Disaster Action Team Trainees

Want to give your community a hand after disaster strikes? Join the Red Cross's Disaster Action Team (DAT)! These volunteers are on the scene providing emergency care and comfort to both victims and emergency workers for everything from single-family fires to state-wide hurricanes. Disaster Action Teams are available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, helping families and individuals get back on their feet after a major or minor natural disaster.

Disaster Action Team (DAT) Trainee Volunteers directly help their communities recover from disasters such as residential fires (post-emergency), brush fires, and other emergencies. Volunteers learn how to conduct disaster relief fieldwork, such as providing assistance, emergency food, clothing, shelter, and limited financial support. Duties include conducting damage assessment and collecting client information effectively and confidentially.

Disaster Action Team (DAT) Volunteers must be 18 years of age or older.

Additional duties may include:

• Assisting in maintaining the readiness of disaster response vehicles and related equipment
• Supporting the Mass Care function, including assisting with mass feeding operations

Time commitment:

• Flexible. Four 8-hour shifts per month on-call from the volunteer's home, either during the day or evening. Exact times vary
• Weekends and evenings urgently needed

Qualifications:

• Must be comfortable with basic data entry, and be able to lift 10-40 pounds repeatedly, climb stairs, work in a potentially smoky and damp environment with little light, and stand or walk for extended periods of time in all types of weather
• Must be comfortable with periods of downtime while waiting to be dispatched
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Excellent communication skills (written and verbal)
• Problem solving and active listening skills
• Strong organizational skills
• Ability to work independently and in a team
• Should know basic Microsoft Office applications
• English fluency; multilingual a plus!
• Strong customer service skills
• Must have reliable transportation and a driver's license

Training:

• Cultural sensitivity
• Training: Red Cross Orientation
• Disaster Cycle Services an Overview
• Client Assistance System
• Disaster Action Team Workshop
• On the job training working with experienced disaster responders

Express interest below! And be sure to ask about American Red Cross's other volunteer opportunities, including Surge Capacity Shelter Role where volunteers are deployed (all expenses paid) to disaster areas.