Family Service Show & Tell

Today, the chapter had the opportunity to show off our preparedness for emergencies in Loudoun County. We showed our shelter response truck, and shelter trailer which has 75 cots, 25 bed mats & 150 blankets.
We also had our shortwave radio kit, and 800 Mhz radios. The radios allow us to communicate during a disaster, and to be notified in the event of a disaster that may be requiring our response.
For use in our shelters, along with our sleeping supplies, Heater Meals and bottled water, we now have shelter internet access and a TTY kit. The shelter internet kit allows shelter residents to register on the Red Cross Safe & Well website/Twitter, and the TTY allows our clients who may not be able to speak with their mouths, or hear with their ears, to be in touch with necessary services and friends & family! Such cool disaster equipment!
In all, the event went well! The Loudoun County Red Cross demonstrated that we have a plan, and we are preparing!

Please, sir, we want some more!

Future Disaster Services Volunteer,
This past weekend six new Disaster Services volunteers completed Disaster Action Team (DAT) Camp. That’s brings the number to ten (so far) this year. We have quarterly scheduled DAT Camps (Mar, June, Sept, and Dec) throughout the year. What is DAT Camp? It’s a 20 hour training weekend consisting of five courses. All Red Cross Disaster Services training is free.

What is DAT? Disaster Action Team (DAT) is a team of trained volunteers sent to the scene of a disaster to provide immediate emergency services (ex. clothing, food, lodging, health and mental health services and financial assistance) to individuals, families and workers, 24 hours a day. In addition, we help individuals and families resume their normal daily activities independently. This help may be accomplished by direct assistance or with referrals. All Red Cross Disaster Services are provided free of charge as a gift from the American people. The American Red Cross is not a government agency.

The Loudoun County Chapter of the American Red Cross is in need of additional trained Disaster Services volunteers. We are working to increase our Disaster Action Team (DAT) capacity to respond to disasters in our county. Please contact the Chapter at 703-777-7171 or LCARC@usa.redcross.org.



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Social Networking & Games People Play

Let's just admit it: The Oregon Trail Chapter of the American Red Cross is doing some really cool stuff! Not just social networking (which is neat, all by itself!), but Comedy CPR, Singles Night CPR, and hitting neighborhoods affected by disaster with disaster kit supplies, first aid kits, and information. One of their new ventures is a podcast (an on-line radio show) about different Red Cross topics. And, the first show included an interview with Magi Shepley, from our chapter! Magi was asked to talk about different games people might play during a disaster. She shared that Uno has been popular, and she believes she has lost many decks of Uno cards at various disaster sites. Magi also talked about a class project where her students created a version of the popular Fluxx card game with a disaster/weather theme.

Unfortunately, a bit of a disaster cut the interview short when a thunderstorm took out Magi's phone. At least she knew what to do during the storm... Break out the card games, of course!
You can hear the podcast at this link: http://redcrosspdx.blogspot.com/2009/06/listen-up-listen-in.html

Sterling Apartment Fire

The Disaster Action Team responded to a multi-unit dwelling fire this afternoon. Three families were temporarily displaced due to the fire, which started in the kitchen. Families were assisted with lodging via our partnership with the Leesburg Holiday Inn at Carradoc Hall, and also received assistance in contacting insurance companies & restoration services.