Red Cross volunteer disaster training set for April 29

NEWTON - The Sussex County chapter of the American Red Cross is fast-tracking disaster preparedness so volunteers will be ready when the 2006 hurricane season begins June 1. Experts say there is a high potential for intense hurricanes to strike the East Coast this year. The chapter will launch its 2006 disaster volunteer orientation program from 9:30 a.m. to 11 a.m. on Saturday, April 29, at its headquarters, located at 93 Spring St. in Newton. “The orientation will allow new volunteers to be ready to assist our local community in the event of any type of disaster situation during the late spring or summer, and beyond,” said Kristi Young, director of programs and services at the chapter. “Our community will be safer as a result of these steps. We will also be offering a unique and intensive advanced disaster training weekend in July at which these volunteers can progress to advanced levels of certification.” Young noted that Sussex County Red Cross is also expanding its training options for volunteers this year. “For the first time ever, Sussex Red Cross is training volunteers in the use of emergency response vehicles. Our initial classes have just been completed and we have certified 21 volunteers as ERV drivers.” The drivers are available locally and can be deployed remotely if necessary< she explained. “It’s worth noting that as of last week emergency response vehicle drivers were needed and sought for volunteer duty along the still-recovering Gulf Coast, ravaged by Hurricane Katrina last August,” said Young. According to the Tropical Meteorology Project at Colorado State University, a leading U.S. prediction team, a minimum of 17 named storms are being forecast for 2006. At least nine are expected to become hurricanes—at least five of them major. Hurricane season begins June 1 and runs through November. There is a 64 percent chance a major hurricane (category three or higher) will strike the East Coast this year. That’s more than double the 31 percent average probability over the past century. “The Northeast is staring down the barrel of a gun,” warns Joe Bastardi, AccuWeather forecaster. The Red Cross is not a government agency and relies on donations to do its work. To become a Sussex County Red Cross volunteer, sign up at chapter headquarters, call 973-579-1600, or send e-mail to kyoung@sussexredcross.org or to info@sussexredcross.org.