It's hurricane season; VISTAs receive Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) Training

June 1st marked the beginning of the 2010 hurricane season.

Like she has done for the past two years, Adraine McKell-Volunteer Manatee Executive Director - hosted a training for VISTA members should they be called into service should a disaster strike. Local Manatee County ESF-15 coordinator Dick Haynes of the Manatee County Emergency Operations Center was also introduced to the group and he gave a short presentation about how he and the local volunteer center work together after a storm or disaster hits.

Adraine has taught the class throughout the country to thousands of individuals and she knows of whereof she speaks; in 2005 she and her staff opened the Volunteer Reception Center in DeSoto County after Hurricane Charley blew through. For eight weeks, without electricity, she and her staff and volunteers "held down the fort", first in the local American Legion hall until the river flooded its banks and ending up under at tent in the parking lot of the local Wal-Mart. More than 8000 unaffiliated volunteers came from throughout the state and the country to help the residents of DeSoto County, but not before passing through the VRC for registration.

Here is what a VRC does: (from the Volunteer Leon manual)

"During times of disaster, large numbers of untrained volunteers with little or no connection to disaster relief agencies come forward to help. These spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers, also called convergent volunteers because they often converge at the scene of a disaster, can actually become a hindrance unless there is a designated place where their time and talents are efficiently linked with disaster relief and recovery efforts. Unaffiliated volunteers are those not associated with any recognized disaster response agency, but possessing valuable training, skills, and experience. They appear on the scene or call to offer assistance.

The Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) is activated following a disaster, and serves as the starting point for both volunteers and people or agencies needing volunteer assistance. The VRC connects individuals or groups desiring to help with the locations in need of assistance. The location depends on the area or areas affected by the disaster. A VRC is more of a concept than a location."

A VRC "matches citizens desiring to help with a specific need in the community to help emergency response organizations, as well as human service agencies whose clients may need assistance after an event."

Pictured above are some of the AmeriCorps*VISTA members and friends as they took part of the VRC simulation/training session.