Your Community's Volunteer Reception

Center

Goalsa. Attract local volunteers willing to

respond following a local disaster by managing a VRC

b. Guide Volunteers towards designing a local plan

c. Encourage team to develop forms, procedures, and address policy issues

The ConceptI. CONCEPT

a. Why the need?b. What’s the plan?c. How does it work?d. Leadership rolese. Physical locationsf. Flow of operations

VRC Location

Establishing your VRC

Physical Locations• A safe area near, but not in the disaster

zone;• Large enough for all VRC activities;• Parking;• Ease of access

-Consistent with ADA;• Time frame of use able to fit VRC

planned activities;• Complete a safety, damage assessment

walk-through.

VRC Positions

The Command StructureVRC Manager

• Understand the situation• Arrange for VRC facility and inspect• Arrange staff positions• Coordinate overall operation• Communicate with Incident Command• Arrange for transportation and supplies• Establish local policy and rules• Maintain all records

Safety Officer• The Safety Officer has authority for all Safety

decisions, including a complete HALT to all activities.

• Coordinates with Incident Command Safety Officer.

• Enforces VRC Safety rules.

• Aware of environment.

• Establish contact with Law Enforcement and Medical teams.

• Oversees actions of Safety Training Staff .

SAFETY TRAINERS• Conduct Safety Briefing to all Volunteers

• Include up-to-date weather

• Map areas that are off-limits

• Assure Hydration and nutrition

• Review local safety rules

• Assure proper ID

• Assure proper clothing and equipment.

Job Request Manager• Receive job activity requests from public

and Incident Command.

• Review request to assure they fit within the mission.

• Complete detailed outline of job requirements.

• Secure signature of person making request.

Job Assignment Manager

• Receive completed and approved Job Request form

• Set priority on job order

• Form teams of available Volunteers, assign a team leader, and assign the job to the team with all available information.

• Determine when job is complete or assign remainder of work to new team.

• Coordinate closely with Job Request Mamager

Runners and Logistics

• Transport any forms or data where needed in the operation

• Assure supplies/equipment are transported to location

• Distribute food and hydration drinks to volunteer teams

• Check to assure volunteers continue to show IDs

Public Information• Coordinate all reports with Public Information

Officer (PIO) at Incident Command

• Design information about the VRC and associated activities for the public

• Field Media requests (with approval of PIO)

• Inform local Partners about actives of VRC (local gov, businesses, civic clubs, other response teams)

Operational Details

a. Communicationsb. Transportationc. Facilitiesd. Suppliese. Policy issues

Establishing local rules

• Each operation must establish a set of operational and safety rules that fit with the nature of the disaster.

• All rules should be established to make the work environment as safe as possible.

• A set of strict and limiting rules can reduce the level of output.

• For example: age limits, clothing requirements, power tools, access to areas, physical requirements, ......

VRC Operations

Volunteer Receptions Center Flow Description

1. Volunteers enter VRC

2. Volunteer completes registration/liability waiver

3. Volunteer given ID Badge

4. Volunteer attends safety briefing

5. Volunteer is assigned to a team a given job assignment.

6. Volunteer obtains supplies/equipment

7. Volunteer exits VRC to be transferred to job site

8. When job is complete, volunteer returns to VRC

9. Volunteer either assigned new job or sighs out

Questions and Discussion