Since 1998, the American Red Cross Southeastern Pennsylvania (SEPA) Chapter has hosted the AmeriCorps National Preparedness and Response Corps (NPRC), and the key to the tremendous success of the program has been our abilty to integrate the AmeriCorps members fully into our  Emergency Services department. We have engaged them in our effort to mobilize our region of four million residents in the Greater Philadelphia area across the disaster continuum of Preparedness, Response and Recovery.

Here are some examples of how our AmeriCorps members have made a serious impact on our region through innovative approaches to solving problems and to building the capacity of our region to respond to and recover from disasters:

Encouraging Innovative Approaches to Solving Problems

1. Fire Safety Walkthroughs

AmeriCorps NPRC members played a key role in our innovative response to fire safety in the City ofPhiladelphia. Since 2007, following a particularly tragic fire that claimed the lives of a mother and her four children under the age of five, the American Red Cross has partnered with the Philadelphia Fire Department on a fire safety walkthrough program that has reached more than 70,000 families in our region. In the wake of every fatal fire, Red Cross staff and volunteers team up with firefighters to blanket the affected neighborhood the following day with fire safety materials and new smoke detector batteries; firefighters install new smoke detectors in homes that do not have any. AmeriCorps members often lead these walkthroughs.

Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Lloyd Ayers has hailed the Red Cross program and cited it as part of the solution as fire deaths have fallen to all-time lows in 2009 and 2010. After reaching a high of 52 deaths in 2005 & 2006, the number fell to 30 deaths in 2009 and 33 deaths in 2010.

2. Disaster Preparedness Summits

AmeriCorps members rotate through a series of internships in the Emergency Services Department; one of the internships gave them the chance to work with the Southeastern Pennsylvania Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (SEPA VOAD) program.

In 2008-09, SEPA VOAD organized a series of disaster preparedness conferences in each of the five counties of Southeastern Pennsylvania: Bucks,Chester,Delaware,Montgomery, andPhiladelphia. Through these disaster preparedness conferences, SEPA VOAD and its partners trained nearly 1,000 community leaders, representing more than 700 faith-based and human serviceagencies, in continuity of operations and public health, personal and congregational preparedness.

As a result of this outreach, SEPA VOAD was awarded the 2009 Innovative Program of the Year Award by National VOAD.

Building the Capacity of Individuals, Non-profits & Communities

 1. Mentoring Disaster Volunteers through Training

In 2006, NPRC members spearheaded the development of a chapter-based Volunteer Orientation/Simulation class. The course introduces new volunteers to the Emergency Services Department and provides the foundation for additional Red Cross courses. The Volunteer Orientation/Simulation class walks disaster volunteers through the process of being on-call to arriving at the disaster scene and providing emergency assistance to clients in need. This course has been a critical piece in ensuring our volunteers are prepared to respond to the needs of our clients. Since the inception of the course, NPRC members through the years have instructed 1,123 students, mentoring our newest volunteers and giving them the skills they need to quickly become lead responders.

2. Preparedness Education

During their time with Preparedness, NPRC members learn the value of connecting with youth by teaching preparedness education programs such as “When I’m in Charge,” and “Fire Safety 101.” Immediately following a disaster, NPRC members gather data on the local disasters and contact the schools within that geographical area. This results in the invaluable education of students who have important questions, concerns and fears that may arise following a disaster.

NPRC members also assist in the facilitation of the Red Cross Club after-school program in which they mentor students in the areas of service learning, leadership, humanitarian values and post high school career/education exploration. To date this fiscal year, NPRC members along with Chapter staff, have trained a total of 25,134 youth in preparedness education and a total of 10,571 through the Red Cross Club program.