Knowing that you suddenly need to care for 400 people might seem a bit overwhelming. Where will they sleep? What will they eat? How will we get them registered? How will we let them know where to go? What about people who can’t make it to the shelter? The questions are endless. But this is exactly what a disaster drill is designed to do – get our volunteers thinking of these questions and working through the answers BEFORE a disaster actually happens.

 

Despite the sweltering heat, I believe all the Red Cross volunteers had a great time. And it was also important for these volunteers to meet each other. Even though they are affiliated with neighboring Red Cross chapters, many of them were just meeting for the first time. Thanks to those volunteers from the Southwestern Illinois Chapter, the Greater Southern Illinois Chapter, and the Little Egypt Network for helping to build these important relationships.

 

All of this - and more than a year's worth of volunteer training - was made possible by a generous grant from the Monsanto Fund.

 

Check out the slideshow of pictures from the day – thanks to Americorps member Kathrine Vigil for being the photographer for the day! Below that, Jack Riegel (who did a great job organizing the day’s events) gives a quick tour of the new Emergency Response Vehicle for the Missouri-Illinois Regional Network.