Make arrangements to travel and share that information with your family and chapter. Remember you may have to wait a few hours to make the travel arrangements after you receive your assignment.

Call your chapter if you have any questions about your travel arrangements.

Be sure your DSHR profile is updated and correct.

Be sure you have the correct DR# and a complete address for where you will be reporting.

Review the meaning of the Hardship Codes for this operation.

Pull together forms and guidance you may need for your assignment.

Determine if you will need to obtain additional medications to cover the days you will be on assignment.

If you are going to an unfamiliar part of the country, take time to look up information about the area where you are going.

Check your calendar in the event you need to change commitments.

Call CWT to arrange travel

Have the DR# and your DSHR# available when you call

Know the city to where you are flying.

Know the city from where you will depart.

Be sure you have transportation to and from your departing airport at the time of your flight. Red Cross will not reimburse for airport parking.

You may need to call back to CWT if they do not have your travel authority at the time you call. If you call back and still do not have an approval, call your chapter to ensure you are assigned correctly.

If your ticket exceeds $600.00, you may not be able to travel to your assignment. Approval is needed if a ticket exceed $600.00.

You will not need a credit card to secure air travel.

If a rental car is determined to be the best mode of travel, the DSHR Team Leader will arrange for a rental car and communicate this to your chapter. Discuss the arrangements with your chapter.

Know the location of your nearest Avis

Take your valid driver’s license with you.

You will not need a credit card to rent the car.

Call CWT to arrange train travel.

Know the city to where you need to report.

Know the location of your nearest Amtrak station.

You may need to call back to CWT if they do not have your travel authority at the time you call.

You will not need a credit card to secure ground travel.

You will not have to call CWT to arrange travel.

Know the location to where you need to report.

Try to determine travel time for the ERV before leaving the chapter.

Print maps to take with you to back-up GPS in the event of failure.

Check with the ERV’s custodial chapter to be sure the ERV has been inspected, is properly equipped, and is ready to deploy.

Contact your ERV team partner to coordinate travel arrangements.

Be sure you have the PHH (fuel and maintenance) and Corporate Lodging Card (overnight hotel stays while in-route only).

Check with the chapter if you are unsure of your travel arrangements or if you need information about overnight arrangements if you need them.

Be sure you have the 24 hour emergency numbers with you.

Your chapter will issue you a Staff Card to cover approved expenses.

You will need to fill out a Disaster Staff Card Authority form.

You will receive an information brochure about the use of the card.

Be sure the person issuing the card explains the proper use of the card and answers your questions about the use of the card.

Record your access code and PIN and keep them in a safe place.

You may want to try your card at an ATM and take a cash withdrawal before leaving for your assignment.

Know the card limit and keep track of the amount of cash withdrawal and purchases.

When purchasing fuel for rental cars, the "Pay at the Pump" feature has been disabled. Use the "Pay Inside" option.

Reimbursement from your staff card for travel to/from the airport is authorized unless it is over $100.00. Expenses over $100.00 will need to be reimbursed by submitting an Expense Reimbursement form after arriving at the DRO.

You may use your staff card to pay the airline baggage fee for one bag each way. Red Cross will not pay fees for overweight bags

Hotel charges for overnight stays and incidentals may not be put on staff cards. The one exception is an emergency situation when the traveler is stranded at an airport or cannot safely make it to DRO assigned accommodations.

Again, check with your chapter if you have questions or ask Staff Services when you arrive at the operation.

Be sure you have your official Red Cross ID and other government issued ID or passport needed for driving and airport security. See your chapter if you need new DSHR ID.

If you have a Red Cross vest, pack it. Ask your chapter to give you one if you do not have one.

Check the hardship codes to help determine clothing and footwear needs.

Pack clothing items you may need for staying in a staff shelter. You will want something to sleep in and to travel to and from the bathroom. You will need a wash cloth and bath towel.

Don’t forget your toiletries, medications, extra glasses, and a flashlight.

