SUNNYVALE, Calif. – Tom Richter has been a Sunnyvale resident since 1988, and for nearly 10 years he has been an active member of SNAP (Sunnyvale Neighbors Actively Prepare). SNAP is Sunnyvale’s community emergency response team, community members who receive training in everything from first aid to light search and rescue in order to assist their neighbors during any large-scale disaster.

Richter is now preparing to face a disaster larger than he ever imagined: Hurricane Katrina. Answering the Red Cross call for volunteers to assist in the massive recovery effort, Richter joined nearly 100 other volunteers for two days of training at the Red Cross offices in San Jose.

“Following the two days of training, we will be told if and when we will be deployed,” Richter said. “Most of us will probably go to Houston and either assist with the sheltering effort or be sent from Houston to other areas where volunteers are needed.”

Disasters the size of Katrina require large numbers of volunteers to carry out recovery efforts. Many of the volunteers bring high levels of professional experience with them, but many are there to simply assist any way they can. “Even though I have been trained in light search and rescue through SNAP,” said Richter, “I know there are professional firefighters and others who will be taking care of that function at the disaster. But there are a lot of other jobs we can perform to help with the effort.”

While Richter acknowledges he may not be using the direct skills learned through SNAP, he does see a benefit from his Sunnyvale training. “SNAP training is beneficial not only for the lessons learned,” Richter explained, “but also for the confidence and self-assurance gained by successfully completing the training. While I have mixed emotions about what I will see in the wake of the disaster, I am confident in my abilities and am ready to help.”

The Sunnyvale SNAP program is operated by the Department of Public Safety’s Office of Emergency Services (OES). Classes are held three times a year, with the next open class scheduled for January 2006. For more information, or to register for a class, contact OES at (408) 730-7190, or e-mail oes@ci.sunyvale.ca.us .