Disaster Services Volunteer Specialties

Damage Assessment
This specialty assess the size and scope of the disaster and it’s impact on the community. Workers may be deployed to the affected area or may work in an office setting developing maps, data and demographics of the disaster.

Data Management
Accounting administers financial aspects of the relief operation. They receive and expend funds to meet commitments for relief costs, travel and maintenance of staff, and other expenditures required for the relief operation. Those in Records and Reports control and process client records.

Disaster Health Services
Licensed Health Professionals (R.N., L.P.N., M.D., EMT) provide emergency and preventative health services to those affected by disaster and to the Red Cross staff providing disaster relief. DHS supplements the existing community healthcare delivery system.

Disaster Mental Health Services
Licensed Mental Health Professionals care for and protect the mental health of those affected by disaster, Red Cross staff and other relief workers. They also work with local community mental health providers to ensure that the emergency and/or long-term emotional needs of affected individuals, families and communities will be met.

Disaster Telecommunications
Establishes and maintains automation and communication systems for the disaster relief operation. These may include telephone, wireless, two-way radio, satellite, computer and other systems. Provides installation of hardware and software as well as technical support to staff using these systems.

Disaster Welfare Information
When people anywhere need information about disaster services or the whereabouts of family members impacted by a disaster, they can call the Red Cross. This specialty collects information about locations of service, what services are available in the community and assists in reuniting family members.

Family Services
Those trained in this specialty work directly with disaster clients to assess their immediate disaster related needs through a structured casework process. Clients are started on their road to recovery by offering them Red Cross emergency assistance and referring them to other community resources.

Fund Raising
Supports and/or coordinates local, statewide and/or nationwide fund-raising strategies to fund the cost of the disaster relief operation.

Staffing
Volunteers in this specialty work behind the scene to support the disaster relief operation. They may arrange hotel accommodations for staff from outside the affected area or recruit staff locally from outside organizations. Staffing provides typical human resources support to the operation, including in and out processing of all staff, maintenance of staff rosters and emergency contact information.

Liaison
Those in the Liaison specialty serve as the bridge between Red Cross and groups that are active in the disaster affected area. This could include coordinating with government agencies, emergency management, labor groups, volunteer organizations and community groups.

Logistics
All disasters need materials to run. Logistics is responsible for procuring, warehousing, and distributing those supplies to the functions. Although behind the scenes, they are also organizing the transportation and facilities for relief operations and making sure that related bills are paid.

Mass Care
This is the bed and breakfast function of Red Cross. Workers in this specialty ensure the needs of the clients for food and shelter are met. They may be in the field running shelters for those displaced, at fixed or mobile feeding sites providing food for workers and residents cleaning up, or distributing relief supplies to the clients.

Public Affairs
Provides information about services available to those affected by disaster, provides information to the general public about disaster relief, and serves as a liaison with all media.

Training
Orients all staff assigned to the relief operation and provides operational training, mobilization training, Disaster Services courses, and/or capacity building training as needed to support the relief operation. Volunteers in this specialty may also work within the chapter to train other staff.