The evening Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1918-1920, 1920-06-16

at the various Division Headquarters
have been expanding and perfecting
the plans for nation wide disaster re-
lief preparedness, arranging to make
each OF the 1924 Red Cross Chapters
an integral part OF the disaster relief
organization.
Nationwide Preparedness
The Mobile Disaste Unit Of the
New England Division is part of the
nation wide preparedness of the
American Red Cross to render dis
aster relief. This unit will operate
primarily in the New England states
of Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont.
Massachusetts and Rhode Island, but
1t may be sent into other States if the
extent of the disaster makes its serv-
ices essential.
Disasters OF unusual proportions.
several hundreds of people,
such as the Chelsea and Salem fires
are fortunately rare In New England.
But when they do come. they come
without warning. The vic
tins are in need OF immediate aid
There is no time then to prepare re
lief measures with care. Everything
must be done hurriedly and without
To meet disaster stu
atoms efficiently. preparations must
be made In advance. And il is such
that the New England
II O. MI Oh to
Disaster Unit
Everything possible has been done
to insure the greatest possible speed
in getting the Unit TO the scene of a
disaster. after its services have been
called for. b A list of the names, al
dresses and telephone numbers OF the
Division officers has been
placed with every one of the ia Red
Cross Chapters in the New England
Division territory. with the Western
Union and Postal Telegraph Com
panies and the New England Tele-
phone & Telegraph Company in Bos
ton and with the editors of the Boston
newspapers. Through one or more Of
these sources report OF a disaster will
quickly reach some one of the officers
isteds
Ready to Act Day or Night
The moment notification of dsas
Ter comes to Division officer. day or
night, the machinery for putting the
Disaster Unit into the field will be
started.
Arthur G.. Rotch, Acting Division
Manager, will call the Chapter nearest
he disaster on the telephone to+learn
is extent and transportation condi-
ions in the vicinity. With the infor-
nation thus secured he will decide
the services of the Unit are
needed. If they are he will mobilize
he Division forces necessary to get
he Unit out.
II the call comes in the day time
III the officers connected with the
Unit will be at Division Headquarters
t the summons is at night, they will
De called by telephone to Headquar-
crs.
:. H. Swift 4 Comany, big trucking
concern in Boston, to transport the
equipment of the Unit over the road
o the disaster If it is within 800 miles
If Boston and the roads are passable,
" otherwise to load it onto freight
.ars. This company will rush its big
,est motor trucks to the Army Base
or the equipment Army personnel
m duty at the Base and Red Cross
workers can get the entire equipment
rat OF storage and loaded inside an
lour.
The Personnel Of the Unit
Meantime the personnel of the Unit
will be gathering for their trip to the
Gene of disaster By motor cars or by
rain The personnel consists OF two
urgeons and two assistant surgeons,
wo physicians (medicaD. two spec
alists. one Xray techniciah. 80 Red
ross nurses (wopen) and six male
Iurses, one dietitian, one pharmacist.
wo medical social service workers, a
ook and two assistant cooks, Is male
lelpers and three stenographers. be-
ides a business manager and two
assistants. This personnel will be in
reased if necessary
DR.. William K. Ladd OF Boston, has
-1rolled the medical personnel OF The
init, and will be in command Of the |