Hello all!
I write to you, my avid readers, with a heavy heart. This is my last blog entry for the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago because my AmeriCorps program has come to its completion. I would like to make this short and sweet because it is surely not the last time I will be contributing to the mission of the American Red Cross, as I will continue to volunteer in some capacity.
I would like to thank all of my coworkers (especially my partner extraordinaire Lily) and everyone else who contributes to the success of Disaster Services. This office truly exudes the compassion needed to work in emeregency management and I know everyone will continue to do their best to serve the communities of Greater Chicago.
I would also like to acknowledge AmeriCorps as an organization. By participating in this program I have learned so much and have been exposed to so many news things. Without AmeriCorps I would not be the person I am today, and would not have the goals I hope to accomplish.
Finally, to all of you readers, I appreciate you checking in on what the DAT members are doing and the issues that we feel are important.
This organization will not succeed without the tireless help from its volunteers so my biggest thank you goes out to all the people I have had the privelage to respond with. There are too many people to name, but I feel lucky to have met so many great people. Please keep up the good work and know that you are making a huge difference in peoples lives.
Thanks again for reading, its been fun writing!
Sam
Showing posts with label DAT. Show all posts
Showing posts with label DAT. Show all posts
Tuesday, June 16, 2009
Tuesday, May 05, 2009
Mena Tornadoes
Hello Readers -
We just wanted to give you a little information about how far the efforts of the American Red Cross Disaster Servies team stretches.
Two weeks ago, Sam had the opportunity to particiapte in the tornado recovery efforts in Mena, Arkansas. He would like to spend some time to discuss his experience:
When I arrived in the small town near the Oklahoma border I didn't know what to expect. It was my first national deployment, so all the information I had acquired was from stories told by my co-workers and volunteers. I was so excited to be able to have a deployment experience of my own and to make a difference in a new community.
It didn't take long for me to get into the action. The same day I flew into Little Rock and made the drive to Mena I was entering disaster data into the computers at our headquarters. Volunteers from around Arkansas had already met with clients before I had arrived and someone was needed to enter all the data. It wasn't the most thrilling work, but due to my training in Chicago I knew its importance.
The most rewarding part of my 6 day deployment was the opportunity to participate in the outreach efforts. This entailed driving through the community and speaking with people about how the Red Cross would be able to assist them. We also explained where we could be found and how long we would be there. Outreach allowed me to really feel like I was connecting and helping people on a personal level.
It was amazing to see, amidst all the destruction from the tornadoes, the incredibly supportive attitue of the entire Mena community. I wish everyone the best of luck and I was happy to do my part in helping with your recovery.
We encourage you to get involved with your local Red Cross chapter so you too can learn how to help in a national disaster.
- Lily and Sam
We just wanted to give you a little information about how far the efforts of the American Red Cross Disaster Servies team stretches.
Two weeks ago, Sam had the opportunity to particiapte in the tornado recovery efforts in Mena, Arkansas. He would like to spend some time to discuss his experience:
When I arrived in the small town near the Oklahoma border I didn't know what to expect. It was my first national deployment, so all the information I had acquired was from stories told by my co-workers and volunteers. I was so excited to be able to have a deployment experience of my own and to make a difference in a new community.
It didn't take long for me to get into the action. The same day I flew into Little Rock and made the drive to Mena I was entering disaster data into the computers at our headquarters. Volunteers from around Arkansas had already met with clients before I had arrived and someone was needed to enter all the data. It wasn't the most thrilling work, but due to my training in Chicago I knew its importance.
The most rewarding part of my 6 day deployment was the opportunity to participate in the outreach efforts. This entailed driving through the community and speaking with people about how the Red Cross would be able to assist them. We also explained where we could be found and how long we would be there. Outreach allowed me to really feel like I was connecting and helping people on a personal level.
It was amazing to see, amidst all the destruction from the tornadoes, the incredibly supportive attitue of the entire Mena community. I wish everyone the best of luck and I was happy to do my part in helping with your recovery.
We encourage you to get involved with your local Red Cross chapter so you too can learn how to help in a national disaster.
- Lily and Sam
Monday, April 06, 2009
Se Habla Espanol?
Early Monday morning the Chicago DAT team responded to a unique two-alarm fire on the southside of Chicago.
The fire spread to five different buildings on the block, leaving three destroyed and two others in questionable condition. As our responders arrived on scene they were confronted by more than the usual difficulties of a large scale incident, the household members were Spanish speaking.
