Photo By Master Sgt. Amy Lovgren | Joel O’Connell, right, gathers information from Betty Swenson, a role-player for the...... read more read more
Subscribe
VOLK FIELD, Wis. – After major disasters the American Red Cross and its volunteers are some of the first on scene to support both first responders and survivors.
During the PATRIOT exercise held at Volk Field Combat Readiness Training Center July 21-23, the Red Cross of Wisconsin set up a mock reception and staging area to assist survivors of the simulated natural disaster and connected loved ones using Safe and Well Linking. This web-based program registers people affected by a natural disaster and connects families who have been displaced or looking for each other.
“After disasters communications don’t work well and the Red Cross has this program,” Gene Wallis, a Red Cross volunteer from Appleton, Wisconsin, said. “The Red Cross is here to help people.”
Safe and Well Linking provides a central location for people in disaster areas in the United States to register their current status, and for their loved ones to access that information. It helps provide displaced families with relief and comfort during a stressful time. It is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is accessible in both English and Spanish.
The Red Cross supported PATRIOT 15 by working with the Mile Bluff Hospital in Mauston, and the Air National Guard’s medical teams using the Safe and Well Linking system.
Wallis, who has been volunteering with the Red Cross for the past four years, said he deployed in June 2015 to the Houston, Texas area after the floods in May and this is his first time supporting PATRIOT.
“I’m having a ball,” Wallis said. “The neat thing about the Red Cross is done with mainly volunteers.”
| Date Taken: | 07.22.2015 |
| Date Posted: | 07.24.2015 11:03 |
| Story ID: | 171023 |
| Location: | CAMP DOUGLAS, WI, US |
| Web Views: | 55 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, American Red Cross exercises safe and well linking during PATRIOT, by Stephen Hudson, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
No keywords found.
LEAVE A COMMENT