Red Cross to host a training day for new disaster volunteers in Meriden, North Haven, New Haven and surrounding communities

The American Red Cross will host a one-day disaster volunteer training event on Saturday, July 29 from 9 a.m. – 2:30 p.m. at North Haven Fire Company #2, 282 Quinnipiac Avenue, North Haven. The training day is open to new, potential volunteers from Meriden, North Haven, New Haven and surrounding communities.

The Red Cross is looking for volunteers interested in becoming Disaster Action Team (DAT) members, volunteers who respond to local disasters, most commonly home fires. Local disaster volunteers are available to assist families with shelter, support and access to basic needs immediately following a home fire or other disaster.

Volunteers who attend the one-day training will leave prepared to serve the needs of their community that day. During the session, new volunteers will go through DAT training, meet members of the team and learn what it is like to be a disaster responder.

“Disaster volunteers are needed every day across our region,” said Neil Brockway, Regional Disaster Officer, American Red Cross Connecticut & Rhode Island Region. “This is a great opportunity for someone interested in joining our disaster team as a volunteer to be trained in a one-day session. After the training, these volunteers will be ready to sign up for their first shift to help families in need.”

Nationally, the Red Cross responds to a disaster every eight minutes. Last year, the Red Cross in Connecticut responded to 661 local disasters the majority of which were home fires. Volunteers are needed each and every day to respond to these incidents.

The Red Cross needs volunteers to join now to be trained and ready to help when a disaster happens. New volunteers will become part of a team that meets the immediate emergency needs of disaster victims. After the one-day training session, the volunteer will be ready to go out on their first disaster call with a team of seasoned disaster volunteers.

Advanced registration for the one-day orientation session is required. All volunteers interested in signing up to become Disaster Action Team volunteers must be available for four shifts per month, have reliable personal transportation and a personal cell phone. For more information and to register, visit: http://bit.ly/RedCrossTrainingDay.

About the American Red Cross:

The American Red Cross shelters, feeds and provides emotional support to victims of disasters; supplies about 40 percent of the nation's blood; teaches skills that save lives; provides international humanitarian aid; and supports military members and their families. The Red Cross is a not-for-profit organization that depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. For more information, please visit redcross.org/ct or visit us on Twitter at @CTRedCross.

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