Energy, the Environment, and Where They Intersect

Posted on: 26 February 2020

In the aftermath of a disaster, many people may want to volunteer in an attempt to restore their community. Unfortunately, people may not always know what they should do so that their volunteering has the most effect.

Volunteer Through A Reputable Agency

It is important for individuals to understand the problems that they could cause if they attempt to volunteer without going through a reputable agency. These agencies will work closely with the local government in the aftermath of the disaster to ensure the recovery efforts are as efficient as possible. Individuals simply attempting to help on their own may not know the priorities for the community, and they may even put themselves at risk by wandering into unsafe areas. Many of these agencies will accept volunteer signups at any time. This can be important as it will allow the agency to quickly tap into a pool of potential volunteers when a disaster strikes the area.

Protect Yourself

Throughout your volunteering efforts, you will want to place a priority on protecting yourself. This is especially important for those that are volunteering with cleanup or search and rescue. While you may be tempted to push yourself or enter potentially risky situations, this could delay the entire operation if you were to get in trouble. Most disaster relief organizations will have trained professionals on staff for situations that are too hazardous or difficult for volunteers to handle. By reporting the situation to these individuals, you will be able to ensure that it gets handled without exposing yourself to unnecessary risks.

Be Prepared For A Disaster Ahead Of Time

Unfortunately, it can be impossible for you to volunteer in a meaningful way if you have been severely impacted by the disaster. This is even more true for those that took no precautions to get ready for a potential disaster. For these individuals, even minor disruptions can have major impacts on their lives. To ensure that you are in a position to be able to help your community after a disaster, it is important to take proactive steps so that you can be prepared for when these situations arise. At a minimum, this should include having emergency kits that include canned foods and other durable foods that you can use in the event that the local food supply chain faces prolonged disruptions. Keeping bottled water available can be useful for short-term disruptions. However, a more durable solution will be to have water treatment kits available. These kits can eliminate harmful bacteria that are commonly found in contaminated water.

You can contact disaster volunteer groups near you for more information on how you can help.