MAC Inc., Area Agency on Aging, and The Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP) are currently recruiting volunteers to serve as the agency’s Citizens Emergency Response Team.
Those interested in serving on this team will need to be available for training during the day, for one day a week, for 5 or 6 weeks. These volunteers will help MAC serve their homebound clients before and after pending emergency situations such as hurricanes, super storms and or floods. Volunteers would call homebound clients to make sure they are aware of potential weather situations and are prepared. The volunteers will also make follow-up calls after the emergency to ensure the client is well, or if they need further assistance. If the weather emergency is severe enough, volunteers may be asked to visit our clients to help find necessary resources for clean-up.
The Wicomico County Department of Emergency Services will be conducting the CERT training. According to the FEMA website, “the Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) Program educates people about disaster preparedness for hazards that may impact their area, and trains volunteers in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. Using the training learned in the classroom and during exercises, CERT members can assist others in their neighborhood or workplace following an event when professional responders are not immediately available to help.”
A minimum of 10 volunteers is required for this training. Once the volunteers are in place the training will be scheduled. If interested, contact Valerie Wagner, RSVP Project Director at MAC Inc. Area Agency on Aging at 410-742-0505 extension 112.
