Supporting the Houston area community, our state, and our nation through Red Cross disaster work is an exciting and rewarding experience.       
       Disaster training is offered every other month through 4-day mini-institutes at the Greater Houston Area Red Cross Chapter Headquarters at 2700 Southwest Freeway, Houston.  Disaster classes are also offered at various other times, both at Chapter Headquarters and at the Houston area branch offices. In addition, some disaster classes may be taken as online self-study courses. Schedules and information about classes are given on this page.  For more information about schedules, prerequisites, registration, etc. please contact our Volunteer Disaster Training Coordinator at distraining@ghac.org. 
      We hope you will join our team.  For more information about how to do that, contact the Disaster Staffing Coordinator at disstaffing@ghac.org. There is also more information about volunteer opportunities later on this page.

All disaster volunteers should take three courses before enrolling in anyother disaster classes:
            1. Volunteer Orientation is taught regularly at the Chapter Headquarters and branch offices. For more information, contact Volunteer Services, at 713-313-1683, or contact the director at your local branch office.  All American Red Cross volunteers have to fill out application forms and agree to background checks. If you have not done this beforehand, these steps will be part of the orientation. It takes about a week to complete the background check and receive your notification that you are ready to take the next step.
            2. The second course you should take is Introduction to Disaster Services, a 45-minute self-study course that is available online.  Click on this link to take Introduction to Disaster Services.
            3. The final prerequisite for all other disaster courses is Fulfilling Our Mission, a 3-hour instructor-led course that is offered at each mini-institute and at various times during the year at Houston area branch offices. To register for this course, you must use the Red Cross Learning Management System (LMS). Use the “Take a Class” link at the bottom of this page to learn more about LMS.

Opportunities for Service -- Both Locally and Nationally

Options include the following:

      1.  Respond to disasters in our local community by joining the Disaster Action Team (DAT), at the Chapter Headquarters or your local branch office.  You may email the Volunteer Disaster Training Coordinator at distraining@ghac.org for information.

      2.  Train to drive one of our two Red Cross emergency response vehicles (ERVs).  ERVs are used for mass feeding and for delivery of emergency supplies at both the local and national level.  If you would like to be a Red Cross emergency response vehicle (ERV) driver, take the first part of that course during a mini-institute, then make arrangements for the driving test. Email distraining@ghac.org for more details about prerequisites.

      5.  Volunteer to present Disaster Education programs throughout the community.

      6.  Help with data input and analysis.

      7.  Help with inventory and maintenance of disaster equipment and supplies.

      8.  Assess damage from local disasters.

      9.  Work with government agencies or other non-profit service groups as a Red Cross disaster liaison.

    10.  Use your creativity and talent and skills to contribute in all sorts of other meaningful ways.

Click here to see a description of each class being offered by Disaster Services in 2010. 

Note: Fulfilling Our Mission is a prerequisite for all other disaster classes; some classes have additional prerequisites. 

Note: There have been some changes to the original schedule given with the class descriptions. The classes listed below are the current offerings.

Note: Registration for all disaster classes is through the Red Cross Learning Management System. Click on the "Take a Class" button at the bottom of this page for information about creating an account and registration.