2026 Eastern New York Disaster Training Institute: Full Schedule

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9:00am EDT

General Opening Session

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Instructors

Keith Tilley

RDO Volunteer Partner; Regional Disaster Workforce Engagement Lead, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:00am - 9:30am EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

All

9:30am EDT

De-Escalating Threatening Situations and Working with Law Enforcement

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:30am - 11:00am EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

How to handle and deal with aggression in your interactions with people. These skills will help you to diffuse and redirect aggressive ideation. It will also help you to understand when to call for help.

Instructors

Gerald Deluca

Division Disaster Director, American Red Cross

I am happy to talk with attendees about any issue involving the division. I am also pleased to talk sports, especially, golf and football.

Saturday May 30, 2026 9:30am - 11:00am EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

All

11:00am EDT

Shelter Client Intake Application (SCIA) Overview

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

A view of one of our most vital communication tools in shelter operations. The Shelter Client Intake App (SCIA) relates critical information to multiple disciplines and is essential for management of any shelter operation.

Instructors

David Burleson

Regional Sheltering Lead, American Red Cross

For the past 10 years I have volunteered with Red Cross Disaster services mostly in Sheltering, but also in Workforce and Casework. I have been a blood donor since 1977,

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

Track 1

11:00am EDT

Disaster Response Operations Headquarters Walk Through

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Gain an understanding and experience what goes on at a disaster response HQ and the many roles that must be coordinated there. This mock setup by experienced responders will give you great insights.

Instructors

Madeline Clark

Community Disaster Program Manager DRA 3, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 11:00am - 12:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Track 2

12:45pm EDT

Disaster Response Operations Skills Panels - Generalized Topics

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Generalized Topics Panel: includes workforce, ER, and reunification panel members.

These panels provide the opportunity for you to tap into the experience of panelists of various gaps and learn more about how different GAPs function in a Disaster Response Operations and how they relate to one another. Each panel session will include a question-and-answer session and work through a disaster response operation scenario.

Instructors

Val Juby

ENY Volunteer, American Red Cross

Keith Tilley

RDO Volunteer Partner; Regional Disaster Workforce Engagement Lead, American Red Cross

Michelle Lathrop

Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross

John Corbett

Regional DAT Lead, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

All

12:45pm EDT

Disaster Response Operations Skills Panels - Logistics

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT

American Red Cross - Conference Room A

Logistics Panel: includes warehousing, transportation, and sourcing panel members.
Scenario based training that will focus on the first 4–6 Hours of an operation for logistics volunteers

These panels provide the opportunity for you to tap into the experience of panelists of various gaps and learn more about how different GAPs function in a Disaster Response Operations and how they relate to one another. Each panel session will include a question-and-answer session and work through a disaster response operation scenario.

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT
American Red Cross - Conference Room A 33 Everett Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA

Track 1

12:45pm EDT

Disaster Response Operations Skills Panels - Mass Care

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

Mass Care Panel: includes feeding, SRT, Sheltering, and IDC panel members.

These panels provide the opportunity for you to tap into the experience of panelists of various gaps and learn more about how different GAPs function in a Disaster Response Operations and how they relate to one another. Each panel session will include a question-and-answer session and work through a disaster response operation scenario.

Instructors

Danielle Kellar

ENY, American Red Cross

David Burleson

Regional Sheltering Lead, American Red Cross

For the past 10 years I have volunteered with Red Cross Disaster services mostly in Sheltering, but also in Workforce and Casework. I have been a blood donor since 1977,

Peter McKee

Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross

Volunteer Partner with the Eastern NY Regional CEO , ENY. Joined the Red Cross Oct 2022. Have deployed in roles of Shelter Manager, Shelter Supervisor, Shelter Resident Transition (2 times) Staff Services Ambassador (2 times), and Recovery Intake (2 times).

Sherie Grinter

American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 12:45pm - 2:35pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

Track 2

3:00pm EDT

Vicarious Trauma and How to Avoid it

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Picking up the trauma that our clients experience and its effect. Recognizing the symptoms and coping with the effects. How to maintain your mental health when you see too much.

Instructors

Peggy OConnor

American Red Cross

Pat Wagner

Disaster Mental Health Regional Program Lead, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Track 1

3:00pm EDT

Red Cross Technology Workshop

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

An overview of Red Cross and other computer programs that you might need to know on disaster operations. Geared towards those who find computer and internet platforms challenging. Volunteer services will be covering Volunteer Connection administrator processes.

Instructors

Mia Hubbert

DRA 6 CDPM Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross

Cortney Shatraw

Regional Volunteer Services Officer, American Red Cross

Peter McKee

Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 4:15pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

Track 2

3:00pm EDT

Regional Response Management Team Training (by invitation only)

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm EDT

American Red Cross - Conference Room A

Instructors

Mary Walker

RDO VP, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 3:00pm - 5:00pm EDT
American Red Cross - Conference Room A 33 Everett Rd, Albany, NY 12205, USA

RRMT

4:15pm EDT

Who Helps the Helpers? Disaster Workforce Engagement and the DRO Workforce Team

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

This discussion outlines the roles of the two teams that exist only to support other Red Crossers: Disaster Workforce Engagement (steady state) and the DRO Workforce Team (operational, formerly known as Staff Services). You'll discover all of the services you receive from these teams (whether you know it or not) and see how the processes work for topics like deployment, promotion, and life on a DRO.

Instructors

Keniesha Stennett

Disaster Workforce Engagement Manager, American Red Cross

Keith Tilley

RDO Volunteer Partner; Regional Disaster Workforce Engagement Lead, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Track 1

4:15pm EDT

An introduction to WebEOC

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

An overview of a new Red Cross coordination software: WebEOC, and how it impacts the various avenues of service delivery going forward on DROs and in blue skies.

Instructors

Mathew Nedin

Community Disaster Program Manager DRA 4, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 4:15pm - 5:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room B

Track 2

5:00pm EDT

Why Logistics Matters: How the Logistics Role Impacts Shelter & Service Delivery

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT

Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

This class is aimed at helping non‑logistics volunteers understand what logistics does, why it matters, and how logistics decisions directly affect client services.

Instructors

Gary Amell

RDO Volunteer Partner, American Red Cross

I retired from NYS Dept. Of Corrections in 2006. I started Volunteering for the Red Cross in 2013, I deploy a few times every year, and I was previously the ENY DAT RPL. I continue to donate a significant amount of time monitoring the DAT program and provide Sr. Leadership reports... Read More →

Kam Kobeissi

Regional Mass Care Manager, American Red Cross

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 6:00pm EDT
Joseph E. Zaloga American Legion Post #1520 - Room A

Track 2

5:00pm EDT

Disaster Event-Based Volunteer Activity Worker Fundamentals

Saturday May 30, 2026 5:00pm - 7:00pm EDT

American Red Cross - Conference Room A

This course explains the roles, responsibilities, procedures, and systems required to support the D-EBV function on a Disaster Relief Operation. It is required in order to earn a WF/DEBV GAP.
The course introduces the D-EBV Activity and covers what the team does during the Initiation, Stabilization, Sustainment, and Demobilization phases of a DRO. It also explains how to perform activities in the DRO Shift Tool for both people management and shift management, and how those decisions impact the D-EBV and local community volunteer experience.

EDGE credit will be granted to participants who complete this session.

Instructors