and coordinate delivery.

WHY THIS KIT:

No one can predict when a disaster or emergency might strike their community. But, they can take steps to be prepared when it does happen! Educating children about Disaster Preparedness is an effective way to get the message into the home and encourage families to become more prepared for disasters. Volunteers are invited to create Disaster Kits for Kids to be dispersed to K - 5 children at local elementary schools along with a packet for families containing communication plans, pet plans and other useful preparedness tools.

DIY Volunteering allows families and groups of all ages and sizes to participate in flexible and meaningful community service opportunities from the comfort of their own homes or offices. DIY projects can be combined with social events, business meetings, celebrations, and more. Purchasing items or hosting a drive and assembling personal care kits are a critical way volunteers can address a real community need individually or as a group, family, school or neighborhood.

Kits will be dispersed to our Full Service Schools network to be distributed to students or through other non-profit partner agencies that serve the homeless or veteran populations.

ECS is seeking volunteers who don't mind getting their hands dirty to help with cleanup outside of our facilities after local weather disasters occur. Our children are our first priority and hazardous facility conditions are a hindrance to their ability to return to school. So, it is important to complete post-disaster cleanup and repairs as soon as possible. We have outside projects available and there are many centers to choose from. Level 2 background screening may be required for long-term projects.