Still haven't heard from the Red Cross

[rachelmanija]

Does anyone know of any organization that is flying out volunteers? I'm certified in disaster relief (family services, damage assessment, shelter work, etc) by the American Red Cross, but because they have their heads up their asses (or because they're still pissed off at me for quitting without notice-- but not in the field!) they are not contacting me. My time-sensitive certifications like first aid and CPR may have expired, though; I was last certified in those three or four years ago. But the others are for life.

ETA: The chapter I contacted was the local one (Los Angeles) that I used to work at.

Comments

[sartorias.livejournal.com]

Rachel, have you tried contacting any Red Cross people in Texas? They seem to be mobilizing in an admirable way--if one can judge from this distance.
Seems to me they'd grab you up in a nanosecond.

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

The Red Cross chapter here in Morris County, NJ has got an official call out for volunteers today, either trained or untrained. You want the number?

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

Still looking for the number, but the Central NJ chapter has theirs up: 609-951-8550

[boniblithe.livejournal.com]

And here's Bergen-Hudson, which is a 15 min bus ride from NYC: (201) 652-3210 or (201) 433-3100

[arielstarshadow.livejournal.com]

From what I've heard, no one is being allowed in - they are trying to get everyone out.

[yhlee.livejournal.com]

From This Wired article (http://www.wired.com/news/planet/0,2782,68720,00.html):

Where organizations like the Red Cross discourage anything other than financial donations, sites like craigslist allow people to meet up with victims for face-to-face aid. Craigslist (http://www.craigslist.org/) users have flooded the New Orleans site with offers of shelter and comfort.

I don't know if this is authoritative. I hope it helps.

[pameladean]

A woman I know in Minneapolis who's a nurse called the local Red Cross office and volunteered; they were pathetically delighted to have her and she'll be going down there in another couple of days. I don't know if you don't want to deal with the Red Cross at all, but if that's not the case, calling your local office might be helpful.

P.

[gastonmonescu.livejournal.com]

CPR certification needs to be renewed annually, first aid every three years.

[hokelore.livejournal.com]

Two years on CPR now, at least where I work. But this hospital uses American Heart; Red Cross may be different.

[gastonmonescu.livejournal.com]

I just renewed. The Red Cross are hardcore!

[literaticat.livejournal.com]

I know a lot of relief efforts are being mobilized out of Lafayette, too. Maybe if you called the local chapters of the RC, they would tell you what is really going on?

[catwithclaws.livejournal.com]

Sacramento Red Cross is --

http://www.sacsierraredcross.org/main_NRM/nrm_show.asp?topic=NWS_HEADLINES&flattopic=1&LngKey=en&subject=NWS_EDA63ECC-D936-45FE-A39E-0E16243DDCBA