more disaster training

[marathoner452]

Two classes down, three to go. I had Logistics Overview and Logistics Simulation today down at the Central Maryland Chapter in Baltimore. I figure I should know as much as I can about what all of the disaster functions are up to, to satisfy my own curiosity and so I can make their lives easier. The smoother operations on a disaster operation go, the better service we'll be delivering to our clients. Logistics (or Material Support Services as they call it now) is like a puzzle-how can you get all the transportation, facilities, and supplies you need at the right time, in the right place, for as little money as possible without sacrificing quality? Oh yeah, and all the other functions needed those things yesterday, so you'd best move quickly. You're in a disaster area too, so resources are limited and emotions are running high.

In that way, it sounds really cool. Like a challenge. I still think I like the more client-oriented stuff better, and hopefully I'll get to do client casework my next time out. That's not to say today was a waste of time. I got to make nice with one of our neighboring chapters that Judy has problems with for reasons I can't quite figure out. Probably just the one or two people she works with at Central Maryland are difficult to deal with. There's probably also a lot more bureaucracy because they're a much larger chapter. Go figure. I also got to hang out with fellow disaster volunteers and swap "war stories." Pretty much all of us had been out on at least one 3 week Katrina deployment.

Tomorrow I have to be up early to go to a two-day Disaster Kitchen Training class out in West Virginia. Yay for getting up early to drive 2 hours. (Not.) Yay for more free training. Yay for hanging out with fellow disaster junkies.

~Bethany

Comments

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

That definitely sounds like a really cool experience you had today. Certainly a change of pace and type from your usual class, though no Red Cross is "usual." Certainly taught you, I'm assuming, to think on your feet when it comes to different situations.

And this Kitchen class sounds cool too--if it's anything like what I visualize it to be, you'll have a great time. Looking forward to hearing about it.

~Adam

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

We're cooking 65 meals for Meals on Wheels out in Jefferson County, West Virginia. We're doing beef goulosh, green beans, wheat bread with butter, and angel food cake with fresh strawberries. I'm the "yard crew," so I'll be doing inventory and errands and heating the cambros and good stuff like that. Making sure everything runs smoothly.

Oh yeah, and I decided to come home tonight. It's closer than I thought-only an hour and a half-and we're starting at 7:30 tomorrow morning, not 6. I figured it wasn't worth the extra money since it was only half an hour farther than my drive home from work. Plus, I got to finish listening to "The Killer Angels."

There's my day in a nutshell. I'm tired and tomorrow's another full day, so I'll be going to bed early after a run this evening.

~Bethany

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

Definitely sounds like a fun time and something I'd enjoy just as much as you. And it helps that it isn't too far away so you can sleep in your own bed.

Hope we can talk sometime this week--I know you're busy (and I know, I'm not :-P), but I'd love to hear from you a little longer than 15-20 minutes at a time if you have it. Please let me know.

~Adam

[roadwarrior220.livejournal.com]

And no worries--I know your time is limited these days, so I won't be disappointed if you can't spare much more than 20 minutes once or twice this week.

~Adam

[ratkrycek.livejournal.com]

Logistics is a lot of fun. Mission-impossible style fun. *grin* I wasn't convinced kitchen work was anything I was interested in till you told me how loved you were by people for it, although it seems to be our DS director's favorite job! But, yeah.

Logistics are love. :)

I need to take that... maybe I'll ask Nick tomorrow if there's time. I've needed to email him for awhile - again.

Y'know... I've been thinking of calling you up to chat sometime - would you mind that?

[marathoner452.livejournal.com]

So is logistics mostly what you do with the Red Cross? Family Service (or client casework, or whatever we call it today) and Community Services are more my thing, but I'm gaining even more respect for what the other pieces of the puzzle do. We'd all be lost without logistics.

Once my schedule is a little less crazy (read: Tuesday or Wednesday), I'll try to call you, but call anytime.

~Bethany