Red Cross Says Internal Changes Won't Affect ResponseBy Andy McKeever, iBerkshires Staff
10:29AM / Thursday, January 16, 2014 | |
 Cindy Hahn told the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee that while the Red Cross' disaster response is changing internally, it won't affect service in the county. |
DALTON, Mass. — The Red Cross has consolidated its operational regions but it won't cause any trouble in response, area emergency responders were told Wednesday.
Cindy Hahn, disaster program manager for territory 1, said the organization has brought disaster response operations into one region for the whole state but, the local chapters will remain, with the same volunteers.
"Most of the changes are happening internally," Hahn told the Central Berkshire Regional Emergency Planning Committee. "Now we are all one, which make a little bit of a difference in our response, which is really nothing you will see."
There is now one dispatch system through an 1-800 number that is answered in Cambridge. From there, the agency would dispatch through the local chapters. But that's pretty much the only change for local responders, Hahn said.
Hahn said she is distributing that information to emergency responders and refreshed the group — consisting of police, hospital, ambulance, Massachusetts Emergency Management Agency and fire personnel — on what Red Cross provides. When dispatched, the Berkshire County branch will respond with volunteers and a disaster relief vehicle to provide services.
Hahn asked the responders to call anytime they respond to an incident that affects people — such as house fires — but not so much for commercial situations. She added that Red Cross dispatchers will use Google Earth to know what type of terrain and building they are responding to.
The volunteers will arrive with their disaster vehicle, which has seating, drinks and snacks. The volunteers will meet with the victims — or clients as the Red Cross calls them — and assess their needs. For example, if a family lost their clothing in the fire, the Red Cross can give them vouchers for new ones.
Hahn said basic necessities, gift cards, grocery money and hotel rooms are all given out through the Red Cross depending on the individual's needs.
As a help to responders, Hahn said, "we're talking to the client, over here and keeping them busy with us."
However, a firefighter from Richmond said there were more benefits than that from Red Cross. He recalled a long night fighting a house fire when Red Cross volunteers showed up with two large boxes of sandwiches from the nearby McDonald's. Hahn said the group was able to get them at half price and deliver them to the responders.
To make dispatching easier, Hahn said the Franklin County emergency response group asked for a check list of information to give dispatchers. The incident commander can assess any damage and relay the information to the Red Cross so the right amount of supplies can be brought. Hahn said she could share that if the local dispatch centers wanted them.
She added that in Berkshire County, there are a lot of renters who often need a lot of extra assistance. Hahn said the organization always advocates for residents to purchase rental insurance but often they don't. Renters tend to think that the landlord has insurance, which they do, she said, but "it's not insurance for you, it's insurance for them."
Hahn also reported that nonprofit organization is making progress with a new program — Community Organizers Active in Disasters — which is bringing multiple service agencies together so they are not duplicating efforts in emergency responses.
"It's been a real positive organization," she said.
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