DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

When disasters happen, the Center for Volunteer and Nonprofit Leadership helps the community respond by mobilizing local volunteer resources.

As one of the Volunteer Centers of the Bay Area, the Center works with local agencies coordinating emergency preparedness and mobilizing volunteer resources to help the community when disaster strikes. Our main role in responding to disasters is to mobilize emergent volunteers who want to help and connect them with organizations that need assistance.

Responding to Needs
Disaster-related volunteer work may include such tasks as damage assessment, food preparation, language interpretation, and message delivery. Other tasks run the gamut from cleaning up to entering data to transporting people to answering phones.

Involving People as Disaster Volunteers
Following a major disaster, each Volunteer Center will establish a clearinghouse for emergent volunteers. After a brief interview regarding their skills, experience, and availability, volunteers will be linked with an appropriate task or organization. Businesses, service clubs, and congregations will be enlisted to meet immediate and long-term recovery needs. Pre-disaster contact with a local Volunteer Center will speed the connection of these groups with a variety of disaster assignments.

Marin's Volunteer Mobilization Centers
A recent statewide effort to address the needs of communities for disaster volunteer management has implications for Marin communities that have previously embraced the Volunteer Mobilization Center concept. Learn more...

Serving Agencies & Organizations
After a disaster, any nonprofit or government agency that needs help with response or its own recovery may request volunteers by contacting a Volunteer Center clearinghouse. Information provided by the agency at the time of the request will help volunteer interviews make effective referrals. Agencies engaged in disaster planning are encouraged to use Volunteer Centers as a source of information and technical assistance. Through training, consultations, and how-to guides, Volunteer Centers help agencies prepare to involve emergent volunteers in maintaining or expanding services to the community following a disaster.

Regional Disaster Response
Disaster-related volunteer work may include such tasks as damage assessment, food preparation, language interpretation, and message delivery. Other tasks run the gamut from cleaning up to entering data to transporting people to answering phones.

Responding to Needs
The Center participates with other Bay Area Volunteer Centers in Ready to Respond, an emergency response program that coordinates regional planning and preparedness for mobilization and deployment of disaster volunteers.

You Can Get Involved

• If you represent a business, corporation, congregation, service club, or other group, your employees or members can be referred to disaster volunteer opportunities;
• If you represent a private nonprofit or government agency that anticipates involving volunteers for a disaster recovery and response, you can learn how to be better prepared; or
• If you are an individual with an interest in disaster planning, consider volunteering now to help your community prepare. Call the Disaster Coordinator at the Center now to identify yourself, your group, your resources, your needs, and your desire to help.