Once you have prepared yourself and your family, you may think of those in the community around you. There are ways that you can help those around you in the event of a disaster. One way is to volunteer to help the government after a disaster. In the United States you can do this by volunteering for Citizen’s Corps. There are several different programs sponsored through the Corps, which you can participate in.
The Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program encourages citizens to receive training to respond to emergencies. After completing the training participants are encouraged to help their communities to prepare.
The Fire Corps utilizes citizen volunteers to help in the community education progress. The program can be used in both small and large communities. The Neighborhood Watch Program is also sponsored by the Citizen’s Corp. You can also help in the Volunteer in Police Service (VIPS) organization. You should be able to find a program that fits your interests and abilities.
If you are a public health worker, a nurse or a doctor you may consider volunteering in Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) Program. You can work as an educator, volunteer to give immunizations, participate in the planning process or be available to serve after an emergency.
These are all great programs, and ways that you can help your community. You may also want to contact your local American Red Cross to receive other training for first aid and disaster response. Once you have these skills, it is important to reach out to help others. It is also important to teach others how to prepare for a disaster. If you do not have the time to participate in these activities you can still encourage those around you to prepare themselves for emergencies. Your local church might offer a workshop on preparedness and have a volunteer from one of these organizations speak to members of your congregation.