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Geriatric Mental Health Disaster and Emergency Preparedness

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9<br />

Volunteers: Who Are They <strong>and</strong><br />

What Are Their Roles?<br />

NORA O’BRIEN-SURIC<br />

RESPONDING TO DISASTERS REQUIRES<br />

COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT<br />

When disasters occur, the entire community is affected. Therefore, it is<br />

the responsibility of community leaders to guarantee everyone receives<br />

the assistance they need in order to survive <strong>and</strong> that no person is left behind.<br />

This requires a large corps of trained people, including, <strong>and</strong> perhaps<br />

especially, volunteers. First responders are trained to mobilize instantly<br />

when a disaster strikes, but as we witnessed during the September 11,<br />

2001, terrorist attacks <strong>and</strong> Hurricane Katrina, first responders cannot meet<br />

the overwhelming dem<strong>and</strong>s subsequent to catastrophic events. Therefore,<br />

it is incumbent on community leaders to develop emergency preparedness<br />

plans that include others in the community who can supplement<br />

the services of the first responders. A corps of trained volunteers can<br />

provide the services that are part of the specific responsibilities of first<br />

responders.<br />

In addition to trained volunteers, communities also need to consider<br />

the value of <strong>and</strong> make arrangements for spontaneous volunteers, who will<br />

undoubtedly emerge when a disaster strikes <strong>and</strong> can also provide muchneeded<br />

assistance.<br />

157

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