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(Brevard) With the Caribbean looking less than settled, American Red Cross volunteers from the Space Coast Chapter will attend three days of blitz training this weekend (July 23-25). This is the first time concentrated training on such a scale has been undertaken at the chapter.
In the event of a major storm, the American Red Cross in Brevard could be asked to set up to 13 primary shelters and if those fill up, 12 additional backup ones. To be able to do this, there is an urgent need to review training for existing volunteers and train new shelter managers. Volunteers will also be cross-training in Disaster Assessment, Mass Care and Client Casework.
Then on Saturday afternoon between 1:00 pm and 4:00 pm instructors will be mounting a shelter simulation at the Space Coast Chapter at 1700 Cedar Street in Rockledge.
Melissa Perez, the Deputy Director of Emergency Services in the Mid-Florida Region said, “With increased storm activity already evident and in a year when more storms than usual are expected to head towards us from the Atlantic, it reminds us about how vital it is to prepare ourselves for disasters before they actually happen. This sort of training enables the Red Cross to better serve our communities.”
All Red Cross volunteers attend specialized training courses before they are sent out into the field. It means they are able to offer consistent care both locally and nationally.
Members of the Press are invited to report on the shelter simulation on Saturday afternoon. Please contact Jane Bowden, Public Relations Chair, if you plan to attend and she will meet you there to facilitate. Or if you would like further information or photographs please call her on (321) 806-0172. |
