Advanced Disaster Response Training

Due to new guidelines set by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR), volunteers who wish to assist in the early stages following disasters must have Early Response Team Certification to volunteer. Requirements for the Early Response Team Certification include:

• Complete Early Response Team course
• Complete the basic disaster response course
• Complete Safe and Sacred Space Certification
• Volunteer at one disaster site

Training participants will learn how our volunteers can assist in damaged communities without causing any burden on the community by being totally self sufficient. Proper roof tarp application techniques, debris sorting, temporary repairs and damage assessments will be demonstrated. Participants will earn certified photo identification upon completion of the certification process.

Once certified, Early Response Teams will have the opportunity to respond to disasters both within our Conference area as well as disasters that affect other conference in the United States. The Early Response Teams are the first volunteer teams that we send in after a disaster and are utilized in many different areas such as: debris removal, temporary repairs, applying roof tarps, shelter operations, child care, volunteer reception centers, and damage assessment.

The Kansas East Conference will offer the Early Response Team course on April 25th, 2009 at Lawrence First UMC West Campus (west of town on 6th Street) from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. To register, call Julie Pohl at 785-989-3237 or e-mail kseastvim@yahoo.com Course size is limited to 15 people. This class will have a $5.00 registration fee to help cover the cost of student materials. Lunch is on your own.

Registration deadline is April 20, 2009.

Comments? Send e-mail to office@kansaseast.org © 2007, Kansas East Conference of the United Methodist Church