Volunteer

Disaster Volunteering

There are many ways to Get Involved, especially before a disaster occurs. The whole community can participate in programs and activities to make their families, homes, and communities safer from risks and threats. Community leaders agree the formula for ensuring a safer homeland consists of volunteers, a trained and informed public and increased support of emergency response agencies during disasters. Major disasters can overwhelm first responder agencies, empowering individuals to lend support.

So Get Involved before disaster strikes! Here are a few ways you can help:

• Volunteer to support disaster efforts in your community. Get trained and volunteer with a Community Emergency Response Team, Medical Reserve Corps unit, and/or other Citizen Corps Partner Program or Affiliate organization. Join the local Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) chapter.
• Be part of the community planning process. Connect and collaborate with your Citizen Corps Council or local emergency management agency.
• Join or start a preparedness project. Find an event or identify local resources, build a team, choose a project, set goals and serve your community by improving the preparedness of your friends, colleagues, and neighbors.
• Support major disasters by donating cash or goods that may help meet your community's needs in times of disaster.

Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry (TDVR)

The TDVR is part of the federally mandated Emergency Systems for the Advance Registration of Volunteer Health Professionals. The  (ESAR-VHP) program allows for an easy way to pre-register volunteers and verify professional licensure so that efficient, effective response can be coordinated during and after any disaster. To register visit the TDVR site. 

Volunteering for Point of Dispensing (POD) Sites

Midland Health Services is recruiting medical and non-medical volunteers over 18 to assist in operating local Point of Dispensing (POD) sites for delivery of medications in specific public health emergencies or disasters. For some types of Public Health incidents, such as a highly contagious disease outbreak, plans call for dispensing medication to all City of Midland / Midland County citizens within 48 hours.

We ask that everyone who wishes to serve as a Point of Dispensing volunteer to:

• Be at least 18 years of age
• Hold a current and valid state drivers license or state ID card
• Have no felony convictions
• Participate in all training sessions
• Comply with the volunteer standards of the affected jurisdiction

 For more information about volunteering you can register at the Texas Disaster Volunteer Registry