As published in the Jefferson County Suburban Journals .

The American Red Cross featured a major new partnership during a KJFF Radio interview on May 11 with Omar Ruiz, the supervisor of the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold.

The St. Louis Area Chapter, Grainger and Anheuser-Busch recently launched "Ready When the Times Comes," a new program designed to recruit and train corporate employees to serve as Red Cross volunteers during a large-scale, local disaster.

During the interview, Ruiz discussed the program in depth, provided an overview of Red Cross emergency services and discussed the recent deployment of local Red Cross volunteers to Kansas and South Dakota.

"Ready When the Time Comes" enables the Red Cross to quickly mobilize a cadre of trained volunteers from within local businesses and corporations. Program volunteers receive free, specialized training in crucial disaster response, including sheltering, large-scale feeding operations and damage assessment. In the event of an emergency situation, the Red Cross can count on its corporate partners to support local disaster relief efforts by making their employees available for a 24-hour deployment on an as-needed basis.

In support of the Red Cross mission to help the community prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and emergencies, "Ready When the Time Comes" was first introduced by the American Red Cross of Greater Chicago and W.W. Grainger, Inc., in 2001. Since that time, Grainger has contributed a $1 million gift to expand the program as a national pilot, and St. Louis is one of 16 markets where the program is being introduced.

As a result of Grainger's support for the original program and the program's national expansion, Grainger is the National Founding Sponsor.

In the St. Louis metropolitan area, Anheuser-Busch has signed on as the Local Lead Sponsor. Working alongside Grainger, Anheuser-Busch is leading the effort to recruit additional corporate partners to support the program locally. Citigroup, Fleishman-Hillard, Lohr Distributing Company and State Farm have already signed on.

Immediately following a press conference on May 5 to announce the local launch of "Ready When the Time Comes" the Red Cross conducted a full-scale shelter drill at St. Raphael the Archangel School on Jamieson Avenue in St. Louis. The school is one of 600 local facilities designated as a potential Red Cross shelter during times of disaster.

The shelter drill provided an overview of Red Cross emergency services that are available to victims of disaster, and featured trained corporate employees working alongside veteran Red Cross volunteers. More than 100 people participated in the shelter simulation, which focused on registration procedures, cot set-up and distribution of bedding, food preparation and delivery, and the administration of physical/mental health services.

The Red Cross urges other businesses to get involved in community service by becoming a "Ready When the Time Comes" partner. The partnership provides an opportunity to give back to the community in a unique and visible way, while allowing employees to volunteer their time to meet high-priority local needs. Employee volunteer programs are an excellent way to motivate employees, to build leadership and management skills, and to encourage teamwork.

In a soon-to-be released Corporate Responsibility Survey conducted by Fleishman-Hillard and the National Consumer League, three times as many respondents said they expected non-financial contributions (which include volunteerism) from companies in their community, as opposed to financial contributions alone. While monetary contributions remain critical, the survey shows that Americans prefer contributions be coupled with a company's donation of time and expertise.

During the past year, the American Red Cross St. Louis Area Chapter has opened shelters on three different occasions as a result of severe weather throughout the St. Louis region. These recent local experiences serve as an important reminder of the need to remain vigilant in our efforts to prepare for the unexpected. Because of the corporate commitment of each "Ready When the Time Comes" partner and the individual dedication of every volunteer, the Red Cross is more ready than ever to respond to a large-scale disaster here at home.

The St. Louis Area Chapter is also prepared to respond in other regions of the country when called upon. Local Red Cross volunteers are providing disaster relief in the aftermath of the massive F-5 tornado that destroyed 95 percent of Greensburg, Kan., with 205 mph winds, as well as to extensive flooding in South Dakota.

These volunteers are specializing in mental health counseling, client casework, staffing and logistics. They include Judy Alferman (Kirkwood), Dave Daly (Belleville, Ill.), Lavon Gilliland (St. Peters), Elaine Hegel (St. Louis), Stephanie Landess (St. Louis), Tom Richardson (Richwoods), Sandy Soll (St. Louis) and Dorothy Staples (Wentzville).

The American Red Cross provides immediate assistance with food, clothing, shelter and other needs in the wake of disasters and emergencies. The St. Louis Area Chapter is able to respond 24 hours a day, seven days a week and provides a wide range of programs and services due to the dedication of volunteers who give freely of their time. The Red Cross is not a government agency, and all disaster relief assistance is free, thanks to generous public support.

Ruiz emphasized that the introduction of "Ready When the Time Comes," the recent full-scale Red Cross shelter drill, and the Midwest tornadoes and flooding present a unique opportunity to encourage Jefferson countians to individually prepare in advance of a local emergency.

While national polling suggests only two in 10 Americans are ready for a major disaster, an overwhelming 82 percent have expressed an interest in preparing, if they knew what to do. The Red Cross has streamlined the process into three steps to make preparedness easier than ever - 1. Get a disaster supply kit, 2. Make an emergency plan, and 3. Be informed by seeking lifesaving CPR and First Aid training.

To learn more about "Ready When the Time Comes," the Red Cross response to the Midwest tornadoes and flooding, or how to personally prepare in advance of a local emergency, Ruiz encouraged the public to contact the Jefferson County Service Center in Arnold at 636.464.9150 or www.redcrossstl.org.

Red Cross programs and services will be featured again on KJFF Radio during a live interview at 10:30 a.m. on Friday, June 8.