Disaster tips
If you want to volunteer for disaster work, before the next disaster strikes, get some disaster training. You will be in a better position to find meaningful volunteer work after the disaster. Online training is provided by FEMA and can be found at:
- Developing and Managing Volunteers
- Intro Incident Command System
- National Incident Mgmt System
- National Response Framework
Volunteering through a Maine VOAD affiliate (Voluntary Organization Active in Disaster) provides a better chance of insurance and liability protection. By preaffiliating with an organization you can get the training they require and choose an organization that best matches with your skills and values. Using Maine Ready is a good first step in this regard.
There are many tasks to do after a disaster – cleaning up and rebuilding are two of the biggest. Maine VOADs and local government may be aware of these opportunities for volunteers in the long and difficult recovery phase. Check Maine Ready for volunteer opportunities. If there is a United Way in your area, it is an excellent source of information about volunteer opportunities after a disaster. View opportunities in Maine at this link.
In the immediate disaster response period there are often many people who want to volunteer at the same time. Remember to be patient. It may not be perfectly clear until a few days after the incident how a volunteer can get involved. There are often greater needs for volunteer help when the community enters the long-term recovery period. Volunteers should plan to be as self-sufficient as possible so that they are of little, if any, burden on the disaster-affected community.
