Red Cross offers training for volunteers

COLUMBUS, Miss (WCBI)-As the clean-up from the storm continues, the Red Cross Disaster Relief is training volunteers who want to help those affected.

The organization held a special training today.

Hours after the tornado struck Columbus; volunteers began to emerge to help those who had lost everything. As the number of volunteers continue to increase, the Red Cross Disaster Relief wants to make sure they are properly trained.

“We have people that’s coming in that has chainsaws, that has everything, and they’ll come through these doors and get their instructions on where they’re needed,” said Christine Chandler.

During a training support class Saturday, instructor Bob Snyder reviewed requirements for volunteering. The class also covered instructions on distributing emergency supplies, working inside shelters, and assisting with feedings.

” If we can come up here and do three classes and do an overview and see if people are interested in being a Red Cross volunteers then they’ll receive that course and get credit for it,” said Bob Snyder.

Snyder says because of the urgency, he and other instructors are working quicker than usual so that these volunteers can get out into the communities.

“Due to the emergency situation up here we condense them down to, uh, maybe half the time it normally takes so that we can get volunteers trained up and ready to go and get out into the field and do some volunteering,” said Snyder.

Saturday’s class was mandatory for volunteers who want to work with the Red Cross.

16 volunteers showed up for Red Cross training today.