Here is a link to the article published in the Chicago Tribune about the incident:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-south-lawndale-fireapr06,0,2950642.story
Chicago is one of the more diverse cities in the United States, so language problems are not an unusual occurence when responding. Thankfully, we have found a few different ways to make the language barrier a non-issue when trying to help those in need. We have quite a few volunteers/DAT responders who can faciliate our services in multiple languages, and even more that have a working knowledge of a different tongue. Also, we have found that there are quite a few bi-lingual police officers working for the Chicago PD that are more than happy to lend a hand when on scene. Communities members, such as neighbors, have also been able to assist as translators.
BUT we could always use more!
Although Spanish is the most prevelant second language, it is not the only other one spoken in Chicago. We encounter many different languages while responding to incidents.
If you are reading this and know a second language help us avoid being lost in translation, come help!
During this specific incident we were able to send one of our volunteers who is fluent in Spanish to the scene, drastically improving our ability to help. When it was all finished we were able to service 29 people!
Be safe everyone,
Lily and Sam
The fire spread to five different buildings on the block, leaving three destroyed and two others in questionable condition. As our responders arrived on scene they were confronted by more than the usual difficulties of a large scale incident, the household members were Spanish speaking.
Here is a link to the article published in the Chicago Tribune about the incident:
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-south-lawndale-fireapr06,0,2950642.story
Chicago is one of the more diverse cities in the United States, so language problems are not an unusual occurence when responding. Thankfully, we have found a few different ways to make the language barrier a non-issue when trying to help those in need. We have quite a few volunteers/DAT responders who can faciliate our services in multiple languages, and even more that have a working knowledge of a different tongue. Also, we have found that there are quite a few bi-lingual police officers working for the Chicago PD that are more than happy to lend a hand when on scene. Communities members, such as neighbors, have also been able to assist as translators.
BUT we could always use more!
Although Spanish is the most prevelant second language, it is not the only other one spoken in Chicago. We encounter many different languages while responding to incidents.
If you are reading this and know a second language help us avoid being lost in translation, come help!
During this specific incident we were able to send one of our volunteers who is fluent in Spanish to the scene, drastically improving our ability to help. When it was all finished we were able to service 29 people!
Be safe everyone,
Lily and Sam
Monday, January 19, 2009
A Day on Not a Day Off!
A very happy Martin Luther King Jr. day to all! To celebrate, volunteers from Hope Worldwide, AmeriCorps, and the The American Red Cross met in the south suburbs, Harvey and Riverdale, to hand out information on fire safety.
What are you doing on your “day on?”
Since we spent the morning sharing fire safety tips with some Chicagoland communities, we would like to share a disaster services experience from this weekend.
Yesterday, we met with a man who spent a lovely weekend in Ohio, only to return home to a disaster. His attic apartment had been completely destroyed by a fire that had taken place Friday afternoon. This is where the American Red Cross DAT team comes in; we provided this man with food, clothing and shelter to ensure his safety and well being in the days following his disaster. And now back to fire safety. The man stated that his home most likely caught fire due to a malfunction in a space heater.
Do you use a space heater?
Here are some friendly reminders when operating a space heater in your home:
HAZARDS:
Fires and burns caused by contact with or close proximity to the flame, heating element, or hot surface area.
Fires and explosions caused by flammable fuels or defective wiring.
Indoor air pollution caused by improper venting or incomplete combustion of fuel-burning equipment.
Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improper venting of fuel-burning equipment.
SUGGESTIONS:
Select a space heater with a guard around the flame area or the heating element.
When selecting a heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Buy a heater that is the correct size for the area you want to heat.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater.
Never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or leave the area.
Never use or store flammable liquids (such as gasoline) around a space heater.
Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes. Do not place heaters where towels or other objects could fall on the heater and start a fire.
This information was found in a report on space heater safety done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. More information can be obtained at their site by following this link: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/463.html
- Lily and Sam
What are you doing on your “day on?”
Since we spent the morning sharing fire safety tips with some Chicagoland communities, we would like to share a disaster services experience from this weekend.
Yesterday, we met with a man who spent a lovely weekend in Ohio, only to return home to a disaster. His attic apartment had been completely destroyed by a fire that had taken place Friday afternoon. This is where the American Red Cross DAT team comes in; we provided this man with food, clothing and shelter to ensure his safety and well being in the days following his disaster. And now back to fire safety. The man stated that his home most likely caught fire due to a malfunction in a space heater.
Do you use a space heater?
Here are some friendly reminders when operating a space heater in your home:
HAZARDS:
Fires and burns caused by contact with or close proximity to the flame, heating element, or hot surface area.
Fires and explosions caused by flammable fuels or defective wiring.
