How We Help
We. . .
- Partner with response agencies to engage volunteers in disaster response and recovery.
- Support local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) by providing access to training, information, and resources.
- Mobilize AmeriCorps members to respond to disasters through WV Disaster Corps and WV Strong.
- Promote disaster preparedness through Ready WV.
CERT
In 95% of all emergencies, the victim or bystander provides the first immediate assistance on the scene. Would you know what to do?
Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) members get training to learn to help themselves, their families, and those nearby during an incident, and can provide assistance to first responders.
Disaster Corps
In 2014, Volunteer West Virginia launched the West Virginia Disaster Corps to
enhance the state’s capacity to respond to disasters with trained volunteers.
The program is a collaboration between AmeriCorps, VISTA and Senior Corps
that trains National Service members in disaster response and recovery and links
members to disaster service opportunities. Volunteers have assisted with flood response and recovery, winter storms, landslides, and other disasters.
Spontaneous Volunteers
Disasters bring a wave of
kind-hearted volunteers from near and far wanting to help. To harness this volunteer energy, we facilitate the coordination of spontaneous volunteers and provide the public with information on how to help.
To manage the unprecedented
number of volunteers during the historic flooding in June 2016, we worked with
partners to establish Volunteer Reception Centers in Clay, Kanawha, Greenbrier,
and Nicholas County. The centers registered more than 3,900 volunteers,
referring them to local agencies to help with relief efforts.
Emergency Preparedness
Ready WV
Ready WV is a multi-media communications campaign and an online tool that helps West Virginians know what to do before, during, and after an emergency. The program provides easy access to basic information on how to prepare for emergencies, as well as information on local and statewide disaster preparedness trainings and events. Learn more
here.