Join Your Local Disaster Action Team (DAT): Danville and Pittsylvania County

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Join Your Local Disaster Action Team (DAT): Disaster Action Teams are the first to respond to all disasters and events within the community.

A home in your neighborhood has just caught on fire. Along with the Fire Department, the local Red Cross Disaster Action Team responds. The team works with those affected to ensure they have a safe place to stay and a plan for moving forward after the fire. Apply to Volunteer at:

https://www.redcross.org/volunteer/become-a-volunteer.html

Responsibilities:
1. Works as part of an assigned team to respond to local disasters within two hours.
2. Delivers immediate direct client assistance in accordance with Red Cross standards and procedures.
3. Works with on-scene lead to assess whether additional resources/support are required and
communicates those needs to DAT Leadership.
4. Attends regularly scheduled team/DAT meetings as required by Chapter/Region.
5. Commits to being available during assigned shifts, and communicate scheduling conflicts with DAT
Leadership.
6. Other responsibilities as assigned by DAT Leadership.

Time Commitment: To remain an active Disaster Cycle Services Workforce Member, one hour of logged volunteer service is requested, monthly. Training (virtual or classroom), meetings, response and participation in activities in other lines of service qualify.

Participation in this role requires four (4) 12 hour shifts, monthly.

Completion of Disaster Cycle Services: An Overview, Concept of Operations Basics and DAT Basics are required before field training begins.

Disaster Action Teams are committed to addressing client needs within a 2-hour time frame. Teams are
dispatched to meet client need as expediently as possible, which, may result in DAT members travelling at
times outside of their home city/county and territory.

DAT Members must also:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Possess a valid driver's license
• Have the ability to independently travel to and from their work location.
• Have willingness to adapt to and utilize technology such as smart phones & tablets

Service on a DAT team may require evening/night, weekend and/or holiday commitments.

All participating DAT members are required to familiarize themselves with DAT procedures and documents as
posted to The Exchange under the Disaster Action Team Toolkit.

Qualifications:

• Demonstrated commitment to mission of the American Red Cross
• Remains current with all required training.
• Able to respond reliably when on call.
• Able to follow Red Cross DAT and other related standards and procedures.
• Ability to learn and use Red Cross systems and online interfaces.
• Ability to work in challenging and stressful conditions such as poor air quality, uneven
• ground, adverse weather, etc.
• Must have a valid driver's license and/or a timely, reliable way to get to the scene.
• Ability to take direction from steady state and operational leadership.
• Strong written and verbal communications skills.

Customer Focus: Is dedicated to meeting the expectations and requirements of internal and external customers; acts with customers in mind; establishes and maintains effective relationships with customers and gains their trust and respect.

Action Oriented: Enjoys working hard; is action oriented and full of energy for the things that she/she sees as challenging.

Manages Diversity: Treats all kinds and classes of people equitably; deals effectively with all races, nationalities, cultures, disabilities, ages and both sexes.

Is able to:

• Stand for two hour periods
• Sit for two hour periods
• Walk on uneven terrain
• Walk for two miles during a shift
• Work in extreme heat and/or humidity
• Work in extreme cold
• Spend hours writing
• Speak clearly on the phone and in person
• Climb two or more flights of stairs

Drive in day time and at night