Managing Spontaneous, Unaffiliated Volunteers

Nearly every large-scale disaster evokes an outpouring of individuals wanting to be involved in response and relief activities. These individuals, although well-intentioned, are rarely trained, experienced, or certified in any official disaster response function, and therefore can often add to the already overtaxed resources available to assist the impacted community. This session will explore the issue of these spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers and provide some thoughts on how to address the issue efficiently and effectively. We will look at ideas for messaging regarding these individuals as well as what motivates them. The session also includes an overview of the Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) and the roles and responsibilities required in managing a successful VRC.