With FEMA in Wisconsin following
those devastating floods in and
around Milwaukee, the American Red
Cross of Wisconsin is issuing
what it calls an urgent call
for disaster action team volunteers
to help families both locally
and nationwide.
Catherine Halverson with the Red
Cross of Wisconsin joins us
with more and thanks very much for
being here.
Absolutely, happy to be here.
Thanks for having us.
So I know that the Red Cross
responded to Milwaukee.
What kinds of work did
people with the Red Cross do there?
Yeah, absolutely.
We have had volunteers responding
around the clock to Milwaukee.
Originally, we had opened.
Two shelters and
then consolidated to
Milwaukee Marshall High School down
to one centralized location
that was more accessible to the
clients that we were serving there.
And we were offering everything from
a place to stay and eat,
to charge your phone, people can
stay as long or as little as they
needed. And then on top of that, we
were always offering our wraparound
services. So mental health support.
Disaster support, casework recovery,
resources outside of us.
It takes a huge effort and
partnership in the community to
be able to help those that needed us
most. How many people availed
themselves of your services?
Unbelievable, we had 100
local Wisconsin Red
Crossers respond.
So we started as a level three
disaster which is basically still
managed by the Wisconsin region.
And then we upped it to
a level four disaster response
operation. So now we're
starting to see that national
leadership support because
the need is so great.
So it's great that now we have that
national leader supporting us.
That sounds as though the Red Cross
maintains a presence in Milwaukee.
Absolutely. Like I said, we've got
seven levels for disaster and
when you hit that four level four
disaster, we got folks
from national that are
really stepping in now to support us
and offer guidance and leadership to
our regional team. Of course, we
don't want anyone to get burnt out
at the regional local level.
So I believe in total we have over
150 volunteers
helping with Milwaukee still.
And now you're putting out an urgent
call for disaster volunteers.
Why are you doing that?
Yeah, you know, we
respond to 65,000
disasters every single year.
And in the Red Cross there's a
saying and it's we're in continuous
disaster response.
With disasters happening more
frequently, we're responding to
a disaster, new disasters
within 15 days.
So just to mention
too, while we had
this flooding happening in
Milwaukee, we also
had to open a third shelter
unrelated to the floods.
Because of an apartment complex
fire that displaced more
than 40 people.
So this is nothing new to
the Red Cross.
It's just about building that
capacity now.
We need more boots on the ground
helping us be there for
clients when it's needed most.
What would volunteers expect to
be doing if they signed out?
Yeah, so we have a really great
process.
When you sign up through
redcross.org slash
volunteer, we have volunteer
services team that is fielding all
these new applications.
And then they go through the process
with you of determining where
you think your talents will
be utilized best.
So I will say first and foremost,
our biggest needed position is
disaster action team.
So you're the first people helping
families after a home fire
or flood.
Aside from that, we have so many
other positions, sheltering
positions, casework, mental health
care.
It's really an endless opportunities
available to those who are looking
to make a difference and it doesn't
require any previous training.
We offer all the training available
through our volunteer connection
portal.
And so, if you're a volunteer
for the Red Cross and the phone
rings, you've got to
go right then.
Not necessarily.
So you can say no.
So we have, how it works is
we work closely with our
fire departments and they call
us to notify us
of a home fire.
So in terms of the disaster
action team position, this is,
and you can decline if
you aren't able to go.
But we usually always have a
volunteer willing to
go and this could happen in the
middle of the night.
So I like to say
too we we don't allow anyone to go
to a home fire response alone.
We work in teams of two and
then as far as deployments, those
are a little bit more of a
commitment for national
deployments. It is two weeks.
But for something local like this,
we did open up flexibility for
volunteers to insert the
days that they could help out.
Well, Catherine Halverson, we leave
it there, but thank you and thank
you for your work.
Absolutely. Thank you so much for
giving us this platform to talk
about our response.
You were great.
I see why they gave
you to us. Thank you.
There's so much to cover in such a
short time, thank you so much.
Yeah, you did a really nice job.
Thank you.
Thank you. Have a great rest of your
weekend.