American Red Cross of Northern Nevada staff were in Fallon this week meeting with elected officials, business leaders and community members to not only stress the need to be prepared for disaster, but also to urge residents to volunteer on its Disaster Action Team, serving Fallon and the rest of Churchill County.
“Our Red Cross volunteers support their community and neighbors each and every day,” said Lacey Costanza, recruitment specialist for Northern and Rural Nevada. “Disaster Action Team volunteers help families with their immediate needs after a home fire and offer support during a very difficult time. We need Fallon and other Churchill County residents to join our team to respond when our neighbors are in need.”
Red Cross volunteers respond to home fires, which are the nation’s most frequent disaster and can leave a family devastated and in need of immediate assistance. Disaster Action Team members provide emotional support, access to financial assistance and information to help families begin to recover. These specialized volunteers provide immediate compassion and care when it is needed most.
“Just knowing that someone is there to lend a helping hand during trying times provides the needed flicker of hope for our neighbors,” Costanza said. “Please join us by volunteering to help as a Red Cross volunteer and ensure no one in Fallon or the rest of Churchill County faces life’s emergencies alone.”
The Red Cross provides the training for Disaster Action Team volunteers. After the initial training, volunteers can take shifts that may include responding to emergencies within two hours, night or day, rain or shine, either on the scene or coordinating remotely to provide immediate compassion and care. With experience and further training, volunteers can take on leadership and response coordination roles to have a wider impact and be eligible for deployment to large scale emergencies/disasters in Nevada and other parts of the country.
To learn more about volunteering for the Disaster Action Team in Northern Nevada contact Lacey Costanza, volunteer recruitment specialist at: 775-225-3392 or lacey.costanza@redcross.org or visit redcross.org/volunteer/disaster-action-team.html.
