Each year, the American Red Cross responds to over 70,000 disaster incidents – earthquakes, fires, storms, floods, tornadoes, transportation accidents and other natural and man-made disasters. The Red Cross helps those affected with sheltering, feeding and financial assistance if needed. The Greater Los Angeles Chapter alone responds to more than one home fire a day. This assistance requires trained disaster volunteers who can fill specific needs. Ready When the Time Comes (RWTC) is designed to recruit and prepare volunteers.
RWTC is a volunteer program that taps into the human resources of corporate America. The American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles trains employees from partnering corporations and mobilizes them as a community-based volunteer force when disaster strikes. This innovative partnership will save lives and help people in communities affected by disasters, whenever and wherever they occur.
The role of RWTC corporate partners is to: assist in promoting and recruiting a team of volunteers (minimum of 20), provide a site for training, assist in communications with team members and helping select team leader(s).
RWTC participants receive disaster relief training at no personal cost. After RWTC volunteers take a one-day training session (approximately 5 hours), and complete a background check, they can become involved in Red Cross sheltering activities throughout the year. This includes year-round preparedness efforts, and serving as a reserve force that’s called upon when the American Red Cross of Greater Los Angeles Disaster Response Team requires increased staffing.
Some of the disaster related activities the RWTC volunteers will be able to perform are:
- Sheltering
- Feeding*
- Bulk Distribution*
- Damage Assessment*
- Logistics*
* Requires additional training
If you have additional questions or would like to register your workplace or organization as a Ready When the Time Comes partner, please contact Amy Keller, program coordinator, at (310) 445-9913 or KellerA@arcla.org
Click here to download a PDF program flier for Ready When the Time Comes
