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Red Cross Continues Preparedness Efforts in the Nation’s Capital
Written by
Bonnie Gillespie
, Staff Writer, Redcross.org
Wednesday, September 10, 2003 — In the aftermath of September 11, 2001, the Washington, D.C. community offered an outpouring of support to victims and their families, with scores of volunteers taking part in an unprecedented disaster response at the Pentagon. Of the 1,445 Red Cross workers involved in the relief operation, 1,352 were local volunteers, and their work in the nation’s capital continues.
Serving an area of more than 1,400 square miles with a population of over 3.3 million, the Red Cross of the National Capital Area and its sister chapters strive daily to prepare communities, families and individuals for future disasters.
Trained Red Cross volunteers have saturated the D.C. area with preparedness brochures and posters. They’ve also held countless training classes and given disaster readiness presentations at businesses, community events, churches and civic organizations.
“When I talk to people about getting prepared, I try to make it seem do-able and not daunting,” said Debbie Fulmer, a volunteer with the National Capital Area chapter, who has been teaching preparedness classes for almost two years.
“I try to bring preparedness down to a personal level, because it can seem like an overwhelming task. But like I tell them, we just have to start with the basics and build from there,” Fulmer said.
Basic disaster readiness, like making a family evacuation plan, storing water, flashlights and first aid supplies are the beginnings personal preparedness, but with 58 percent of Americans still lacking fundamental supplies and plans, Red Cross chapters, like the ones in the D.C. area, have stepped up efforts to equip their communities.
“When I returned to D.C. after being part of the World Trade Center response in 2001, the chapter here had already started holding preparedness classes and we have basically been holding them at least monthly since then,” said George Nunez, a Red Cross preparedness instructor and volunteer for more than six years.
“Class participation has been high and not only individuals have been involved but organizations and local universities as well,” he said.
In the Washington, D.C. area, seven major universities are actively involved in Red Cross endeavors to ensure their campuses are ready if disaster strikes. Communities and businesses have also rallied to “prepare together,” like in neighboring Arlington, Va., where Red Cross educators have reached more than 16,000 in the past year with the “be ready” message.
“Our location gives us unique opportunities because not only can we work closely with Red Cross National Headquarters to implement new preparedness plans, but we’re right here near congressional offices and have given numerous briefings to members of congress and their staff on our Together We Prepare Campaign,” said Nunez.
Yet with the recent northeast blackout serving as staggering reminder to expect the unexpected, Red Cross chapters in the nation’s capital and across the U.S. renewed widespread efforts to equip Americans before disaster strikes.
“It seems sometimes like we have short memories when it comes to things like September 11th because I think there is still a tremendous need for preparedness education,” said Fulmer.
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