One hundred and seventeen people from seven states will all be gathered at the Heartland and Loess Hills Chapters of the Red Cross starting today for the first annual Lewis and Clark Disaster Institute.  This is the first time a disaster institute has been held in the Omaha metro that will offer advanced disaster classes for volunteers and staff who are interested in deploying to manage and lead future disaster operations. 

The Lewis and Clark Disaster Institute offers participants 16 class options ranging from Psychological First Aid to Fundamentals of Disaster Public Affairs and Mass Care.  The region is bringing in eight instructors from around the country to supplement their own experienced instructors.  Prior to this institute, volunteers and staff wanting to take some of these advanced classes had to travel to Illinois or South Dakota to receive training to deploy to help after floods, tornadoes or other disasters.

“The Heartland Regional Grouping is excited to welcome Red Crossers from around the country to our chapters this week,” said Tina Labellarte Price, CEO of the American Red Cross , Heartland Chapter.    “It’s our volunteer’s commitment to serving others that will ensure that our communities are prepared for and taken care of when a disaster strikes.”

The event was made possible in part by the generous support of the Wal-Mart Foundation and a grant that the Heartland Chapter received earlier this year to facilitate disaster readiness in the region. The Red Cross is a charitable organization — not a government agency — and depends on volunteers and the generosity of the American public to perform its mission. There are 35 volunteers for every paid Red Cross staffer.