ANA Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation® Blog: Disaster Preparedness for Nurses – Part 2 of 3
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3 reasons to volunteer with the Red Cross Disaster Health Services program and other disaster recovery assistance programs
According to U.S. Census Bureau statistics, natural disasters in our country displaced more than 3 million people between December 2022 and August 2024. As we have witnessed, events like hurricanes, wildfires and floods can (and do) impact communities anywhere, at any time. More than 99% of the country has experienced at least one federally declared major weather-related disaster since 2011. When these disasters hit, recovery and relief volunteers spring into action.
There are many disaster recovery and relief programs in the United States. Several are profiled on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website. One of the most revered organizations, the American Red Cross, faithfully delivers on the organization’s mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering during an emergency. Volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce, according to Linda Fahey, DNP, RN, CENP. Linda serves as the interim chief nurse at the Red Cross and personally responds to disasters in her community and across the country.
“We’re launching twice as many relief efforts now as we did a decade ago,” Linda says. “The number of disasters continues to grow each year. Virtually every nurse has been impacted in some way, whether directly in their own home or at work. Disasters touch us all.”
Disaster Recovery Organizations Need Your Help
Nurses and health care volunteers are a crucial part of the disaster response. As climate events continue to increase, so does the need for trained nurses in every community. Here are three important reasons to consider joining relief efforts:
Reason 1: Many Nurses Aren’t Prepared to Respond to Disasters
As frontline care providers, nurses possess the training, experience, and compassion that organizations like the Red Cross need. More than 13,000 nurses and health professionals currently volunteer in some capacity within the Red Cross. More are needed.
While most nurses may want to respond and help during a disaster, many don’t know how, Linda says. She notes that a recent report by the National Academy of Medicine found that nurses in the U.S. are not adequately prepared for public disaster response.
“This report is a call to action for nurses,” Linda says. “Climate-related disasters are public health issues. When social inequities limit people’s ability to seek health care and access resources during a hurricane or wildfire, nurses can help. And organizations like the Red Cross can teach them how.”
Reason 2: Communities Benefit from Local Disaster Response Nurses
While the Red Cross will deploy volunteer nurses across the country when needed, the fastest response comes from local volunteers. Having trained volunteers in every community is especially helpful in parts of the country that require nurses to be licensed in the state where they respond.
“When a large-scale disaster impacts a state with state-specific license requirements, there can be a shortage of available trained nurses,” says Linda. “The Red Cross has resources to activate and train local nurses quickly after a disaster hits, but ideally, we’d love to have people ready to go. If more nurses proactively volunteer and receive disaster response training before an event, they can jump right in. This enables us to support an affected community much faster.”
She also notes that local nurses know their own community and resources better than volunteers from outside the area. “It’s so much easier to respond in a region you know,” she says. “Your community is better off, and you’re better off. You will make a difference.”
Reason 3: Nurses Are Naturally Effective Responders
According to Linda, nurses already possess all the key characteristics needed to be effective volunteers during a disaster. These include:
Many Ways to Volunteer
Relief and recovery organizations like the Red Cross offer many opportunities for nurses to volunteer during and after a disaster:
Minimal Time Requirements
Red Cross volunteers are asked to commit just one day a month in many regions, Linda says. A shift may entail simply being on call to assist local clients who request services. Volunteers with more availability may deploy to a large-scale disaster across the country for 10 to 14 days. “It’s really what you are able and willing to do,” she says.
The Rewards of Service
Linda says that her time with the Red Cross has been some of the most rewarding work she’s done in 50 years as a nurse. “Every nurse I’ve met who has responded to disasters has found the work incredibly fulfilling,” she says. “You get to know and love the people you meet in these situations, and you get to help people when they need it the most.”
Have you volunteered to help your community during a disaster? Share your experience with us in the comments.
Not a member of Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) yet? Join today!
Sign up for our monthly challenges!
There are many disaster recovery and relief programs in the United States. Several are profiled on the National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster website. One of the most revered organizations, the American Red Cross, faithfully delivers on the organization’s mission to prevent and alleviate human suffering during an emergency. Volunteers make up 90% of the Red Cross workforce, according to Linda Fahey, DNP, RN, CENP. Linda serves as the interim chief nurse at the Red Cross and personally responds to disasters in her community and across the country.
