DISASTER
SERVICES
EMERGENCY
COMMUNITY
SERVICES
SERVICE TO
THE ARMED FORCES
BLOOD
SERVICES
VOLUNTEER
SERVICES
HEALTH &
SAFETY SERVICES
SENIOR
TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
911 SIGNS
WHO WE ARE
MAKING A CONTRIBUTION
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| If you would like to attend one of our Disaster Training Courses, click here for more information.... |
Each year, the American Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters, including house or apartment fires, hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, tornadoes, hazardous material spills, transportation accidents, explosions, and other natural and man-made disasters. Locally, the most prevalent disaster is residential fires.
 Red Cross relief focuses on meeting people's immediate emergency disaster-caused needs. When a disaster threatens or strikes, the Red Cross provides shelter, food, health and mental health services to address basic human needs. In addition to these services, the core of the Red Cross disaster relief is the assistance given to individuals and families affected by disaster to enable them to resume their normal activities. If needed, the Red Cross provides the means to pay for repairs, transportation, essential household items, medicines and occupational tools. The Red Cross also helps those needing long-term recovery assistance when all other resources, including insurance benefits, community and personal resources and government assistance are not available or are inadequate. All assistance is based on verified disaster-caused needs.
The Red Cross also feeds disaster victims and emergency workers, handles inquires from concerned family members outside the disaster area, provides blood and blood products to disaster victims, and helps those affected by disasters to access other available resources.
 The American Red Cross is the only local human services agency with trained volunteers standing by to respond to disasters "24/7". Through the efforts of these trained, caring volunteers who respond on the scene of each tragic event, the Red Cross can assist families on the road to recovery.
Although the American Red Cross is not a government agency, its authority to provide disaster relief was formalized when, in 1905, the Red Cross was chartered by Congress to "carry on a system of national and international relief in time of peace and apply the same in mitigating the suffering caused by pestilence, famine, fire, floods, and other great national calamities, and to devise and carry on measures for preventing the same." The charter is not only a grant of power, but also an imposition of duties and obligations to the nation, to disaster victims and to the people who generously support its work with their donations.
American Red Cross Disaster Relief Services are free, an outright gift of the American people.
Community Disaster Education
The Chapter Serving Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo Counties also works in the community to help the public prepare for and cope with disasters. The Red Cross provides information to help people plan for specific types of disasters, prevent injuries, save lives and reduce the loss of property. A variety of materials and curriculums are available on a wide variety of topics.
Disaster Services Training
The Chapter offers Disaster Services classes to train individuals as Red Cross disaster volunteers. Trained individuals may choose to serve on disasters in the community, as well as on major disasters in other parts of the country. There are a variety of specialty areas including, family casework, shelter operations, communications, physical health, mental health and others. All disaster classes are free.If you are interested in learning how to become a disaster volunteer locally and/or nationally, or would like to learn more about upcoming classes being offered, click here for more information....
Opportunities to Serve
Disaster Action Team (DAT)
The DAT is an integral part of the Chapter's Disaster Plan preparedness and serves as the Chapter's first on-the-scene contact in the disaster situation. Red Cross Disaster Action Teams are organized to place trained Red Cross volunteers at the scene of a disaster within minutes of being notified of its occurrence, and to provide immediate, identifiable emergency services to disaster victims and emergency workers. In addition to initiating Red Cross relief actions, the team paves the way for mobilizing other Chapter resources that may be required. The Chapter provides DAT coverage on a 24-hour basis.
Disaster Services Human Resource System (National Response)
Disasters know no boundaries and can happen anywhere. A hurricane hits or a tornado touches down, and suddenly a community that was thriving hours before is devastated. The efforts of local disaster volunteers often are quickly dwarfed in comparison to the destruction and number of people affected. It happens all the time. When it does, the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System fires into action, moving highly trained and experienced Red Cross volunteers into affected areas quickly and efficiently.
To become a DSHR System volunteer, you must be recommended by your Red Cross unit. In addition, you must regularly participate in an appropriate training program as an active chapter volunteer.
To be part of the DSHR requires flexibility to serve on disaster operations anywhere in the United States or its territories, with little or no advanced warning, for a minimum of 15 days. It requires a willingness to live under adverse conditions and work long hours daily for extended periods. You should be in good health, including stamina, endurance and physical capability to protect the health and safety of disaster victims and other relief workers.
For more information call 231-726-3555 or 800-813-8111.
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Muskegon Office
Serving Muskegon, Oceana and Newaygo Counties
313 West Webster Avenue
Muskegon, MI 49440
231-726-3555 (office)
231-722-4126 (fax)
800-813-8111
info@arcmon.org (e-mail)
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