Fairfax, Va. (Nov. 6, 2009) – Jennifer Fraser Taylor of Annandale, Va. is the newest member of the volunteer staff in the Regional Disaster Coordination Center (RDCC) at the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region. Jennifer, who is deaf, will have the benefit of a new technological enhancement to the RDCC that will allow her to receive calls from clients, first responders and others, on a videophone. If the person calling in does not have a videophone the call will route to a service where the caller can speak normally, and an American Sign Language interpreter will interpret. The system was free to the chapter. It was installed by Sorenson VRS, and was made possible by a Federal Communications Commission grant.  

For the last three years, Jennifer has taught Red Cross First Aid/CPR/AED to both hearing and deaf students throughout the region and at Gallaudet University. Now, she joins the staff of the RDCC as a Duty Officer one day a week, where she will respond to calls from clients, first responders or from the American Red Cross’ dispatch center.

The Regional Disaster Coordination Center is a state-of-the-art facility, located in the Fairfax headquarters of the American Red Cross of the National Capital Area. It serves as a coordination and communication hub in the event of a local or regional disaster. This facility, made possible by a gift from Shoppers Food, contains top-of-the-line technology, and gives the expert disaster response team the opportunity to track a disaster as it develops, to work with and communicate effectively with government officials and community partners (many of whom have a permanent seat in the RDCC for use during a disaster), and to respond in the most efficient and effective manner, therefore, saving lives! 

The American Red Cross in the National Capital Region is a volunteer-led organization that provides relief to victims of disaster and empowers people in the D.C. Metro Area to prevent, prepare for and respond to disasters and other life-threatening emergencies. Financially supported by the generosity of the local community, the American Red Cross in the National Capital Region works 24 hours a day, 365 days a year responding daily to local disasters while continuing to build its capacity to effectively prepare for and respond to the next major disaster to strike our community. The region consists of the National Capital Area chapter (the counties of Prince George’s, Montgomery and Fairfax; the District of Columbia; the cities of Fairfax and Falls Church and field offices at Fort Belvoir, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Andrews Air Force Base, National Naval Medical Center and the National Institutes of Health) and chapters in Alexandria, Arlington, Loudoun and Prince William.

For details on the services of the RDCC or the American Red Cross in the National Capital Area, or for other media assistance, contact Kathy Thompson, director of communications and media relations at 703-584-8412 or ThompsonK@redcrossnca.org or contact Kim Covington at 703-584-8455 or CovingtonK@redcrossnca.org.

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