Red Cross prepares for disaster

NEWTON — The Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross is targeting beginners as well as advanced disaster trainees with a broad range of classes scheduled for both when it launches its third annual Together We Prepare Disaster Training Weekend July 28 to 30, 2006 at Sussex County Community College. “Our immediate objective is to provide our local volunteers with significant amounts of high quality advanced disaster training, and to deliver this training from the best instructors available in the Mid-Atlantic Region,” said Patricia S. Day, executive director of the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross. “This will allow our Chapter to grow our own certified instructor/supervisory corps largely through the vehicle of the Disaster Training Weekend. We anticipate training as many as 100 volunteers in advanced disaster preparedness during this event, with at least 20 percent of them achieving disaster relief supervisory status by the end of the weekend. This comes none too soon, because the worst of the hurricane season will be right on top of us as we move into the month of August.” Day also emphasized that Disaster Training Weekend is open to and welcomes new volunteers. “Volunteer orientation and training will continue to be an important part of the Disaster Training Weekend despite the highlighted goal of providing more than the usual amount of advanced and supervisory training options,” observed Day. “Last year’s devastating hurricane season and the very recent flooding along the Delaware River in Sussex County and down-river reminded us all that natural disasters can, and do, hit close to home. For your family’s sake you need to be ready. Our Disaster Training Weekend is the perfect place to start. The amount of training being offered is wide and deep. Everyone can start and go as far as they want during this weekend.” The Chapter’s Disaster Training Weekend would not be possible were it not for the support of the FirstEnergy Foundation and one of its units, JCP&L, a FirstEnergy electric operating company which serves much of Sussex County. The Together We Prepare Weekend will offer a wide variety of disaster readiness training and workshops for the community to find out how to prepare for emergencies, whether natural or man-made. Workshops will help attendees create disaster preparedness plans for their homes and businesses, for their families and even for their pets. Learn how to assemble a disaster supplies kit. Attendees can also learn how to help the Sussex County community through the Sussex County Chapter of the American Red Cross and the Office of Homeland Security’s local Community Emergency Response Team program, which is administered through the County Office of Emergency Management. Also featured during the Disaster Training Weekend will be the Red Cross Fire Safety Trailer, a simulated house in a 29 foot trailer which is designed to teach fire safety to young children from pre-K ages up to second or third grade. The house features a first-floor living room, entrance foyer, hallway, and kitchen, with an upstairs bedroom. Equipment to simulate smoke and fire is installed and children tour each room, learning about the typical fire hazards associated with each room and how to prevent, prepare for, and respond to actual fires. Your gifts and donations to Sussex Red Cross are re-invested in programs and services right here in Sussex County. The Red Cross is not a Government agency, but must rely on donations of time, money, and blood to do its work across the street, across the country, and around the world. “We are honored to have received a generous grant from FirstEnergy which enabled the Chapter to create our Third Annual Disaster Training Weekend here in Sussex County,” Day said. She also announced that Clear Channel Radio has undertaken media sponsorship of the weekend, and will actively publicize the Disaster Training Weekend in the weeks ahead through a series of public service announcements. Pre-registration is encouraged for Disaster Training Weekend, but walk-ins are welcome. Admission and workshops are free. Call 579-1600 extension 25 or e-mail rmarin@sussexredcross.org.