Disaster Action Team Provides Immediate Help to Disaster Victims

 John Wathen IV has a background in aerospace engineering from Pennsylvania State University. Passionate about aviation, John Moss Wathen IV graduated from the ATP Flight School Airline Career Pilot Program, which allowed him gain skills in various areas such as aerodynamics, aircraft navigation, radio operations, and handling emergencies, among others. Besides his aviation career, John Wathen IV is a Disaster Action Team Member with the American Red Cross.

The American Red Cross works to prevent human suffering caused by various emergencies through mobilizing teams of volunteers, and relies on donor support to carry out its mission. Disaster Action Team volunteers are always on standby to respond to natural or other emergencies 24-hours a day, 365 days a year. Trained to offer various types of assistance, Disaster Action Team members offer emotional and financial support, address urgent needs of affected people such as food and shelter, and create networks for affected people to enable them to access long-term recovery services.

After training, Disaster Action Team members are scheduled in shifts, and are expected to respond swiftly to emergencies within 2 hours at any time of the day or night. Volunteers are often either at the scene, or coordinate remotely with the relevant teams, to ensure care and compassion is available to those affected. With additional training, volunteers may take up more senior leadership and response coordination roles to achieve a wider impact.