If you are willing to volunteer with the City of San Rafael EVC, or find yourself volunteering with the EVC in a disaster, you will most likely be trained to fill one of the following positions.

There are four positions that are essential for operating an Emergency Volunteer Center. They are as follows:

·        EVC Coordinator

·        Volunteer Opportunities Coordinator

·        Receptionist

·        Interviewer

However, in order to full and optimally operate a EVC the following positions should also be filled as soon as possible.

·        Data Coordinator

·        Training Officer

·        Security Officer

·        Runner

·        Additional Receptionists and Interviewers

Every staff member in an EVC is interdependent so whether you are a runner or an interviewer your performance directly affects the EVC’s performance as a whole. In case all EVC positions are full be prepared to return home, or come back during a different shift. Below is a brief summary of each of the positions in an EVC.

Emergency Volunteer Center Coordinator

The EVC Coordinator is in charge of all EVC operations and his duties include: Securing and opening an EVC location, overseeing set-up, assigning and supervising staff, acting as chief liaison with the City of San Rafael Emergency Operations center, and meeting volunteer needs of other agencies. The EVC Coordinator’s are pre-picked, pre-trained, and are staffed three deep.

Job Opportunities Coordinator

The Job Opportunities Coordinator is responsible for surveying the volunteer needs of non-profits organizations and acting as a liaison to them. The Job Opportunities Coordinator will sort and post job requests on a job opportunities board.

Receptionist

The receptionist is the first person a spontaneous volunteer should see when entering an EVC. The reception will disseminate forms for volunteers to fill out, but also redirect those looking for aid or those that need aid, calm distressed volunteers, and provide the latest news on disaster developments.

Interviewer

The interviewer will interview spontaneous volunteers to ascertain their skill sets, ability, and availability. They will also place/refer volunteers to volunteer opportunities. It is the interviewers responsibility to filter out the mentally disturbed and incompetent volunteers. A basic interviewing guide will be provided.

Data Coordinator

The data coordinator will periodically patrol the EVC and collect any paperwork from the EVC Coordinator, Interviewers, and Receptionists. It is the data coordinator’s job to make sure that these papers are methodically filled, and kept in a safe place. Financially, maintaining records is the only way to ensure reimbursement from the state.

Training Officer

 The training officer will train any volunteers that will staff the EVC.  The training officer will keep full job descriptions and offer brief trainings when needed. Also, the training officer will keep records of who has been trained and when.

Security Officer

The Security officer will work to maintain the relative calm and order of the EVC, also provides a traffic control and initiates property and physical security measures i.e. bag checks and pat downs.

Runner

A runner will relay timely information between stations in the EVC. For example a receptionist may feel overwhelmed at the number of people coming into the EVC and send a runner to request that the volunteer opportunities coordinator recruit more.

Most of these positions will employ more than one person, depending on the volume the EVC must process.

Preparedness

Prepare for your personal and family needs. It may be a week (or more!) before disaster workers can reach your area when affected by a disaster. Utilities may not be available, and grocery stores may be closed. Here are some tips to cope with a disaster: Designate an out of state contact person for friends and family to contact if they cannot reach you. Create a disaster kit with essentials to keep yourself and family alive. The Red Cross recommends a gallon of water a day per person, three days worth of non-perishable goods, a first-aid kit (in the car and home), prescription and non-prescription medications, tools and supplies, toiletries, warm clothes, and important family documents, in a container or tub, somewhere where it won’t be damaged in a disaster. Also be sure to create a family plan for disaster: where will you meet in case your home is damaged or destroyed? How would you respond to different kinds of disasters? If you’re interested in being an EVC volunteer remember: The best EVC volunteer is one who isn’t a victim of the disaster. Additional resources can be found at www.fema.gov/areyouready, and Red Cross recommended disaster kit.