Indoor air pollution caused by improper venting or incomplete combustion of fuel-burning equipment.
Carbon monoxide poisoning caused by improper venting of fuel-burning equipment.
SUGGESTIONS:
Select a space heater with a guard around the flame area or the heating element.
When selecting a heater, look for one that has been tested and certified by a nationally recognized testing laboratory.
Buy a heater that is the correct size for the area you want to heat.
Read and follow the manufacturer’s operating instructions.
Keep children and pets away from space heaters.
Keep doors open to the rest of the house if you are using an unvented fuel-burning space heater.
Never leave a space heater on when you go to sleep or leave the area.
Never use or store flammable liquids (such as gasoline) around a space heater.
Place heaters at least three feet away from objects such as bedding, furniture and drapes. Never use heaters to dry clothes or shoes. Do not place heaters where towels or other objects could fall on the heater and start a fire.
This information was found in a report on space heater safety done by the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. More information can be obtained at their site by following this link: http://www.cpsc.gov/CPSCPUB/PUBS/463.html
- Lily and Sam
Monday, January 12, 2009
DAT Weekend Update
Looking for new and exciting ways to spend your weekend? Throw away the RedEye (actually, please recycle) and get off Metromix.
Here’s a little taste of a weekend with the Disaster Action Team:
Sunday morning, I was woken up around two in the morning with a call from dispatch, advising of a fire on S. Holman. I took a quick look at my schedule, called Sam and we were on our way.
Arriving at the scene of a fire is always a bit unnerving.
This fire in particular greeted us with lights from a dozen fire trucks and police cars that lined the street and cross street.
When the Red Cross Disaster Action Team arrives at a residence that caught fire, there are several steps we take.
First, we check in with the fire department and get any and all information that we can about when and where the fire started and how many people were affected.
Then, we locate the families of the affected buildings or units and ask them to walk us through their home.
From there, we can assess the damage to determine what kind of assistance we can provide – this includes things like food, clothing and shelter to medicine and infant supplies.
Fortunately for my teammate and myself, we were greeted on scene by two rock star volunteers who passed along all the information they had gathered.
We were looking at three single family homes; a fire had started in the middle home and communicated to both homes on either side.
As soon as Sam and I got the “Ok” from the fire department to go inside the homes, we began our assessment. About a half hour later, we had assisted eleven people with food, clothing and shelter for the evening – and a couple of teddy bears for two very brave little boys.
We left the scene about six o’clock in the morning with both heavy hearts and a feeling of satisfaction of fulfilling the mission of a truly great organization: The American Red Cross.
A little bit about us:
Lily Pavone and Sam Gieryn are two of the Disaster Services five AmeriCorps members this year.
AmeriCorps is a volunteer program, similar to the Peace Corps, where members devote a year of their lives to serving the needs of a community here in the United States.
We specifically are working with the Disaster Action Team in Chicago, serving the city and six surrounding counties.
Here’s a little taste of a weekend with the Disaster Action Team:
Sunday morning, I was woken up around two in the morning with a call from dispatch, advising of a fire on S. Holman. I took a quick look at my schedule, called Sam and we were on our way.
Arriving at the scene of a fire is always a bit unnerving.
This fire in particular greeted us with lights from a dozen fire trucks and police cars that lined the street and cross street.
When the Red Cross Disaster Action Team arrives at a residence that caught fire, there are several steps we take.
First, we check in with the fire department and get any and all information that we can about when and where the fire started and how many people were affected.
Then, we locate the families of the affected buildings or units and ask them to walk us through their home.
From there, we can assess the damage to determine what kind of assistance we can provide – this includes things like food, clothing and shelter to medicine and infant supplies.
Fortunately for my teammate and myself, we were greeted on scene by two rock star volunteers who passed along all the information they had gathered.
We were looking at three single family homes; a fire had started in the middle home and communicated to both homes on either side.
As soon as Sam and I got the “Ok” from the fire department to go inside the homes, we began our assessment. About a half hour later, we had assisted eleven people with food, clothing and shelter for the evening – and a couple of teddy bears for two very brave little boys.
We left the scene about six o’clock in the morning with both heavy hearts and a feeling of satisfaction of fulfilling the mission of a truly great organization: The American Red Cross.
A little bit about us:
Lily Pavone and Sam Gieryn are two of the Disaster Services five AmeriCorps members this year.
AmeriCorps is a volunteer program, similar to the Peace Corps, where members devote a year of their lives to serving the needs of a community here in the United States.
We specifically are working with the Disaster Action Team in Chicago, serving the city and six surrounding counties.
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