What does Disaster Services do?
Each year, Red Cross paid and volunteer staff respond to more than 70,000 disasters, ranging from single-family house fires to major disasters such as hurricanes, floods, and tornadoes. They help thousands of their friends and neighbors by meeting their basic emergency needs such as food, clothing, shelter and mental health services free of charge.
Red Cross chapters also get involved before disasters occur by educating the community on how to prevent, prepare for and respond to emergency situations. Other services Red Cross disaster workers provide include-
- Referring families for financial assistance from the government and other organizations.
- Serving as a liaison with other organizations and agencies, including the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).
- Forming Disaster Action Teams (DAT).
What is DAT?
Disaster Action Team (DAT): Members of the DAT team respond to local disasters such as single-family fires, apartment fires, train derailments, aviation incidents and much more. They tend to be the “Rapid-Response” team of the Chapter and are usually the first Red Cross volunteers on the scene. They provide direct assistance to clients and emergency personnel.
How can I become involved in Disaster Services?
The first step to joining a DAT team would be to fill out the following forms and submitting them to the South Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross.
Download forms here: 
Second Step is to begin taking the following trainings.
For further information on how you can become involved in Disaster Services please contact the South Central Michigan Chapter of the American Red Cross at 517-782-9486.
Jim Desy of Lammers Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. donated a 1983 Honey Motor Home to the American Red Cross, South Central Michigan Chapter to use as the Disaster Response Vehicle (DRV). Additionally, Al Clevenger of Al’s Paint & Body; Dave Carpenter of Larry’s RV Inspections Service Center; Bill Olney of Jimmies Service and Jay Johnson of Johnson Sign Company all made significant in-kind donations to get the Motor Home tuned-up, painted and looking great. The DRV is used by the Chapter’s Disaster Action Team to respond to local fire and other emergencies. The vehicle is also used to support our firefighters, police officers and emergency medical technicians in providing shelter and refreshments.
Help The Disaster Department By Purchasing A Red Cross Blanket ...
The American Red Cross Emergency Services Department is raising funds to cover the purchase of Red Cross fleece blankets to give out during our responses to fires or other disaster related emergencies. Blankets are $10.00. Each purchase enables the Chapter to purchase an additional blanket to be used for local disaster victims. The blankets which measure approximately 54" x 72" (twin size) are soft, warm, machine wash & dry and are adorned with a large embroidered American Red Cross logo.
Blankets can be purchased at the American Red Cross office at the following location:
South Central Michigan Chapter
American Red Cross
729 W. Michgian Ave.
Jackson, MI 49201
(517)782-9486
National Incident Management System (NIMS)
For more information about NIMS, visit: www.fema.gov/NIMS
Below is a list of the specific courses that Red Cross staff should take in order to support state and local government NIMS compliance. (Note: These are all self-study courses)
DAT Team Members:
IS 100: Introduction to ICS (http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp)
IS 700: NIMS, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp
IS 800: National Response Plan, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is800.asp
DSHR Administrators, ESF #6 Team Members, Members of the Government/Emergency Management Liaison Activity
• IS 100: Introduction to ICS http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp
• IS 200: Basic ICS http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200.asp
• IS 700: NIMS, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp
• IS 800: National Response Plan, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is800.asp
• IS 300: Intermediate ICS (currently unavailable; will become a requirement in the 2007 fiscal year)
Disaster Supervisors
• IS 100: Introduction to ICS http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp
• IS 700: NIMS, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp
• IS 800: National Response Plan (NRP), An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is800.asp
Chapter Executives:
• IS 100: Introduction to ICS http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is100.asp
• IS 200: Basic ICS http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is200.asp
• IS 700: NIMS, An Introduction http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/is700.asp
