Countywide : Red Cross Disaster Class Set for Laguna

The American Red Cross of Orange County, hoping to beef up volunteer ranks in disaster-racked Laguna Beach, is offering a free class Wednesday night to introduce county residents to emergency training.

The class, “Introduction to Disaster Services,” is the first course required of all prospective Red Cross volunteers. It gives an overview of how the agency reacts and operates following disasters, said Red Cross spokeswoman Kara Lakkees.

The three-hour session will begin at 7 p.m. on the third floor of the Wells Fargo Bank building, 260 Ocean Ave., Laguna Beach.

Participants “feel better prepared when a disaster occurs, and when and if something does happen there, we’ll have a concentration of volunteers in the area. It’s also valuable information to people who think they might volunteer later or people who just want to find out about our services,” Lakkees said.

After taking the course, participants may choose from a variety of other, more specialized classes to further their training so they can join the ranks of the county’s 5,000 Red Cross volunteers.

The Red Cross also is considering offering a second Laguna Beach meeting of the introductory class, at 9 a.m. Saturday, if there is enough interest.

For more information or to register, call (714) 835-5381, Ext. 140.