Red Cross Completes Important Disaster Simulation Exercise

AREA (March 7, 2008) – The Colonial Crossroads Chapter of the American Red Cross conducted an all-day Chapter Disaster Readiness Exercise and Evaluation March 1 to measure the organization’s readiness to respond to disaster in the local service area as well as develop specific strategies to enhance its readiness and to practice response activities.

“The goal of this exercise was to identify what a chapter knows and what it doesn’t know. It’s a way to measure improvement and deficiencies, so that it is ready to handle a real disaster when it happens,“ explained American Red Cross Regional Manager Kurt Weirich, who traveled from Philadelphia to manage the drill.

Facilitated by American Red Cross Northeast Service Area, the disaster drill brought Disaster Action Team (DAT) leaders together in a headquarters operation based on Summit Medical Group’s Berkeley Heights campus, where they simulated a relief operation after mass flooding in Long Hill Township that impacted more than 50 homes. The Colonial Crossroads Chapter efforts were led by long-time Disaster Action Team volunteers Julie Siciliano of Madison, Linda deQuintal of Fanwood, and chapter Director of Response Barb Chestnut a resident of Long Hill Township.

During the exercise, Disaster Action Team members executed steps necessary to open a shelter in at Millington Elementary School that could house and feed 40 individuals for three days. The Red Cross also simulated mass daily feeding of first responders at the Office of Emergency Management Incident Command Center at the Long Hill Township Firehouse and the deployment of mobile response units that canvassed the flood area to assist the affected residents.

Highly trained Red Cross volunteers oversaw operations in disaster assessment, mass care sheltering and feeding, government relations, disaster mental health, logistics, life safety and asset protection, communications, client casework, fundraising, and public relations.

“An exercise like this also tests how a chapter works as a team, because ultimately teamwork is one of the most important elements in a successful relief effort,” explained Siciliano, a Madison resident who also serves on the Red Cross Board of Directors and has been deployed to various Red Cross relief efforts around New Jersey. “We were pleased with our ability to respond to a mid-sized exercise. However, we also now know that in order to be prepared for a large-scale event, our chapter needs more volunteers. We welcome anyone who has an interest in becoming trained and ready to help our community in the event of a disaster.”

New volunteers to the Disaster Action Team are needed to provide immediate help to local families affected by disasters, such as fires or floods. Volunteers are provided specialized training that eventually can lead to becoming part of the American Red Cross national disaster response team. For more information on volunteer opportunities, please contact Marisa Hottat at (973) 377-0455.

Space to conduct the unique event, which is held every three years, was donated by chapter partner Summit Medical Group and lunch was donated by Towne Deli in Summit.