Experts say we are in for a busy hurricane season this year, and the American Red Cross needs volunteers who are willing to help should a storm hit North Carolina.
“The coronavirus pandemic may make it challenging to deploy trained disaster volunteers from other parts of the country should an emergency occur,” said Barry Porter, Regional CEO, American Red Cross Eastern North Carolina.
The American Red Cross faces a unique challenge in preparing for this hurricane season. During the current pandemic, it has established new guidelines for sheltering designed to keep workers and clients safe, such as setting up more small shelters, each with fewer clients.
Shelter Help Needed
There is a special need for volunteers to support sheltering efforts. Because of COVID-19, the Red Cross is placing those needing a safe place to stay in emergency lodging when possible. If necessary, the Red Cross and its partners will open shelters. However, to ensure proper social distancing, more shelter locations may be necessary and additional volunteers will be needed.
The Red Cross needs volunteers to help staff shelter reception, registration, feeding, dormitory, information collection and other vital tasks.
Health Services Support Needed
If you are an RN, LPN, LVN, APRN, NP, EMT, paramedic, MD/DO or PA with an active, current and unencumbered license, the Red Cross needs your support. Volunteers are needed in shelters to help assess people’s health. Daily observation and health screening for COVID-19 illness among shelter residents may also be required. RNs supervise all clinical tasks.
Roles are also available for Certified Nursing Assistants, Certified Home Health Aides, student nurses and medical students. Volunteers are needed who can provide care as delegated by a licensed nurse in shelters. This could include assisting with activities of daily living, personal assistance services, providing health education and helping to replace medications, durable medical equipment or consumable medical supplies.
Full information on volunteer opportunities is available here.
FOR THOSE INTERESTED IN VOLUNTEERING: If you are willing, able and interested in helping our community should a disaster occur, please go to redcross.org/volunteertoday to get started or contact encrecruit@redcross.org for more information.
