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As hurricane season looms and disaster risks remain ever-present, the American Red Cross and Georgetown County Emergency Services have partnered to prepare the community through an important initiative: local shelter volunteer training.
The Red Cross plays a vital role in the county’s disaster response operations, particularly when it comes to managing emergency shelters during fires, hurricanes, and other crises.
"They're a crucial partner," said Brandon Ellis, Georgetown County's Director of Emergency Services. “When an event happens, they help us open and manage shelters, ensuring residents have a safe place to go.”
However, a significant hurdle remains: volunteer recruitment.
“Ninety to 96 percent of our workers are volunteers,” said Irene Branyard, the Red Cross’ Regional Program Lead for Training in South Carolina. “We lost a lot of that base after COVID, and we’re working hard to rebuild it.”
Georgetown County teamed up with the Red Cross earlier this month for a shelter training boot camp that provided the basic tools needed to assist in a shelter during a disaster. It also includes hands-only CPR training—something that could save a life in or outside of a shelter environment.
“The more people we can equip with CPR skills, the better chance we have at making our community safer every day,” Ellis said.
In an era of increasingly frequent emergencies, every trained volunteer becomes a vital part of Georgetown County’s resilience.
“We can’t do this alone,” said Branyard. “Our community depends on each other—and right now, we need your help.”
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