Pack important items and other necessities (extra underwear) in a carry-on in the event you baggage is lost.

Even though it might not happen right away, you will have the opportunity to do laundry. Consider that before over-packing.

Proper footwear will be necessary. Flip-flops and open toed shoes are not permitted for work sites.

You may need sunscreen and insect repellent.

Red Cross will only pay for one checked bag.

Check the weather report for the area where you will be going to help determine clothing and outerwear needs.

Give yourself plenty of time for going through airport security. If you miss a flight, you may not be able to re-book another flight.

Call the DR Info line only after you arrive at your final location. Be sure you are in a quiet location and have writing tools for recording information.

Follow the information given to you on the DR Info line. Only pick up a rental car if you are instructed to pick up a rental car.

Call the DRO Staff Services 24 hour number given to you if instructed to do so, if you arrive after business hours, or if you have an immediate need.

Report directly to the Staff Services in-processing area.

Provide the Staff Services worker with your personal information and be sure you are processed into the operation.

If you were issued a rental car at the airport or at your home, report to MSS Transportation to register the car on to the operation. Remember, you may not be able to keep the rental car.

Be sure you attend an operational orientation before beginning work.

Report to your assigned area and meet with your supervisor. Ask for a job induction and know your work expectations.

Call home or to your chapter to let someone know you arrived safely and where you will be working.

If you have questions about your assignment before traveling, ask your chapter. Do not call the operation.

Understand that when you arrive at the operation, you may receive an assignment that may be different from what you expected or you may have to wait for a work location to be assigned to you. You will need to be flexible and patient. Service delivery to clients and the affected community will be the #1 priority and you may be needed to fill gaps to make that service delivery happen.

You will be responsible for the safety and security of your valuables and personal property. Plan accordingly and consider how you will handle those items.

Red Cross has a "zero tolerance" policy regarding any abusive behavior.

Verbal threats or degrading language is considered abusive behavior.

Unwanted touch or conversation may constitute sexual harassment.

Such behavior may be illegal and may put the organization at risk.

Incidents should be reported to your supervisor or Staff Relations.

Before you begin your assignment, clarify with your supervisor what you are expected to accomplish and update these expectations with your supervisor as the assignment develops.

Do not leave an operation without a Performance Evaluation.

Workers may request an evaluation if assigned to the relief operations for less than 7 days.

Read your evaluation carefully and ask questions about the evaluation and your performance.

Use your performance evaluation to develop future skills and set future goals.

If you have any questions or concerns about your performance evaluation, contact Staff Relations.

Collaborating with community partners is an important part of how we do service delivery.

Create an environment that is welcoming and supportive for community partners.

As you meet other partners ask how they are supporting the community and report the information back to your supervisor.

Know who the community leaders are (government and non-government).

Share service delivery information with the community - shelter locations, bulk distribution sites, feeding locations and schedules.

The American Red Cross Disaster Services continues to make changes to better serve our constituent groups. As a representative of the Red Cross, you are required to support the mission of the organization and follow the procedures established for its workers and the services we provide.

Supervisors and managers are required to lead workers in a respectful and professional manner. If you are assigned as or become a supervisor or manager in an operation, remember "with authority comes responsibility." Supervisors and managers must ensure that workers receive a job induction, are given work expectations, are coached and mentored, and are properly evaluated.

My assignment activity is ___________________________

City to where I will travel ___________________________________

Address to where I will report _______________________________

CWT Phone Number: 888-435-7913

DRO Info Line Number: 888-673-8395

Staff Deployment Emergency Number: 800-533-3747*

Disaster Operations Center 24 Hour Number: 800-526-3571

My Chapter 24 Hour Phone Number__________________

My Chapter Code is ____________________

*Only call the Staff Deployment Emergency Number if there is a problem while you are in route. Call your chapter before you leave and the DRO Info line to get the Staff Services 24 hour number when you have arrived at your destination city.