Disaster Services Classes

The courses on these pages prepare individuals to become Red Cross Disaster Service volunteers. Classes are divided into three catagories: National Disaster Response courses, Workshops and Other Red Cross courses of interest to those in Disaster Services. Depending on which speciality you decide to persue, you will take different classes for each category. A representative of the Oregon Trail Chapter Disaster Services department will help you determine which classes you should take.

To download the latest Disaster Responder course schedule, click here.

National Disaster Response courses

Administering a Small Disaster Operation
Coaching the Van Driver II
Disaster Health Services: An Overview
Disaster Health Services: Simulation
Disaster Instructor Specialty Training
Disaster Mental Health Services: Overview
Disaster Mental Health I
Disaster Welfare Inquiry & Simulation
Emergency Operations Center
ERVs: Ready, Set, Roll
Family Services: Providing Emergency Assistance
Family Services Supervision
Fundamentals of Instruction & Facilitation
Human Resources in Disaster
Introduction to Disaster
Liaison I
Liaison II
Logistics: An Overview & Simulation
Mass Care: Overview
Mass Care II
Mass Casualty Disasters
Public Affairs I
Public Affairs II
Records & Reports I
Service Center Management
Shelter Operations & Simulation
Staffing II
Supervision in Disaster
Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism: An Overview

Administering a Small Disaster Operation (ASDO)
ARC 3081 – Equips leadership volunteers with the knowledge and skills necessary to administer a disaster relief operation in which no more than 30 families have been affected, and which will be partially or totally funded by the national Disaster Relief Fund. 2 days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066 Introduction to Disaster Services required. ARC 3072-1 Family Services Emergency Assistance course and experience in Family Services and/or Records and Reports strongly recommended.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Coaching the Van Driver
OTC 9161 - Many organizations assume that van driving is the same as driving a car, and expect their staff to assume van-driving responsibilities without any training. The fact is most Red Cross vehicles are very different from passenger cars-they're bigger, heavier, have larger blind spots and require longer following and stopping distances. Coaching the Van Driver IITM shows drivers how to compensate for these differences
Required for all Oregon Trail Chapter Disaster volunteers who drive Red Cross vehicles.
Recommended: ARC 3068-4 ERVs: Ready, Set, Roll in addition to this class

Disaster Health Services: An Overview
ARC 3076-1- Offers participants basic information about the activities of the Disaster Health Services (DHS) function and examines the knowledge, skills and abilities needed by Disaster Health Services staff, who include RN. LPN, MD and EMT volunteers. 4 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066

Disaster Health Services: Simulation
ARC 3076-2- Offers participants an opportunity to practice the knowledge, skills, and abilities needed to work in the Disaster Health Services function on local and national relief operations. 8 Hours
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3076-1
Recommended: Current Health Profession License

Disaster Instructor Specialty Training
ARC 3090- Prepares instructors for effective teaching and to ensure uniform and quality disaster training consistent with Red Cross policies and the regulations and procedures of Disaster Services. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, ARC 3090-1, and three other Basic Disaster Training Courses.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Disaster Mental Health Services: An Overview
ARC 3077-2 This Overview course helps participants understand the Disaster Mental Health Services (DMHS) function within the Red Cross Disaster Services Program. Participants will learn how DMHS support disaster relief workers and people affected by disaster. Will also address methods to recognize and manage stress more effectively. 3.5 hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066 Introduction to Disaster Services

Disaster Mental Health I
ARC 3077-1- This course prepares participants to use their professional skills to meet the immediate disaster-related mental health needs of Red Cross workers, their families and people affected by disaster. 2 Days
Prerequisite: ARC 3066.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Must also satisfy one of the following criteria:

• Be a licensed or certified mental health professional who has completed a series of professional educational courses from an accredited university leading to a degree in psychology, counseling, social work, psychiatry or marriage and family therapy. Must have a current icense/certificatenumber for any of the above professions.
• Be a license- or certificate-eligible mental health professional as defined above, who is verifiably employed as a mental health provider, but who is not licensed or certified because the state or territory in which the provider is employed does not require such licensure or certification.
• Be a registered nurse with psychiatric nursing experience and training beyond the normal rotation required for an RN.

