A hurricane hits or a tornado touches down and suddenly a community that was thriving hours before is devastated. The efforts of local disaster volunteers often are quickly dwarfed in comparison to the destruction and number of people affected. It happens all the time.
And when it does, the Disaster Services Human Resources (DSHR) System fires into action, moving highly trained and experienced Red Cross disaster volunteers into affected areas quickly and efficiently. It can be five blocks or 5,000 miles from your home.
The DSHR System is actually designed to serve two functions:
To support the efforts of local Red Cross units
in disaster affected areas.
To provide both new and veteran Red Cross disaster volunteers with a career-development
path within Disaster Services
It is an opportunity to have more, do more and be more on a disaster.
How do you become a DSHR volunteer?
To become a DSHR System candidate, you must be recommended by your Red
Cross unit of affiliation. In addition, you must regularly participate
in an extensive disaster training program - administered through the national
organization - and continue to serve as a member of your Red Cross unit's
disaster response team.
In order to become part of the DSHR System, you must have:
Flexibility to serve on disaster operations anywhere
in the United States or its territories - with little or no advanced warning
- for a minimum of three weeks.
Willingness to live under adverse conditions and work long daily hours
for extended periods of time.
Good health including the stamina, endurance and physical capability to
protect the health and safety of disaster victims and other disaster relief
workers.
A sense of professional spirit and adventure.
If you would like more information on the DSHR
System, please contact Mike Dusso at 715-735-6062.