Becoming a member of Red Cross Disaster Services requires that you complete certain training and experience at a local level before deploying to a disaster in another part of the country. Sending already trained and experienced workers to a disaster site ensures efficient, timely service to those affected by the disaster. 

Sending spontaneous volunteers to the scene of a disaster often adds to the chaos and can even slow down getting service to our disaster clients.  The best way to help is:

• Become involved at your local Red Cross chapter before a disaster occurs and become a registered member of the DSHR System.
• Be patient-our Staff Services team is working to support the members of the DSHR System as they deploy to assist those in need.
• Due to the highly increased activity, we may not be able to respond to your phone call or email as quickly as we would like.
• Visit http://www.helpindisaster.org/1800Vol/OpenIndexAction.do for more information about volunteering during disaster.
• If you have already contacted the chapter by phone or email, your information has been recorded-please do not place a second call.
• In the meantime, visit www.redcross.org and complete the online course “Introduction to Disaster Services.”