Red Cross seeks volunteers for El Niño disaster training

The American Red Cross is calling for new volunteers to help prepare for disaster response before El Niño arrives this winter, bringing possible flooding and landslides.

The local Red Cross will host a daylong event in San Luis Obispo to recruit and train new seasonal volunteers to support emergency disaster response. The event is scheduled to take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Jan. 9 at the PG&E building at 1250 Kendall Road in San Luis Obispo.

Anyone interested in participating can learn more and register by visiting redcross.org/elninopreparedness.

“We want to prepare as much as possible before the storms make an impact in our communities during El Niño,” said Red Cross Disaster Program Manager Ryan McMahon. “By training local residents ahead of time, we are able to increase our ability to respond more efficiently and help those in need.”

At the Jan. 9 event, volunteers will learn the skills necessary for setting up and operating a Red Cross shelter in order to provide temporary lodging, food and comfort to community members affected by flooding or landslides.

This story was originally published December 24, 2015 at 3:57 PM with the headline "Red Cross seeks volunteers for El Niño disaster training."