Shortly after Hurricane Katrina in the US I attended a workshop at the LLLI
conference regarding preparing internationally and locally for lactation
support during diasters.  Our local coalition spent a year trying to build
and establish a relationship with our county Red Cross.  They sent two
'Diaster Nurses' (gee, I have a totally negative concept when I hear that
title---I think a diaster nurse 'helped' me nurse my second child!) to one
of our meetings to share information about the Red Cross with us.  They
agreed to have a table at our World Breastfeeding Week Health Fair and then
didn't show.  Since then they have refused to respond to either phone calls,
emails or letters including one to the ED of the county agency.  We have
offered to provide free training to their staff and volunteers as well.

Has anyone else been able to establish agreements with their local Red Cross
or other diaster response agencies?  What works? What other actions can we
consider to prepare locally?

Michele L. Crockett, IBCLC, LLLL, PCPA
Pregnancy Aid WIC, BCSnohomish County, in the earthquake zone of Washington
State!

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