Disaster Welfare Inquiry & Simulation
ARC 3085-1 & ARC 3085-2- Prepares participants to handle Disaster Welfare Inquiries in their local chapter. This course covers effective service, transmitting an inquiry to the Disaster Welfare Information function on a disaster relief operation and conducting the follow-up to ensure that the inquirer's needs are met. The Simulation prepares participants to work as team members in the Disaster Welfare Information (DWI) function on a disaster relief operation. 8 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066. ARC 3085-1 and 3085-2 should be taken together if possible.

Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
ARC 3083- Prepares participants to be the Red Cross liaison at an Emergency Operations Center, where they are responsible for supporting the information and coordination process. 7.5 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066.

ERVs: Ready, Set, Roll
ARC 3068-4 - Presents an overview of the standard American Red Cross Emergency Response Vehicle. During class, the participants will review the manual and be familiarized with the forms and materials likely to be seen on a DSHR National Assignment. Vehicle specifications and features of the accompanying equipment will be demonstrated and a complete pre-deployment inspection of the vehicle will be performed. Participants who bring a valid driver's license, a valid CPR and First Aid card will be given a driver's familiarization road test, and issued and ERV drivers certificate. Class size is limited.
Prerequisite: ARC 3066, ARC 3068-1, current drivers license and current First Aid/CPR certification.

Family Services: Providing Emergency Assistance
ARC 3072-1- This course introduces participants to the Family Services function and teaches them how to explain and provide Red Cross emergency disaster assistance to clients and how to perform a quality interview. Participants learn about the forms and tools needed to assist clients and the appropriate use of resources and referrals. 8 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066

Family Services Supervision
ARC 3072-3- Prepares assistant casework supervisors to work directly and effectively with interviewers to provide efficient and consistent emergency disaster assistance to families. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3072-1, 3072-2, familiarity with ARC 3000 & 3045, experience in Family Service function on three or more disaster relief operations.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Fundamentals of Instruction and Facilitation
ARC 3090-1- Provides basic information about the skills, abilities and knowledge needed to become a Basic and Intermediate Course Instructor and facilitator for the American Red Cross Disaster Services Training System. Participants learn how to represent Red Cross, effective methods used by successful instructors and how to prepare for, conduct and evaluate Disaster Services training courses and simulations. 4 hours
Prerequisites: ARC 3066 and three other Basic Disaster Training Courses.

Human Resources in Disaster
ARC 3087-1- This course is designed for anyone interested in working in the Local Disaster Volunteers, Staffing and Training functions. The course highlights how the three functions work together as a team to meet the human resource needs of a disaster relief operation. 3 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066.

Introduction to Disaster
Everyone who wishes to be a disaster response volunteer must first take this class.
ARC 3066- This course is a general overview of Red Cross Disaster Services. It provides basic information about disaster and its effects and outlines the role of governmental and non-governmental agencies in disaster. Introduction to Disaster is a prerequisite for all Red Cross Disaster courses regardless of function track. 3 Hours

Liaison I
ARC 3089-1- This course covers fundamentals of the Liaison function and the value of collaborative efforts among community agencies in coordinating disaster preparedness activities. Offers guidance in building and maintaining a local collaborative process to enhance the community's ability to respond to a disaster. 4 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066.

Liaison II
ARC 3089-2- This course prepares participants to serve in a Liaison function on a disaster assignment. Also covers how to organize community preparedness collaborations. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, extensive experience on disaster relief operations.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Logistics: An Overview & Simulation
ARC 3071-1 & ARC 3071-2- Participants learn the basic activities and processes of the Logistics function and, through the overview, acquire the skills, abilities and knowledge needed to be a Logistics worker. The Simulation part of this course allows participants to exercise the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful logistical operation in their local chapter. 8 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066. ARC 3071-1 and 3071-2 should be taken together, if possible.

