The Red Cross at West Point is offering community members an opportunity to become disaster volunteers.

The Red Cross responds to more than 60,000 disasters across the nation every year. Disaster workers first focus on a victim’s basic needs such as shelter, food, first aid and counseling. Volunteers are there when people need groceries, temporary lodging and other necessities and stay as long as necessary to help people rebuild their lives. Time after time across America, a caring commitment makes a difference.

The Red Cross here will conduct classes to become trained disaster volunteers. There are different areas that you can serve in as a disaster volunteer once certified. The West Point Service Center will host Peter Cann, retired Air Force colonel and disaster trainer, Jan. 30 and 31 from 6 to 10 p.m. in bldg. 622. He will teach "Shelter Operations" the first night and "Shelter Simulations" the following night. Some of the areas he will cover are the tasking of registration, dormitory management, feeding, disaster health services and providing information and communications in a shelter after a disaster occurs.

Two pre-requisites are required prior to taking the disaster training. The first, offered Jan. 17 from 7 to 9 p.m., is "Introduction to Disaster Services." The second is Jan. 18 also from 7 to 9 p.m. and is titled "Mass Care: An Overview." These two pre-requisites may also be done as a self-study if you cannot attend these days.

Once you become a disaster volunteer, you may train in many different areas. This is a skill you will take with you wherever you move. As a Red Cross disaster volunteer, you will always have the opportunity to work; you only need to train once.