Disaster Services

Disasters affect individuals and families in our community every day. The American Red Cross is there, assisting in immediate emergency needs. We could not continue in our mission without our committed disaster volunteers. Take a moment of your time to look at our disaster volunteer opportunities. By getting involved and trained today, you can make a difference in someone's life tomorrow. Volunteers, take our Intro to Disaster Services by clicking here. Consider being a part of our Disaster Action Team, Emergency Preparedness or Disaster Response Team.

Are you a state employee?

If so, do you want to help others while getting paid by your job? With supervisor support and a few training classes by the Red Cross, you can take time off to serve as a disaster relief worker without losing vacation or compensation time at work.

Disaster Action Team
Disaster Action Team Member
Be part of the team that provides emergency response to local disasters, particularly house fires, ensuring that those affected have basic necessities such as food, shelter, and clothing. Volunteers drive to the scene in a Red Cross vehicle supplied with a variety of relief equipment. At the scene they report to the official in charge, assess the situation, and initiate the appropriate Red Cross assistance. Training provided.
Hours: On-call basis (volunteers are needed for shifts during the day, evening, and weekends)
Minimum commitment: 2-12 hour call shifts per month.

Disaster Mental Health Services
Provides emotional and short-term assistance to disaster workers and clients. Must be a licensed psychologist, social worker, or RN (with psychiatric nursing background). Training provided.
Hours: Vary (on-call for a week with Disaster Action Team or in times of large-scale disasters)

Disaster Health Services
When disaster strikes, disaster health services are needed to meet emergency health needs of disaster victims and to provide services for volunteer staff assigned to the disaster. Disaster health services provide these services in a variety of settings: home or hospital visits, on site of a disaster, shelters, or service centers. Must be a licensed LPN, RN, EMT, or MD.
Hours: Vary (On-Call for a week with Disaster Action Team, or in times of large-scale disaster)

Emergency Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness Assistant, Shelters
Aid Emergency Services in surveying existing shelters. Contact and establish agreements with new shelters. Aid Shelter Function Lead with establishing shelters during a disaster.
Hours: Flexible: Monday through Friday, 8a.m.-4:30p.m. Will be called on in a large-scale disaster to assist the Shelter Function Lead.

Disaster Response Team
Shelter Managers
Shelter Managers are volunteers who provide an important service to the disaster stricken area. Shelter Managers supervise other volunteers in the shelter who register clients, serve snacks and meals, and keep the clients informed of help and what is going on in their community. Shelter Managers will be expected to respond quickly, so that shelters may be identified and opened. Extensive training provided.
Hours: Vary

Disaster Health Services
When disaster strikes, disaster health services are needed to meet emergency health needs of disaster victims and to provide services for volunteer staff assigned to the disaster. Disaster health services provide these services in a variety of settings: home or hospital visits, on site of a disaster, shelters, or service centers. Must be a licensed LPN, RN, EMT, First Responder or MD.
Hours: Vary

Emergency Operations Center Liaison
When called, an EOC Liaison will report to their designated Office of Emergency Preparedness office to be the Red Cross Representative. This individual is responsible for keeping Chapter Headquarters informed of the response of agencies and vice versa. Individual needs to be extremely knowledgeable about Red Cross Services. Will be assigned to the OEP office in their parish.
Hours: Vary

Disaster Mental Health Services
Provides emotional and short-term assistance to disaster workers and clients. Must be a licensed psychologist, social worker, or RN (with psychiatric nursing background). Training provided.
Hours: Vary (on-call for a week with Disaster Action Team)

Damage Assessment
Gathers, analyzes, and distributes detailed information on the nature and the degree of the disaster’s damage so that Red Cross services may be effectively utilized to the benefit of the community. Individuals will be expected to respond immediately after a disaster.
Hours: Vary

Family Services
Responsible for working with individuals and families to address their disaster-caused needs. Individuals should be caring individuals who are good with paperwork. Training provided. Encouraged to participate with the Disaster Action Team to keep skills sharp.
Hours: Vary

Disaster Public Affairs
Responsible for informing the public through various media outlets about Red Cross programs and services available to those affected by disaster and to the community at large. Needed for weekend and evening on-call assignments for media response to local disasters. Media professionals or experience working with the media preferred.
Hours: Vary

Disaster Welfare Inquiry
Responsible for receiving and responding to inquiries about the health and welfare of individuals and families within a disaster area, collecting and reporting information about such persons, providing services leading to reunification of family members in an affected area, and providing information for necessary reports. Need to be good with paperwork and people.
Hours: Vary

Logistic Technicians
Logistics Technicians are critical to any operation. These individuals will help ensure that supplies are delivered to designated areas. Help transport cars. Serve as navigators to outside volunteers coming in to help during a disaster. If you are a certified Fork Lift Drive or hold a commercial license, this is a wonderful opportunity for you.
Hours: Vary

Communications
This is another key component of any disaster response. Communications is responsible for establishing and maintaining disaster communication systems, this includes, telephone, fax, radio, satellite and any other forms of communications. Here Communications works closely with Disaster Computer Operations. This position is perfect for anyone certified as a HAM Radio Operator.
Hours: Vary

Disaster Human Resources
Our Disaster Human Resources serves two functions: Local Disaster Volunteers and Staffing. Both functions require a person who is mature, cheerful, and a people person. Our Disaster Human Resources help answer volunteer inquiries, work with individuals interested in volunteering during a time a disaster, process in Red Cross volunteers from outside of the Baton Rouge area. Disaster Human Resources will be located at many locations through the area to better serve our volunteers.
Hours: Vary