At the recent Disaster Training Academy on May 3-5, 2024, at the American Red Cross of Orange County in Santa Ana, Red Cross volunteers and staff came together for a weekend of learning, teambuilding, vehicle training and fun. Photo: Nick Toller/American Red Cross.
“This has been an amazing event. Volunteers from all over the region have come to improve their knowledge and confidence.”
- Debbie Leahy, Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross Southern California Region
By Emily Bartlett, American Red Cross volunteer
At the recent Disaster Training Academy on May 3-5 at the American Red Cross of Orange County in Santa Ana, an energetic group of volunteers and staff came together for a weekend of learning, teambuilding, ERV/MRV (emergency response vehicle/mission response vehicle) training, and fun. Participants took classes, practiced for disaster scenarios, and watched as some drove in a “rodeo” obstacle course simulating hazardous conditions.
The Red Cross deploys ERVs/MRVs into disaster-affected areas, where Red Cross volunteers can utilize these vehicles to deliver food and water, emergency supplies, clean-up kits and more – hope on wheels.
Red Cross volunteer Carson Walsh became interested in ERV certification after attaining first aid certification through the Red Cross as a teenager. “I want to help out my local community and be ready to go if needed,” he said.
Every day, the Red Cross assists people who face disasters, and it is ERVs and MRVs at the frontline of this critical work. To drive these signature red and white vans across the county, state or country, volunteers undergo training to learn about the capabilities of these vehicles to help deliver food, supplies and hope to disaster survivors.
The Disaster Cycle Services team had a goal to register 80 new drivers and bring together volunteers from San Diego, Orange County, and other parts of the state. They were successful: 144 people attended the event, and 81 registered for ERV/MRV certification.
Disaster Training Academy Prepares Volunteers to Respond to Local and National Emergencies
Attendees also signed up for course topics related to disaster relief, from the basics of sheltering, feeding, and transportation to operations and logistics. Programs highlighted the importance of caring for individuals with a variety of unique needs. In Serving Latinos and Diverse Populations, Stephanie Mendoza, Disaster Program Manager, Disaster Cycle Services, spoke of the importance of inclusiveness for Hispanic and Latino populations, which comprise 30%-70% of many California communities. “You want to make sure you have bilingual volunteers and Spanish-speaking caseworkers,” she said, “and that people in need feel safe, comfortable and cared for.”
“This has been an amazing event,” said Debbie Leahy, Regional Disaster Officer with the American Red Cross Southern California Region. “Volunteers from all over the region have come to improve their knowledge and confidence.”
In an immersive experience, participants were asked to play roles in a shelter simulation. They practiced receiving and registering residents and providing care and food. Volunteer “actors” were assigned individual needs, such as disabilities, language barriers, injuries, or even animal companions. Those playing disaster relief roles had to consider each individual within the context of the shelter. Shishir Shah, long-time Red Cross Disaster Cycle Services volunteer and Board Chair of the Red Cross of Orange County, was leading the exercise. “We’re giving the volunteers an idea of what this will be like in real life,” he said. “They learn to fill forms, serve food, set up cots, and what the potholes will be.”
“A dorm [shelter] is like a big city, you have a lot of people with different needs,” added Rodney Escobedo, a retired FedEx driver and Red Cross volunteer for six years, who attended the event with his wife, Alicia. “We’re always trying to get to ‘yes’.” Rodney has deployed to several disaster responses, including the Camp Fire in 2018 and the blizzard in Lake Arrowhead in 2023. He views training events like this one as an essential part of getting volunteers prepared and mobilized for when the unexpected happens. Being a good trainer, he says, is about sharing your motivation with other people. “You’ve got to believe and be excited about what you do.”
The event concluded with a fiesta lunch on Cinco de Mayo, with tables decorated with cowboy hats and sunglasses, and then the ERV/MRV Rodeo, where drivers maneuvered emergency response vehicles in an obstacle course set up with care in the chapter’s parking lot. The rodeo was a draw for new and veteran drivers, with many visiting from outside of Orange County.
Rick Krukowski, a retired hazmat driver who lives in San Diego, became involved with the Red Cross after a near-fatal accident which caused him to require several blood donations. Now he gives back whenever he can as a Red Cross blood donor and volunteer. “I’ve logged a lot of hours in my time as a volunteer, but I came here today for the rodeo,” he explained. “If it weren’t for donors, I wouldn’t be here. When we come together for these events, we make good things happen!”
Attendees were in high spirits. “Everyone agrees this has been a good use of their time,” said Lori Ruden, Mass Care Coordinator for the Red Cross of Orange County chapter. “We’re developing our relationships in person, bringing together new staff with long-time Red Cross volunteers with extensive experience.”
The event’s full program included:
To learn more about how you can help as a Red Cross volunteer, visit redcross.org/volunteertoday.
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