Four “Disaster Recovery Training Days” to be held in Indiana

April 10, 2014 – Persons interested in helping Indiana communities rebuild and recover following last fall’s tornadoes and flooding – and from inevitable future disasters – are invited to attend one of four free “Disaster Recovery Training Days” to be held across Indiana in April and May.

The “Training Days” are being offered by the American Red Cross and will be held April 25 in Evansville, May 2 in Kokomo and May 3 in Indianapolis. Each day’s program will run from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Registration information follows.

“Government grants and loans and insurance payouts never cover all of disaster survivors’ rebuilding and recovery needs. To meet the many unmet needs that always remain truly takes an all-community effort,” said Susanne Gilmore of Manhattan, Kansas, an emergency response specialist with the humanitarian agency Church World Service.

The American Red Cross has asked Gilmore to lead the morning session of each “Training Day.” She will offer an orientation to long-term recovery, including needs assessment, the case management process, and construction and volunteer management.

After lunch, the American Red Cross will give an overview of the “Coordinated Assistance Network,” a helpful tool for community long-term recovery.

The “Training Days” are for anyone interested in helping in the recovery phase of disaster, including representatives of local civic, social service and faith-based organizations, American Red Cross volunteers, business leaders, long-term recovery group members, disaster case managers, emergency managers, government and non-profit agency program staff and other organizations active in disaster response.

Tornados last November destroyed at least 90 homes across Indiana, severely damaged 121 more, and caused minor damage to another 171. The state also suffered flooding in December, arctic cold in January, and three more tornados in February – “and now it’s spring. In the Midwest, the threat of tornados, severe storms and flooding is always there,” Gilmore said.

“Disaster Recovery Training Days” Dates and Registration

April 25 Evansville, IN – American Red Cross, 29 S. Stockwell Road
To register for the Evansville session contact Kara Horstman at (812) 471-7200 or email Scott Tibbetts.

April 26 Washington, IN – UPDATE: Cancelled

May 2 Kokomo, IN – Howard County Community Center, 120 E. Mulberry Street
To register for the Kokomo session call (765) 459-4162 or email Scott Tibbetts.

May 3 Indianapolis, IN – TBD
To register for the Indianapolis session call Brooke Riester at (317) 684-4381 or email Scott Tibbetts.

CWS is a member of NVOAD, the association of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, which will hold its 2014 conference May 13-15 at the J.W. Marriott, 10 S. West St., Indianapolis.

Media contacts:

Church World Service
Lesley Crosson, 212-870-2676, and Carol Fouke-Mpoyo, 212-870-2728/646-258-8896

American Red Cross
Scott Tibbetts, 859-983-1246