By Alana Mauger

Last month, around 40 volunteers participated in the fall Mass Care exercise presented by American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania disaster volunteers and staff on the grounds of Norristown State Hospital in Montgomery County. The training exercise used the region’s response to Hurricane Ida as a case study throughout the day to help explore aspects of Mass Care.

Volunteer Mass Care Lead Janice Thomas and Disaster Services Program Specialist Jacob Poleviyuma facilitated the training, which started with an overview of the region’s Ida response from Regional Disaster Officer Erin Stephens. Then, Dr. Nadine Bean, West Chester University professor emerita and Red Cross disaster mental health (DMH) volunteer, stressed the importance of volunteer self-care during her DMH presentation.

“Whatever you are feeling in response to what you see, touch, smell and feel during a disaster are normal responses to abnormal situations,” she said, noting that DHM volunteers are there to support Red Cross volunteers as well as clients in disaster situations.

Dr. Bean shared her own volunteer experiences in Lower Manhattan after 9/11 and in Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina. She also led the group in a 4-7-8 breathing exercise and through a brief guided meditation in addition to providing a list of free apps and resources to help volunteers deal with stress.

Next, Volunteer Feeding Lead Rick Tashman explained how the Red Cross feeds clients and volunteers in shelter situations through partnerships and agreements with organizations like the Salvation Army and local businesses and restaurants. He called on everyone in the room to help build the organization’s feeding capacity.

“My lesson learned from Ida is that I need a team,” he shared, inviting volunteers to join the team or help provide leads for new restaurant partners.

Volunteer Sheltering Lead Edward Robold next went through the contents of the shelter supervisor crate – filled with instruction manuals, forms and other paperwork shelter workers must understand.

After lunch, Volunteer Regional Disaster Services Technology (DST) Lead Bill Bianco introduced participants to the world of amateur ham radio, a relatively new Red Cross group in SEPA that can help with communications during a disaster.

“My goal is to get as many rank-and-file Red Crossers to become licensed operators as we can,” Bianco said, noting that 12 Red Cross volunteers took and passed the exam over the past year.

The day concluded with Disaster Services Supervisor Matthew Breidenstein providing an overview of Logistics, including how shelter supply trucks are loaded and the ins and outs of setting up and packing up a shelter.

At the day’s conclusion, many of the participants agreed that meeting fellow volunteers was a highlight.

“I enjoyed being around people, meeting many for the first time,” said volunteer Joe Nedzia, who joined the Red Cross just before Ida. “Seeing people on the computer is not the same.”

Randy Miller, who became a Red Cross disaster mental health volunteer in September, agrees.

“I appreciated learning from the long-time volunteers about the different areas of the Red Cross and seeing their dedication and passion for the work they do,” she said. “The disaster mental health presentation meant the most to me, personally. “I thought [Dr. Bean] did a tremendous job.”

Eileen Moran, who has been active performing disaster assessments this hurricane season with her husband, Jeff, enjoyed the amateur ham radio presentation.

“I knew nothing about radio; that sounds so interesting,” she said.

To learn volunteer opportunities at the Red Cross, call our local volunteer line at 215-650-3113 or visit the Volunteer section of our website.