“We’re launching twice as many relief efforts now as we did a decade ago,” Linda says. “The number of disasters continues to grow each year. Virtually every nurse has been impacted in some way, whether directly in their own home or at work. Disasters touch us all.”
Disaster Recovery Organizations Need Your Help
Nurses and health care volunteers are a crucial part of the disaster response. As climate events continue to increase, so does the need for trained nurses in every community. Here are three important reasons to consider joining relief efforts:
Reason 1: Many Nurses Aren’t Prepared to Respond to Disasters
As frontline care providers, nurses possess the training, experience, and compassion that organizations like the Red Cross need. More than 13,000 nurses and health professionals currently volunteer in some capacity within the Red Cross. More are needed.
While most nurses may want to respond and help during a disaster, many don’t know how, Linda says. She notes that a recent report by the National Academy of Medicine found that nurses in the U.S. are not adequately prepared for public disaster response.
“This report is a call to action for nurses,” Linda says. “Climate-related disasters are public health issues. When social inequities limit people’s ability to seek health care and access resources during a hurricane or wildfire, nurses can help. And organizations like the Red Cross can teach them how.”
Reason 2: Communities Benefit from Local Disaster Response Nurses
While the Red Cross will deploy volunteer nurses across the country when needed, the fastest response comes from local volunteers. Having trained volunteers in every community is especially helpful in parts of the country that require nurses to be licensed in the state where they respond.
“When a large-scale disaster impacts a state with state-specific license requirements, there can be a shortage of available trained nurses,” says Linda. “The Red Cross has resources to activate and train local nurses quickly after a disaster hits, but ideally, we’d love to have people ready to go. If more nurses proactively volunteer and receive disaster response training before an event, they can jump right in. This enables us to support an affected community much faster.”
She also notes that local nurses know their own community and resources better than volunteers from outside the area. “It’s so much easier to respond in a region you know,” she says. “Your community is better off, and you’re better off. You will make a difference.”
Reason 3: Nurses Are Naturally Effective Responders
According to Linda, nurses already possess all the key characteristics needed to be effective volunteers during a disaster. These include:
- Communication skills: Volunteers need to communicate clearly and effectively in a chaotic environment.
- Cultural sensitivity: Volunteers will work with clients and team members from different cultures, beliefs, and lifestyles.
- Empathy: Disaster response requires understanding the needs and feelings of people going through traumatic experiences.
- Flexibility and resilience: Disasters are high-stress environments. They require an ability to adapt to chaotic and rapidly changing situations. Volunteers may take on multiple roles or tasks as needed.
- Physical stamina: Disaster response may require long hours and physically demanding tasks.
- Problem-solving skills: Disasters bring unexpected challenges. Responders need to think quickly and resourcefully.
- Teamwork: Volunteers are placed on teams with diverse backgrounds and experience. Collaboration is key.
Many Ways to Volunteer
Relief and recovery organizations like the Red Cross offer many opportunities for nurses to volunteer during and after a disaster:
- Direct care: Nurses can work one-on-one with clients, assessing and assisting with their unmet needs. This can include helping them replace medications or medical equipment, providing first aid or CPR, and connecting clients with community resources.
- Staff health nurse: In this role, nurse volunteers care for their fellow responders’ health needs.
- Community preparedness: Nurses can work to educate, train, and prepare communities for disasters. This includes participating in disaster health planning, drills, and exercises.
Minimal Time Requirements
Red Cross volunteers are asked to commit just one day a month in many regions, Linda says. A shift may entail simply being on call to assist local clients who request services. Volunteers with more availability may deploy to a large-scale disaster across the country for 10 to 14 days. “It’s really what you are able and willing to do,” she says.
The Rewards of Service
Linda says that her time with the Red Cross has been some of the most rewarding work she’s done in 50 years as a nurse. “Every nurse I’ve met who has responded to disasters has found the work incredibly fulfilling,” she says. “You get to know and love the people you meet in these situations, and you get to help people when they need it the most.”
Have you volunteered to help your community during a disaster? Share your experience with us in the comments.
Not a member of Healthy Nurse, Healthy Nation (HNHN) yet? Join today!
Sign up for our monthly challenges!
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04/02/2025 11:06am CDT
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