Local Red Cross call center in need of volunteers
By WHITNEY PANDIL-EATON Staff Writer wpandileaton@minotdailynews.comVolunteers are urgently needed for the American Red Cross call center, located at 2021-4th Ave. NW. The call center is an informational and nationwide natural disaster response unit that answers calls ranging from questions about blood donation to rescue assistance.
"The American Red Cross chose Minot as one of its call centers because we don't have many disasters and because we have a good work ethic - they know we will be here when there is a disaster." said Diane Chilson, health and safety director of the Mid-Dakota Chapter.
Chilson said the Red Cross is looking for year-round volunteers who can help on the local and national level.
"It can be as simple as coming in and routing messages or as involved as going to disaster places like Katrina."
During a typical four-hour shift, a volunteer could expect 30 to 40 calls, but not all of them are disaster-related, Chilson said. Calls can vary from information about CPR classes to assisting disaster victims in evacuation situations.
"During Katrina, someone from a rooftop was listening to the radio, heard our number and called us - we helped organize the Coast Guard rescue. It's kinda like being there," Chilson said.
Because of Hurricane Gustav, the call center has been open all week. Currently, the Red Cross is setting up mini-sites in Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama for evacuees that would provide immediate shelter and food. Red Cross volunteers from Bismarck are already on their way to Louisiana and volunteers from Minot are on standby, Chilson said. She added that if any volunteers wanted to help out victims of Hurricane Gustav, she would be able to help them navigate through the red tape quickly.
The call center does not have specific hours or days of operation, but the center has an answering service that goes to an on-call volunteer.
The Mid-Dakota chapter of the American Red Cross covers 14 counties. Volunteers from the chapter provided assistance to the Rolla and Belcourt tornado victims as well as provided snacks and water to firefighters who battled the Trestle Valley and Eastside Estate fires. The Red Cross also responds to single-family fires, providing emergency food, clothing and shelter when requested.
The next volunteer training session will be held Thursday, Sept. 4, at 6:30 p.m. at the Red Cross office. The RCN, or regional call network, class will teach volunteers about working in the call center and handling calls. Chilson said the class would last a couple of hours.
Saturday, Sept. 6, there will be two other training sessions running simultaneously from 10 a.m to 6 p.m. The damage assessment class will focus on teaching volunteers to assess damage and establish aid resource needs for a disaster area. The DAT, or disaster action team, class will train volunteers to respond to local disasters.
Those who would like further information are asked to call Megan Kruger, disaster services director, at 852-2828 or visit (www.minotredcross.org).
