At Last There Is HOPE (Hummer Owners Prepared for Emergencies)
The desire of Hummer owners to assist the American Red Cross began at the Hummer Country Roads 2001 event when Hummer club members arrived shortly after devastating floods ravaged West Virginia. They felt helpless because the relief agencies didn’t know about their capabilities. After contacting various agencies to offer our services, they set up a program with the Red Cross so they would be ready for the next disaster.
The purpose of HOPE programt is for Club members to provide transportation with their HUMMERs on a volunteer basis during times of disaster. Qualified Club members may be asked to provide HUMMER vehicles for transportation of necessary Red Cross individuals and/or supplies into areas that are not accessible with normal vehicles.
If YOU are a Hummer Owner or you know a Hummer Owner ...
Here is how Hummers help
• Disaster Assessment - As a HUMMER owner you can get into the field early, you probably have access to areas that other Disaster Assessment Team members are unable to go in their vehicles due to local conditions. Members are instructed to work within reasonable safety parameters and within their comfort and skill level.
• Transport - During a disaster response, you can offer the use of your HUMMER for transport of materials, Red Cross staff and volunteers. For example, whether or not you are trained in Disaster Assessment, you may use your HUMMER to transport assessors to areas of need.
• National Disaster Response - You may also be interested in participating in regional and even national disaster responses. You may also be interested in taking your HUMMER to the response, instead of using chapter arranged transport, so that you can offer the use of your HUMMER for access to difficult-to-reach areas and for carrying material and staff/volunteers in the field.
Other suitable areas
• Since as a HOPE member you are registered volunteer Red Cross volunteers, you can choose to do whatever function you would like to assist the local chapter.
Requirements
The basic requirements from The HUMMER Club, Inc are:
1. You must be a current member in good standing of the HUMMER Club, Inc. If you are spouse or sibling of a member of The HUMMER Club, please provide the members name and member number.
2. You must have or obtain “trail endorsement” including a component on radio protocol through the Club within one year of membership in the program. The trail endorsement certifies that you are proficient in basic off-road skills including recovery techniques.
How Do I Apply
Start by filling out a HOPE Application Packet:
The documents in the packet describe exactly what you must do, but below is a summary of what will be required of you:
1. A copy of your driver’s license.
2. Proof of car insurance.
3. A copy of your Department of Motor Vehicle driving report. This can be obtained at your local DMV for $4-$10.
4. A copy of your First Aid and CPR/AED training certification. If you don’t have American Red Cross provided certification, send a copy of the certification you do have. If you need to take this training, your local Red Cross chapter provides classes for a nominal fee.
5. Copies of EMT and First Responder certificates or any other related certifications, if relevant.
6. A copy of the “Intro to Disaster Services” course evaluation that you performed online at:
www2.redcross.org/flash/course01
7. A signed copy of the Red Cross Code of Conduct.
8 . A completed copy of the Red Cross HOPE Volunteer Application (used to apply as a volunteer in the St. Joseph Chapter; you will eventually have to become a volunteer in your local chapter)
9. HOPE program fee of $55.00 to cover the costs of the HOPE program shirt and Red Cross first aid kit and door magnets that must be carried in your truck at all times during a disaster response.
10. Your HUMMER Club membership number.
11. Trail Endorsement or willing to obtain necessary training within one year.
12. Passport style/quality photo for use on an American Red Cross ID Card (when they become available). Please e-mail this to hope@stjoe-redcross.org (you will need to use your own e-mail client to send the image to us).
