L to R: Jane Morgan, American National Red Cross Director of Individual Assistance, Disaster Preparedness & Response; Debra Dean, ARC/GNY Volunteer Partner, Disaster Operations; and Connie Bailey, ARC/GNY Senior Director, Planning & External Relations. (Photo: Anita Salzberg)

The American Red Cross in Greater New York (ARC/GNY) hosted a two-day National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) symposium on responding to aviation disasters on June 12 and June 13 at Chapter Headquarters at 520 West 49th Street in Manhattan.

Approximately 100 representatives of city, state and government agencies and non-profit organizations - including the Disaster Chaplaincy Services, Disaster Psychiatry Outreach, FBI, National Energy Services Association (NESA), New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene and the New York City Office of Emergency Management (OEM) – were in attendance, along with volunteers and staff from ARC/GNY and other New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania Red Cross chapters.

Day one was geared toward training volunteers and employees in response to transportation incidents. Day two focused on the role of American Red Cross National Critical Response Teams (CRT) that are deployed to transportation emergencies across the country.

Erik Grosof, Assistant to the Director, NTSB, presented his organization's role in responding to transportation incidents, the functions of the Family Assistance Center and the partnership between the NTSB and the Red Cross.

Virginia Mewborn, Director Training & Exercises for OEM, provided historical perspective on aviation incidents and the challenges of responding to incidents in New York City.

Jane Morgan, Director of Individual Assistance in the Disaster Preparedness & Response unit of the American National Red Cross headquarters in Washington DC, discussed the role of American Red Cross CRT and the future of local CRT.

The conference was moderated by Debra Dean, ARC/GNY Volunteer Partner, Disaster Planning and Response and Connie Bailey, ARC/GNY Senior Director, Disaster Services and Support.