How to survive (and be a leader during) the apocalypse

Well folks, according to the new movie 2012, the apocalypse is coming – soon! How can we be prepared for something that could cause tornadoes, earthquakes, winter storms, heat waves and fires? Our Community Disaster Education classes are guaranteed to be helpful in the fast-approaching end of the world.

This class will help ensure your survival and prepare your family for the worst. You’ll be the envy of your neighbors when they see your disaster kit. You could keep all this information to yourself, or you could set yourself up to be a leader by planning ahead with your community.


But that’s not all! The Red Cross covers all sorts of apocalyptic scenarios.

Is your continent sinking into the ocean before your very eyes? Take a flood safety class!

Did an earthquake split your home in half and start a small fire? Take a fire safety class!

Worried that the apocalypse will be cold? Take a winter safety class!

Did you trip and get hurt after driving a mobile home outrunning a volcanic eruption on the way to the small plane piloted by a man that has taken two flying classes? Take a first aid class!

And so, I leave you to absorb this information and prepare yourselves properly. Good luck – you only have three years to get ready.

Farewell

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

President Obama Wants YOU!...... To Serve

Last week, we shared with you our contributions to “A Day On, Not A Day Off” in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.

Historically, MLK Day has been promoted as a day of service, a call for Americans just like you to get out into the community and make a difference.

Today, we join President Obama in challenging you to make a commitment to service – not just one day but an ongoing effort to better your community, your peers and as a result, yourself.

Looking for ways to help?

We’d like to take a moment to discuss our program, AmeriCorps,and then we’ll share with you a few other excellent volunteer opportunities. Remember, volunteers come from all walks of life, and every effort has an impact.

Upon graduation, we both took an opportunity with AmeriCorps to answer this call to service.
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.

Our specific program works in conjunction with the American Red Cross Disaster Services.
At the start of the program, we were trained in Disaster Assessment, Client Casework, Defensive Driving, Psychological First Aide, Disaster Response Workshop, Introduction to Disaster Services to name a few.

Our primary responsiblities include responding to residential fires and other weather related incidents within the city of Chicago and seven surrounding counties.
When we are not responding to fires, we spend quite a bit of time on the phone following up with those who we have assisted, offering various resources to organizations that assist in long-term recovery.

During our time in AmeriCorps, we also complete a special project of our choice. Sam, for example, is very excited to be working with International Services helping to create and administer presentations about the American Red Cross’s role in International Humanitarian Law at local universities and colleges.

Not only are we out in our community directly assisting those in need, but we are also given many opportunities for personal and career development.

As promised, here are a few of the many organizations found on President Obama’s new website, http://www.usaservice.org/.

Volunteer Match
MLK 365
Change.org
My Good Deed
AmeriCorps
Citizen’s Corps
Hands On Network

This site details the importance of community service and the need for all Americans to particpate. It also provides links to local opportunities.

Visitors to http://www.usaservice.org/ can find volunteer events within their communities by following the“Find an Event” application.

No matter what you are passionate about, you can find a volunteer opportunity that suits your interests.

Get out there America!
“Be the change you want to see in the world.” - Mahatma Gandhi

- Lily and Sam

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

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.