Alaskans stepping up to aid disaster relief efforts in Texas

WASILLA — Valley residents are joining others across Southcentral in acting on a desire to help with the ongoing relief efforts from Hurricane Harvey. As Texas begins the recovery effort from more than four feet of rain, both the Wasilla and Anchorage Alaska Red Cross offices have been flooded with phone calls, according to spokespersons for both.

Bill Morrow, Mat-Su disaster program manager, said the number of public inquiries on how to help picked up substantially in the last couple of days.

“We’re not quite as busy as Anchorage, but we’ve had inquiries since (last) Sunday. Things have really picked up within the last 48 hours,” Morrow said Thursday afternoon. “We also have a booth at the Alaska State Fair and we’ve been taking names and numbers.”

Lisa Miller, ARC regional communications officer, said phones at her office have been ringing non-stop.

“Even before the storm really hit we had an onslaught (of calls),” Miller said. “They’ve been occupying all the time of our front desk clerk. As she’s taking a message, three more calls are coming in!”

Morrow said two Mat-Su residents are departing for the area Friday as Red Cross volunteers and two more are expected to leave next week.

“We’re encouraging people to volunteer, but we ask them to be patient. It may take a while (for ARC to answer all calls),” said Morrow.

Because of the overwhelming amount of calls, Miller said the ARC has scheduled volunteer training workshops across the state. They are planned for Anchorage—which also includes the Mat-Su, Fairbanks and Juneau. Miller said Hurricane Harvey has displaced tens of thousands of people and the national Red Cross is in need of volunteers to assist in recovery efforts that are expected to continue for months beyond the storm’s end.

She said, the training qualifies volunteers for national callouts as well as smaller disasters like home fires in local communities.

“Due to the tremendous outpouring of support, the Alaska chapter has scheduled a series of new volunteer training sessions that will prepare Alaskans to potentially deploy to Texas over the next few months. Once the training program is completed, new volunteers will also be qualified to respond to local disaster efforts,” Miller said. She added that training can also be utilized for smaller disasters like home fires in local communities.

“We greatly appreciate the response in our community to assist,” said Kelley McGuirk, ARC regional disaster officer at the Red Cross of Alaska. “Please be aware this will be an extremely challenging deployment. You must be in good physical and mental health and know that this can be mentally and emotionally exhausting.”

McGuirk said the effects of Harvey will be felt for a long time.

“New volunteers interested in deploying with the Red Cross of Alaska should allow about a month’s time for the on boarding process to be complete,” said McGuirk.

McGuirk said procedures are in place to track volunteers including running a background check on those working directly with the public or having access to funds. Volunteers also sign an agreement to abide by Red Cross code of ethics and conduct.

Miller said those wanting to make the commitment should plan on spending at least 14 days at their destination. She said Red Cross will cover the costs of getting volunteers to wherever the organization feels they are best suited. She said volunteers will be housed and fed during their deployment.

“We ask for 14 days, give or take. But we’ve had some people stay much longer,” Miller said. “We had someone in Louisiana (with Hurricane Katrina) arrive in December and stay until February. It can be extremely challenging mentally and emotionally. The days can be long and it’s hard work.”

The following information is related to the scheduled Anchorage training and any prospective volunteer is required to attend a “New Volunteer Orientation” course as well as one of the Saturday Shelter Fundamentals and Shelter Exercise.

Orientation classes will be held on the following dates from 5:30-7 p.m. tentatively scheduled at the Anchorage Fire Training Center, 1140 Airport Heights Road.

Tuesday, Sept. 5, to register, go to: http://www.cvent.com/d/xtq75p;

Wednesday. Sept. 6, to register go to: http://www.cvent.com/d/ltq75t;

Weds, Sept. 13, to register visit http://www.cvent.com/d/ttq75g;

Thursday, Sept. 14, to register visit: http://www.cvent.com/d/0tq7t6.

Miller said the course content includes: Hurricane Harvey response overview; Red Cross values and mission; general volunteer opportunities; disaster cycle services: an overview; expectations and next steps for deployment.

After completing the New Volunteer Orientation course, Miller said the next step is to attend a shelter fundamentals course and exercise. The course will be offered 9 a.m.-2:30 p.m. on Sept. 9 and 16.

To register for the Sept. 9 class, go to: http://www.cvent.com/d/btq7th or for the Sept. 16 offering visit: http://www.cvent.com/d/vtq7t7. Again, the tentative location is the Alaska Fire Training Center in Anchorage.

For questions on Anchorage training courses, please contact Celia Jackson at celia.jackson@redcross.org. For additional Red Cross information, call the Wasilla office at 357-6060 or the Anchorage office at 907-646-5400.

Miller said there are other ways to assist the Red Cross relief effort. In addition to visiting redcross.org/Alaska to make a monetary donation, those wishing to help can call 1-800-REDCROSS. She said those with cellphones can text the word HARVEY to 90999 to make a $10 donation which is automatically tacked on to the caller’s cellular bill.

Miller said because of the associated time and cost involved with accepting, cleaning and shipping items such as food, clothing and other household goods, a financial gift is the best way for the public to help.

The ARC is not the only group deploying help. Joint Base Elmendorf-Richardson (JBER) Air National Guard is also getting involved. Members of the 176th Wing Air National Guard, and a dozen pararescue personnel from the 212th Rescue Squadron loaded up a C-17 earlier this week and are now assisting with the effort in Texas.