Tooele Responds

In conjunction with Tooele County Emergency Management, Tooele Responds is the volunteer organization tasked to help train, and utilize volunteers for needed essential roles before, during and after a disaster. Tooele Responds helps to manage the volunteers and donations which will help the county recover more quickly after a disaster. Volunteers for all skill types are needed to assist in the many roles that TCEM has tasked this 501(c)3 group.

Purpose

In a major disaster First responders cannot be everywhere to help the community. Tooele Responds helps TCEM in supporting the needs by utilizing volunteers to accomplish the goals for recovery.

Ways to Help

There are a number of ways people can help the efforts of Tooele Responds. One of the best ways is to donate money when needed.
The other important way is to become a volunteer.

Volunteer

Volunteers come in many shapes and sizes with different skill sets and talents. Volunteers are at the heart of Tooele Responds. There are core responsibilities and levels to which volunteers can participate in the many roles of Tooele Responds.

Mission Statement

Tooele Responds is a network of individuals and groups who volunteer to provide coordinated support and services to their local community and its citizens in time of need.

Why Tooele Responds?

Knowing resources such as partners, Expertise, skills, equipment and tools, and who can help, beforehand means community recovery can happen more quickly.
Having trained people means better community involvement.
Helps the WHOLE community be involved in the recovery process because recovery always takes longer than response.
There are never enough professional responders during major events. Trained volunteers help augment the professionals in community response.
Families, individuals, organizations, and businesses are prepared forge relationships and a sense of community and resilience and recover better.

Goals

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Unify and coordinate a volunteer registry group.
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Unify existing volunteer programs.
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Create a countywide registry of volunteers and volunteer organizations.
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Provide appropriate training for volunteer positions.
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Establish a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC).
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Recruit new volunteers.

Roles for Tooele Responds

Sheltering –Take care of sheltering and evacuation needs using the Red Cross Principles. Most times an evacuation center will be set up until the apparent need is confirmed. Then a shelter should be set up with the help of American Red Cross and Volunteers from Tooele Responds.

Point of Distribution – The setting up of a POD using the trailer and the volunteers from Tooele Responds.

Amateur Radio –Use Amateur radio communications between the EOC and the other field operations coordinated through the EOC net using the specified frequencies already arranged.

EOC – Help with the needs assigned to the volunteers within the EOC. This may include working with Web EOC and computer programs or doing office type work or checking people into the EOC.

Logistics – Help with the Tooele Responds Trailer and supplies where they are needed.

Finances – Help with needed accounting and accountability with the Tooele Responds monetary resources.

CERT – Community Emergency Response Team program educates volunteers about disaster preparedness for the hazards that may impact their area and trains them in basic disaster response skills, such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations. CERT offers a consistent, nationwide approach to volunteer training and organization that the professional responders can rely on during disaster situations, allowing them to focus on more complex tasks.

Recruiting – Recruit volunteers to Tooele Responds and encourage citizen training.

Fundraising – Work with Tooele Responds Finance Coordinator to develop a plan for fundraising and how to assist those in need after disasters. Take care of any needed financial documents. Work with Council to determine how and when money should be spent and when fundraising needs to be done.

Volunteer Coordination – Making sure the volunteers have the training that they need to fulfill their role. Help in setting up a Volunteer Coordination Center, when needed. Help with setting up a volunteer call center, if needed.

Donations Management – Take care of the in-kind donations that may be donated during a crisis.

Events – Help with public events where Tooele Responds can recruit and share information.

Reunification – Help in working with various schools in setting up a reunification center and making sure that it is safe for everyone, especially children.

Badging – Help in making sure everyone who is a level 2 or higher Tooele Responds Volunteer has a current badge and to print the badges and have record of the training that the volunteer has done, works with the Secretary.

Secretary – Be in charge of keeping all documents and lists of volunteers and their training. Take notes in Council meetings and sending out notes and reminders of meetings and other needs as asked.

Medical Reserve Corps – Work with the Health Department and volunteers for needed health related activities.

VOAD Liaison – Coordinate with the VOAD groups that offer help before, during, and after a disaster. Attend the Region 2 VOAD meetings.

CART – Work with local Veterinarians in sheltering animals displaced during a disaster event and into recovery.

Local Training – click here

Suggested FEMA online training for Tooele Responds – see below

Suggested Independent Study Training for Tooele Responds Volunteers

Independent Study Courses from FEMA
IS-10.a Animals in Disasters: Awareness and Preparedness
IS-11.a Animals in Disasters: Community Planning
IS-26 Guide to Points of Distribution
IS-100.c Introduction to the Incident Command System, ICS 100
IS-200.c Basic Incident Command System for Initial Response
IS-240.b Leadership and Influence
IS-241.b Decision Making and Problem
IS-242.b Effective Communication
IS-244.b Developing and Managing Volunteers
IS-288.a The Role of Voluntary Organizations in Emergency Management
IS-315.a CERT and the Incident Command System (ICS)
IS-317.a Introduction to Community Emergency Response Team (CERTs)
IS-366.a Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
IS-368 Including People With Disabilities & Others With Access & Functional Needs in Disaster Operations
IS-394.a Protecting Your Home or Small Business From Disaster
IS-559 Local Damage Assessment
IS-700.b An Introduction to the National Incident Management System
IS-800.a National Response Framework, An Introduction
IS-907 Active Shooter: What You Can Do
IS-909 Community Preparedness: Implementing Simple Ativities for Everyone
IS-2000 National Preparedness Goal and System Overview
IS-2200 Basic Emergency Operations Center Functions
IS-2901 Introduction to Community Lifelines

https://training.fema.gov/is/