Agency Training on Accessing Volunteers following a disaster using a Volunteer Mobilization Center  

The Volunteer Center Serving Howard County will host an Agency Training on Accessing Volunteers following a disaster using a Volunteer Mobilization Center (VMC) on Tuesday, Nov 17, 2009 from 12 pm – 2 pm at the Volunteer Center. Registration Required. Lunch Included.


Identify ways to prepare your agency and volunteers to accept additional volunteers following a disaster to enhance your response and recovery efforts.

Volunteer Mobilization Centers (VMC) will provide agencies a central point of contact for additional volunteers following a disaster and volunteers an alternative to arriving at sights where their presence may hamper first responders in the performance of their duties.

Subsequent to the attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon in 2001 more than 4,000 spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers appeared in Manhattan alone.  In some cases their presence hindered first responders and slowed down recovery efforts.  Many volunteers became frustrated due to little or no direction, which added to the confusion, causing in some cases further delay in rescue efforts.

After a disaster or national emergency people who are unfamiliar with disaster response or recovery organizations are moved to action.  Disaster response and recovery organizations may require additional volunteers to enhance or maintain their services during the response and recovery period. A Volunteer Mobilization Center will serve to register spontaneous volunteers and refer them to requesting agencies. The intent of this process is to reduce confusion and save time while directing volunteers to where they are needed to maximize response and recovery efforts.

Volunteer Mobilization Centers DO NOT self-deploy and are activated under the direction of the Department of Citizen Services.


For more information or to register contact the Volunteer Center at 410-715-3179 or pam@volunteerhoward.org.