1008 Newsletter

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American Red Cross of Greater Indianapolis, 441 East 10th Street, Indianapolis, IN 46202 www.redcross-indy.org 317-684-1441October 2008

Volume 1, Issue 3

To commemorate the events of September 11, 2001, and to show the centralIndiana community how we must live united, the City of Indianapolis and

United Way of Central

Indiana co-hosted the sev-enth annual "CommunityFair on Monument Circle,on Thursday, September 11,

2008. The American RedCross of Greater Indianapo-lis booth focused on prepar-

edness, since September isNational PreparednessMonth. Paul and Monica

Richard, a Red Cross vol-unteer husband/wifeteam, brought their fam-

ilys Disaster SuppliesKit to place on display. Information on how to Make a Disaster Plan for you and yourfamily was distributed, and the Mobile Feeding Response Team utilized the event as a

practice drill, handing out bottled water from our Emergency Response Vehicle (ERV).

Thank You, Volunteers!

It was another busy month for Red Crossvolunteers. For several days after Hurri-

cane Gustav hit the Gulf Coast, 27 self-evacuees were sheltered at the American Red

Cross of Greater Indianapolis chapter. Someexperienced volunteers took the lead in man-aging the shelter, and several new volunteers

jumped at the chance to work in a shelter. Atotal of 81 volunteers registered to help with

this operation! Several VISTAs were alsoinvolved. Thanks everyone!

Jim and Phyllis Hope, Lana Jordan, Steve Wolfe, Carl Bischoff

Katie Burkhardt, Joan Marsden, Steve Wolfe

Paula Suchy and Mary Clifford Paula Suchy, Mary Clifford, and Sandi Lyle.

Community Fair on

Monument

Circle


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Volunteer Highlight: The Wolfe Pack

Steve and Lydia Wolfe have been volunteers in

many areas of our Chapter since joining our

ranks in the midst of Katrina. Steve is currently the

leader of the Mobile Feeding Response Team

(MFRT). Steve is also an instructor, teaching several

Mass Care and Shelter classes.

Lydia recently became a staff member having ac-

cepted the Night Worker position. Brother Bob Wolfe

joined our ranks during our recent flood disaster. His

children, Kris and Becca, also look forward to joining

the Red Cross when they get older.

Thank you to the Wolfe family for their dedication!

From the FBCI Corner...

As fall moves into full swing, so does the FBCI program atthe Red Cross. In September, the FBCI team (a.k.a. VISTAsJustin Gray and Jillian Luttrell) took time off from training tofocus on the behind-the-scenes aspects of the program. Theycontinued searching for new partners in the Greater Indian-

apolis area and are working daily on creating a mock disaster.

At the beginning of September, the team discussed the FBCIprogram with Englewood Christian Church. In October, theyreceived a positive reply from ECC and are now coordinatingtraining dates with them. This is an exciting step for the FBCIteam as it proves that cold-calling, though nerve-racking, does

supply results. Furthermore, ECCs near-downtown locationand heart for neighborhood outreach will strengthen ARCGIs

presence in the Indianapolis metropolitan area and increase

community partnerships.

In October, the team welcomed its newest FBCI Partner inIndianapolis: Second Presbyterian Church!! Second Presbyte-

rian produced a total of 82 members at training, making themthe largest Action Team to date. The FBCI team would like tothank Second Presbyterian for their hospitality and enthusi-

asm in this program. We look forward to working with allofyou as the program continues!

Volunteers Needed

Looking for volunteers who can commit to one day a week

for Service to Armed Forces at Camp Atterbury. Will train

and give all the support necessary. Please contact Sheila

Conrad at 317-684-4322.

Emergency Services Newsletter 2


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New Shelter TrailersBy

Brad Schelppi

Response time; were all aware of how important a well planned and speedy response is when disasters strike. In that spirit, were happy toannounce that the chapters five new shelter trailers have arrived, have been stocked (thanks to many volunteers), and are now pre-

positioned throughout our jurisdiction.

Each trailer is equipped (with cots, blankets, shelter kit, kids toys, etc.) to set up and initially run a 150 person shelter. To help reduce our

response time and ensure good client service, the trailers have been pre-positioned in Marion, Hamilton, Clinton, Hendricks, and Johnson Countyat either the local Red Cross office (Marion, Hamilton) or at the Counties

Emergency Management Office (Hendricks, Clinton, Johnson).

Thanks to the generosity of the Lilly Endowment, Duke Energy,

Hendricks County Community Foundation, and a partnership between theAvon, Brownsburg, Danville, and Plainfield Rotary Clubs, this long term

goal has been realized for the betterment of our community.

We love to show them off! So, next time youre in the office ask one of us

to give you a tour!

Additions to the Indianapolis Chapter BuildingBy

Chris Gilbert

I

f you havent stopped by the Indianapolis Chapter lately, then you probably havent seen our new face. The old radio tower has been re-

moved and a new one erected. This new tower supports antennas that will allow radio communications between the Indianapolis officeand our county offices in times of need, communication with Red Cross radio equipped vehicles during disaster, amateur radio operators to useour facility to support the Hurricane Watch Net (http://www.hwn.org/), and a variety of other radio-related needs and

activities.

A radio tower matching the one at the Indianapolis office has

been installed at our Hamilton County office. This tower willserve the same purpose as the Indianapolis tower and will act

as a back up should the office in Indianapolis not be available.

With the addition of these towers and the communicationspotential they bring to our chapter, the Indianapolis chapterlikely holds the best Amateur and Red Cross communications

platform in the state for disaster response radio communica-

tions.

In addition, we now have three flag poles proudly flying the

American, State of Indiana, and Red Cross flags.

http://www.hwn.org/http://www.hwn.org/http://www.hwn.org/http://www.hwn.org/http://www.hwn.org/http://www.hwn.org/


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Boone County DAT NewsBy

Kristi Marcinko

On September 8th at 12:15 P.M., all members of

the Boone County DAT team responded to a

multi-unit assisted living facility fire. Thirteen caseswere opened that day. DAT members assisted with

EMA, fire, police, and EMS to help the residents to

the main office to open cases and meet with chap-

lains. Boone County EMA director Mike Martin wasoverwhelmed with our quick response to the scene

and was impressed with our speed and ability to meet

with all clients in an efficient manner.

Clinton County DAT NewsBy

Kristi Marcinko

We have

responded

to two huge barn

fires in the last

month, utilizing our

mass care and feed-

ing skills for our

local volunteer Fire

and EMS. Thanks

to all who helped!

Red Cross Transportation Services Information



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ARCGI Emergency Services

Newsletter

Published by our Disaster

Volunteer Newsletter Team

Jenny Davidson and Brian Thomason

Have a Submission for the Newsletter?

Send to

[email protected].



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1008 Newsletter