Join the Volunteer Reception Center - Mobilizing Volunteers in Disaster

The Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) is a disaster response organization for the city of Alexandria. The VRC and its group of trained Volunteer staff leaders serve in times of emergency and disaster. VRC volunteers serve in a variety of roles to quickly register, train, and deploy community members as spontaneous volunteers. These community volunteers will be assigned roles to meet City disaster response and recovery efforts safely and efficiently.

In short, the VRC is the volunteer HR department of disaster recovery. We aren't the ones doing the physical heavy lifting in a disaster zone, but we are organizing and training the community volunteers into the roles and assignments where they are needed most. No prior emergency management or emergency experience is required.

Training requirements are:

• Completion of the VRC training course (12 classroom hours over 5 or 6 scheduled sessions)
• Participation in a Tabletop exercise or a disaster drill

After completing the training, VRC volunteers are asked to commit to being involved for at least 1 year, and to attend preparedness exercises when available.

Volunteers play a substantial role before, during and after a major disaster has been declared. Disaster training and preparedness requires planning and training before an event to utilize volunteers efficiently during response and recovery efforts.

Orientation Information sessions happen monthly, and training class series are scheduled several times each year. Register for an orientation session or Express Interest in future training opportunities

For more information send an email to emergencyresponse@volunteeralexandria.org, or call 703-836-2176.