Illinois Volunteers program launches

Skilled and unskilled volunteers to assist with disasters          Send a link to a friend

[October 15, 2007]  CHICAGO -- Officials from Gov. Rod R. Blagojevich's administration launched a state program Sept. 28 that will provide a new way for people to volunteer when large-scale emergencies occur in Illinois. The Illinois Volunteers program was launched during a ceremony at the Harold Washington College in Chicago, where online registration for the volunteer database attracted several dozen students. The program, administered by the Illinois Emergency Management Agency, will provide the state with a list of volunteers throughout the state who can be mobilized to help during disasters.

Illinois Volunteers provides a way for people to join in making their communities and the state a safer, more secure place to live. The program is aimed at people in the state who are willing to assist with disaster response tasks ranging from unskilled to those requiring professional fields of expertise. Illinois Volunteers is intended for people who are not affiliated with volunteer organizations, such as the American Red Cross or the Salvation Army, but who want to help during a disaster. No prior training is necessary, as volunteers will assist according to their availability, skills and willingness to perform specific tasks. By registering with the Illinois Volunteers program, volunteers will be able to set the parameters of their participation.

"When people rush to a disaster site to offer their assistance, it often creates a problem for on-scene responders who don't know -- and don't have the time to assess -- the person's abilities to do critical tasks," said Andrew Velasquez III, director of the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. "The Illinois Volunteers program will give us a list of willing volunteers with known skills and abilities who can be mobilized to help out. This is a great addition to both state and local preparedness efforts."

Volunteers in the state's program can be activated during a large-scale disaster to help with such activities as distributing emergency information, providing assistance to organizations operating mass shelters, filling sandbags, aiding with temporary phone hot lines and data entry, helping with debris cleanup efforts, giving pet care at a pet disaster shelter, or assisting with special populations, if qualified.

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The database of volunteers registered through the Illinois Volunteers program can be organized by geographic region, skills, willingness to perform specific tasks and availability. The information can also be dispersed to county and local emergency management agencies for their local disaster efforts. All contact information will be secure and will only be shared with other response organizations if specifically authorized by the volunteer.

"Many Illinoisans want to help in a disaster, and Illinois Volunteers lets them preregister their skills and desires. If a catastrophe occurs, local, county and state emergency managers will have an available pool of people to assist in recovery," explained Jill Morgenthaler, deputy chief of staff for public safety, who announced the new initiative on behalf of the governor.

During emergencies, the State Emergency Operations Center in Springfield coordinates with local response agencies on assets and personnel needed for response efforts. If volunteers are needed to help with certain tasks, officials at the center will contact registered volunteers and tell them when, where and to whom they should report.

Anyone interested in learning more about the Illinois Volunteers or registering to be a volunteer can visit www.ready.illinois.gov/volunteers. Basic training opportunities for volunteers will also be available online and through printed literature.

[Text from Illinois Office of Communication and Information news release received from Terry Storer, Logan County Emergency Management Agency]

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