[Community-service] Experiences with Disaster relief

[Jeff Crouch]

Hello,
I have been with the Red Cross for 2 1/2 years. During this time I have served as the client caseworker for the disaster action teams, I've been an instructor in CPR and first aide, and in my most recent position I served as disaster service technology team leader for 13 counties in the state of Michigan before moving to the west side of the state. It was my team that served the flint water crisis. I was both on the ground and at the headquarters. I dealt with aspects from technology to passing out water and water filters. Wile this was at the local level, it turned into a national response. It gave my disaster program manager a view into what blind people can do. At the time she was very hesitant to put me out in the field. She wanted to put me behind a desk answering telephones. I told her that this was unacceptable and that I was more than capable and qualified to be in the field doing the work that my colleagues were doing. With a bit of negotiating I was able to go out into the field with one of my friends who I've worked with for years. After this disaster response operation; my disaster program manager realized that I was much more capable, in that blindness wasn't the characteristic that held me back. The thing that you will find when going in to a disaster response operation is that everything is still being transitioned over to technology. This means that 80% of what you will encounter in the field will be paperwork not on the computer. And most people will try to keep you behind the front desk. I say this not to discourage you but to give you encouragement and motivation. If you have any questions about what I've done in the field nationally state or local or have any questions about volunteering with the Red Cross, please feel free to email me or call me. Please find my contact information below.
Email: k8tvv2 at gmail.com
Phone: 616-443-3576

The National Federation of the Blind knows that blindness is not the characteristic that defines you or your future. Every day we raise the expectations of blind people, because low expectations create obstacles between blind people and our dreams. You can live the life you want; blindness is not what holds you back.

Thanks and warmest regards.
Jeff Crouch
President, Michigan Association of Blind Students


> On May 9, 2017, at 19:46, Miranda via Community-Service <community-service at nfbnet.org> wrote:
> 
> Hi everyone,
> I am in the process of training to be involved with my local chapter of the American Red Cross as a disaster relief case worker. I recently received an email as part of the disaster relief volunteer team noting the possibility to be deployed in other cities or states. Have any of you volunteered in such a position where you were called upon for deployment during disasters or emergencies outside your local area? If so, could you share about your experiences and any adaptations you made, especially being in an unfamiliar location?
> If I were to agree to deployment, I would probably begin with deployments with in my state. Prior to accepting a deployment, I would familiarize myself with the state and regional staff and volunteer team.
> Thanks in advance for your feedback, and have a wonderful week!
> 
> Best wishes, Miranda
> 
> Sent from my iPhone
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