Mass Care: Overview
ARC 3068-1- Provides basic information about feeding and sheltering and teaches participants the skills and abilities needed by Mass Care workers. Three Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066

Mass Care II
ARC 3068-2- This course prepares participants to establish, operate and phase out Mass Care Services on a state or major disaster relief operation so that clients' needs are met in a timely and cost-effective manner. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3068-1, 3068-11, 3086 and experience equivalent to a specialist in the Mass Care function on a disaster relief operation.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to the class date.

Mass Casualty Disasters
ARC 3079-1 The purpose of this new course is to prepare Red Cross employees and volunteers to provide a more effective initial response to a mass casualty disaster. By examining recent events, participants will become aware of the categories of mass casualty disasters, and characteristics of the community and Red Cross response. 8 hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066 Introduction to Disaster Services and experience on a large disaster operation.

Public Affairs I
ARC 3081-1- Offers the basic skills and knowledge necessary to fulfill the Public Affairs function on a locally-administered disaster operation and to initiate the Public Affairs function on a nationally-administered disaster operation. 8 Hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066.
Recommended: ARC 3081, 3072-1, 3072-2.

Public Affairs II
ARC 3080-2- This course prepares participants to work in the Public Affairs function on larger disaster relief operations. Participants learn about working with the media, distributing information about Red Cross services, developing personal interest stories and trouble-shooting media issues on a large scale disaster relief operation. 1.5 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3080-1, experience as a public affairs professional and experience in the Public Affairs function.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Records and Reports I
ARC 3078-1- This course prepares participants to work in the Records and Reports function in a disaster environment. Also provides the worker with the tools to support other functions. 8 Hours
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, ARC 3072-1. Recommended: ARC 3081.

Service Center Management
ARC 3069-1- Trains Red Cross paid and volunteer staff to establish, operate and subsequently close a service center, thereby meeting disaster clients' needs in a timely and cost-effective manner. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3086, experience as a technician in one of the functions in a service center on a disaster relief operation.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Shelter Operations & Simulation
ARC 3068-11 & ARC 3068-12- Prepares Red Cross and other agencies’ staffs to effectively and sensitively manage shelter operations as a team and to help people displaced as a result of disaster. Simulation allows participants to exercise the knowledge and skills needed to run a successful shelter operation. 8 Hours
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, 3068-1. ARC 3068-11 and 3068-12 should be taken together if possible.

Staffing II
ARC 3087-2- This course readies participants for a Staffing function role on a state or major disaster relief operation. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3087-1, Human Resources in Disaster, experience in the Staffing function, as CDV, LDV or in a similar role on a disaster relief operation.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Supervision in Disaster
ARC 3086- Prepares participants to function effectively as Disaster Services supervisors. Teaches situational leadership on disaster operations and how to assess and manage the performance of a work unit. Includes problem solving techniques and methods to improve communications with workers. 2 Days
Prerequisites: ARC 3066, plus the basic/intermediate disaster course for the function in which the applicant expects to become a supervisor and experience as a worker in that same function.
Required: Form 5898-H (Download MS Word version or PDF version) submitted 35 days (5 weeks) prior to class date.

Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism: An Overview
ARC 3079-2 This course was released in March 2003. It is designed to provide basic information about the issues and safety concerns in performing our work in an environment involving a Weapons of Mass Destruction and/or Terrorism (WMD/T) incident. The unique challenges of a WMD/T event, some potential targets of terrorists, and types of weapons that could be used will be examined. Participants will learn about the skills, abilities, and knowledge needed by disaster workers to safely perform their duties. 3.5 hours
Prerequisite: ARC 3066 Introduction to Disaster Services