Volunteer in Your Community's Disaster Preparedness and Emergency Response Efforts

Volunteering to help others during a disaster is a key component of your community's disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts. Professional first responders will be overwhelmed in a large disaster. Community volunteers will organize and respond to those in immediate need, and they will continue supporting and rebuilding the community afterward, Big government and charities play an integral role in providing disaster relief and emergency response efforts, but much of the work is done through volunteers. Below are a list of organizations we encourage you to contact and get involved in disaster preparedness and disaster relief efforts:

CERT    https://www.citizencorps.gov/cert/

CERT, The Community Emergency Response Team, is an excellent way to participate by volunteering in local disaster preparedness and emergency response efforts. Sponsored by local governments and FEMA, CERT volunteers provide immediate direct assistance to victims, and work with disaster relief agencies and disaster officials to support emergency response efforts when they arrive at the site. CERT members receive 20 hours of classroom instruction that teaches basic disaster survival skills to help their family and their neighbors until help arrives from disaster relief agencies. Skills taught include: light search and rescue, team organization, fire safety, and disaster preparedness, psychology and medical operations.

 
Volunteer Match        www.volunteermatch.org

Volunteer Match is dedicated to helping individuals and groups find great places to volunteer. Search by interest area; specify how close you want the opportunity to be to your zip code. The organization “offers a variety of online services to support a community of nonprofit, volunteer and business leaders committed to civic engagement,” and “welcomes millions of visitors a year and has become the preferred Internet recruiting tool for more than 40,000 nonprofit organizations.” You can find many targeted opportunities for disaster preparedness and disaster relief.

 
The American Red Cross     www.redcross.org

Founded in 1881, the American Red Cross is the nation’s premiere emergency response organization offering domestic disaster relief. Additionally, the organization supports five major service areas providing: services to the needy; support for military members and their families; holding blood drives, processing and distributing needed blood products;  promoting health and safety programs; and, supporting international relief and development programs.

The Volunteer Services area of the Red Cross website provides a checklist of typical volunteer opportunities, training and working around your commitments. Locate your nearest Red Cross chapter through a zip code search or link to Volunteer Match through their site to research volunteer opportunities in your community. They offer training in disaster preparedness and emergency response. The Red Cross also offers courses for first aid and CPR which are critical skills to have in an emergency. Your local Red Cross can provide information for taking this type of training in your community.

USA Freedom Corp.    www.freedomcorps.gov

President Bush started this volunteer initiative in 2002 to build on the spirit of service, sacrifice and giving following 911. Freedom Corps helps you find volunteer opportunities nationwide or in your home town. Search by interest area and enter zip code or state for a list of specific matching opportunities, with sponsoring organization, age suitability and more. It provides a link to www.volunteermatch.com for additional details (full description, skills, training, location map). You can find many targeted opportunities for disaster preparedness and disaster relief.

 
Corporation for National and Community Service www.nationalservice.org

The mission of the Corporation for National and Community Service is to improve lives, strengthen communities, and foster civic engagement through service and volunteering. Three programs, Senior Corps, Americorp, and Learn and Serve America provide opportunities for all American to address critical community needs. You can find many opportunities for disaster preparedness and disaster relief.

Senior Corps connects individuals 55 and over with organizations and communities that need their experience and help. Founded during President Kennedy’s term, Senior Corps has connected over 500,000 people to service needs around the country.

www.1-800-Volunteer.Org

1-800-Volunteer.org makes it easier for volunteers to find a way to serve locally, and we provide a volunteer management system for organizations who need volunteers to fulfill their mission. It is a website that matches volunteers to volunteer opportunities nationwide. Volunteer.org can help you find opportunities for disaster preparedness and disaster relief.