Disaster Response and Recovery

Disasters come in a variety of sizes and types.  Manmade or natural, biological or ecological, disasters are broad in scope and leave a community devastated.  Emergency responders are generally on the front line of these disasters, helping to prevent the loss of life or to coordinate rescue efforts as needed.

In the event of a local disaster, United Way of Monmouth County encourages citizens to be prepared in your own home for emergencies.  Check out www.ready.gov for information on how to keep your home and family prepared.  Once you feel that you are prepared to handle most disaster situations yourself, you will be ready to consider helping others in your community or nearby areas who are victims of a disaster.  When a town or city has been decimated by a disaster, instincts encourage us to act.  However, just throwing on a pair of shoes and running towards the stricken area is
not the best choice.  Often the areas affected are in chaos, and dealing with “unaffiliated volunteers” can complicate a disaster scene for the emergency response personnel.

Instead, take some time during non-disaster times to register as a volunteer.  Choose from the hundred-plus areas in which you can make a difference during times of crisis.  Some examples can be food service, shelter staffing, donations management, foster pet homes, or daycare for children.  Volunteers with special skills are needed for heavy equipment operation, electrical or plumbing, and carpentry.  The United Way of Monmouth County Volunteer Center staff is able to link those seeking training as emergency medical responders to those local agencies who provide training.

Registering on the Disaster Response & Recovery website will put you on a special database that can be accessed by emergency response providers, professionals who will reach out to deploy you on an as-needed basis when the time comes.  Whether you choose to volunteer locally, or you are willing to travel to national or international sites with a group of others, this site will connect you to those who are experts in the work of disaster response.

Volunteers during disaster response make a difference. In the past decade, hundreds of millions of dollars have been saved due to the work of volunteers at disaster sites, and thousands of lives have been impacted.  Become a part of something bigger, be a part of your community’s solution.  Go to www.uwmonmouth.org and click on Volunteer for more information.