Preparing for times of need

HURON — The American Red Cross Dakotas Region hosted a seminar in the Huron Regional Medical Center’s Legacy Plaza on Saturday morning, teaching Disaster Action Team (DAT) Fundamentals for new and existing volunteers, to learn the correct procedures for assisting clients.
When disasters strike, crews of volunteers come together across the United States to assist victims who have experienced an upheaval,  locally or nationally, by supporting those effected financially, and putting them back on the road toward recovery.
In the seminar, Jennifer Ross, the executive director for South Dakota, highlighted how the Red Cross gives relief to people who are facing a disaster, while also hosting other preemptive services, such as blood drives, health and safety services, including international assistance and services to the armed forces.
Charlotte Henley, a local volunteer who has volunteered with the Red Cross for ten years, said, “There are so many different roles a volunteer can assume, which is nice.”
Ross went on to explain that there are more than 200 volunteers in eastern South Dakota for the Red Cross, which has in excess of 90 percent of the workforce made up from volunteers. In addition, Ross shared that 91 cents of every dollar donated goes directly to the programs.
The DAT responds to disasters that effect everyone from small communities to large natural disasters, which include home fires, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes and floods and more, by providing Direct Client Assistance and Mass Care.
“In Eastern South Dakota, 80 percent of the disasters to which we respond are home fires,” explained Ross. “We will have more than 400 home fires in North and South Dakota this year; we see them every year and most of them happen between October and March. Before I started at the Red Cross, I had no idea how many people were losing their homes and everything they loved in a fire. It’s happening all the time and so we need Red Cross volunteers to go help.
Ross added that 7 percent of the Red Cross’s responses received are storms such as tornados and the rest of the responses that come in can be a variety of things. The Red Cross provides the basic needs for those who are affected, food, clothing shelter; things needed in the first hours and days when victims have lost everything.

The Red Cross also works on preparedness with key ways to strengthen communities and train for disasters.
“The biggest preventive measure we have is our home fire prevention campaign and at the heart of this is installing free smoke alarms for anyone who needs them,” said Ross. “Anybody can request a smoke alarm and if that comes through in the Huron area, we get a hold of Mason.”
Mason is Mason Minske, another long time volunteer of ten years from the Huron Area. For the past few years, volunteers have first canvassed then installed free smoke alarms in houses and apartments in Huron. This past fall, the community of Cavour was ‘smoke alarmed’ as well by the Red Cross.
Ross also explained the Red Cross has a number of free apps the public can download for free that offer information and alerts.
Heather Allemang, Disaster Program Manager, presented the detailed areas that Disaster Action Teams and the Red Cross respond to, how support is provided and what the jobs of volunteers can be. It was explained by Allemang that the role of DAT responders is to train and prepare for large and small disasters and asses situations to respond appropriately.
“We are not expected to jeopardize ourselves if it is not safe,” Allemang said. “You don’t self deploy and you don’t have to go alone.”
Assessing situations can vary greatly depending on the event, but some of the basics covered included what happened and where, if a client is unable to return to their home due to unlivable circumstances from disasters, and what the client will need in the coming days in terms of essentials.
The Red Cross offers those in need Comfort Kits and blankets, while working towards recovery. Financially, the Red Cross offers lodging assistance for clients without places to live.
“Home fires are still the most prevalent disasters,” Allemang said. “What’s important for us is to be able to support and work with clients.”
Volunteer opportunities are endless with the Red Cross, and training seminars are held every month throughout South Dakota.
Ross said to those who are looking to volunteer, “Give us a call; it’s never too late.”

Photos by Angelina Della Rocco/plainsman
Jennifer Ross, Red Cross Executive Director for South Dakota, speaks to the class of volunteers. Heather Allemang, Red Cross Disaster Program Manager, talks volunteers through detailed processes of assisting clients after going through a disaster.

Photo courtesy of the Red Cross
Members of the Red Cross response team, Mason Minske, Heather Allemang and Annette Bowen prepare to install smoke alarms in Huron this past fall.