When large weather events strike Western Washington, our Pacific Ocean coastline often bears the brunt of the storm. Strong winds and heavy rains have the potential to cause significant damage and impact the people who live there.
In addition to the coastline, Clallam and Jefferson Counties include the Olympic Mountains and Rainforest, the Straits of Juan de Fuca and Cascadia Subduction Zone. In the event of a large scale disaster, trained emergency responders and volunteers will be critical to a Red Cross response.
The American Red Cross serving Kitsap and Olympic Peninsulas continues to recruit, train and support these teams of responders. This November the Red Cross hosted a Mass Care Workshop in the Sequim office, organized by Disaster Program Manager Stephen Finley.
The workshop provided Clallam County volunteers an in-depth look at the elements of Mass Care and their role in a potential response. “Mass Care” typically includes meeting an impacted population’s most basic needs, such as safe shelter, food and water.
Planning has begun to offer the training again in Bremerton so additional volunteers from the Kitsap county area may participate.
If you are interested in learning how you can help with disaster response as a Red Cross volunteer, contact Anne Ricciardi – anne.ricciardi@redcross.org or visit redcross.org.
American Red Cross NW Region 