THE SIGHT of the mighty United States Government being overwhelmed by Hurricane Katrina reminds us of the challenges faced in such a disaster. But when a hurricane hits, what can we do?
Red Cross is perhaps the most well-known voluntary organisation in Jamaica with over 3,000 volunteers islandwide. In fact, Red Cross is currently deliberating whether to send volunteers to the U.S. to help the relief effort said Ruth Chisholm, director of Emergency Services and Communications.
"The voluntary spirit is essential in responding to a hurricane," said Michelle Edwards, director of Preparedness at the Office of Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Management. "And the response by the public when the Prime Minister appealed for volunteers after Ivan is evidence that Jamaicans want to help each other at such a time."
ODPEM, revealed Ms. Edwards, is currently restructuring to enable greater contributions from volunteers.
Forty-year-old Sandra Mitchell, cosmetologist by day, is a Red Cross hurricane shelter manager when times are bad and like all Red Cross hurricane shelter managers, she is a volunteer. She is also a member of the Red Cross' National Intervention Team (NIT) tasked with responding to disasters in Jamaica.
TRAINED IN FIRST AID
She signed up one and a half years ago after being persuaded by a pair of Red Cross workers she met and first worked for the organisation during Hurricane Ivan at their Emergency Operations Centre (EOC). She has now been trained in first aid, logistics and warehousing; the potential for further specialisation is also available.
Shelter managers, said Ms Mitchell, have a great deal of responsibility, adding that they have to make sure the shelter is okay for people and each person is taken care of.
"We also have to make sure that they have enough supplies. Generally you are just helping people and this might just be reducing people's stress, such as reading stories to children," said Ms. Mitchell.
Quite often, as The Gleaner witnessed during Hurricane Emily, people arriving at hurricane shelters do so with inadequate supplies. Ms. Mitchell recounted the case of a diabetic elderly man sheltering at the National Arena during Hurricane Ivan. He had been left there by his family and without insulin.
"It is vital," stressed Ms. Mitchell, "that people are prepared, especially with any medication they might need to be taking. But as a shelter manager, you have to cope with the pressure and see their needs are met."
Before the arrival of the hurricane, the Red Cross will contact its volunteers. Members of the Red Cross sit on the National Disaster Committee and on a local level on parish disaster committees.
"It is important to have this level of coordination and of course funding," said Ms. Chisholm. "But without volunteers on the ground and the human spirit, the effort is going to be lacking."
Ross Sheil
For more information about the Red Cross or to volunteer contact their head office: 984-7860-2 or parish branch. Likewise, for the ODPEM, contact their head office: 928-5111-4.
