Volunteer distaster training coming to Saratoga

Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), program aimed to prepare communities for disasters, will hold a training session in Saratoga Sept. 26.

VOAD is a nationwide movement that is connecting organized, trained volunteers with local emergency management officials before a disaster occurs. Part of VOAD’s involvement in Carbon County will be having a list of volunteers and what experiences they have so officials can place them where they would be most beneficial during response and recovery.

“Due to the potential for disasters in Carbon County we recognize the importance of forming a new group to assist in the response and recovery during a disaster,” said Emergency Response Coordinator for Carbon County John Zeiger. “We also recognize the importance of training these volunteers to be more effective in volunteering their help.”

The training will run from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sept. 26 at the Saratoga Town Hall.

In the training, participants will learn about mass casualties, followed with shelter management training.

The training could lead to more involvement and training through VOAD in Carbon County, Zeiger said.

“The goal is to work closely with the Red Cross to bring training to Carbon County to help with forming VOADS throughout Carbon County,” he said.

Similar training sessions have been held in Carbon County.

May 18, there was a training class in Saratoga called “Mobilizing Faith-Based Community Organizations in Preparing for Disasters”. After this class several members of the Pastoral Committee met with Red Cross representatives on July 9 to hear what Red Cross has to offer the community, Zeiger said. It was decided at this meeting that Red Cross would come back and visit the churches to get them certified as Red Cross Shelters.

Aug. 14, Amber Savage from Red Cross came back and visited several churches, as well as, the Encampment School to certify these locations as shelters. Zeiger said Rich Ochs from Teton County Emergency Management, was also invited to talk about organizing a VOAD group.

If you are interested in getting involved with forming the VOAD, or interested in the training sessions, contact one of the following people:

Gene Smith-Pastor - Platte Valley Christian Center

Jonathan Moore-Pastor - First Baptist Church

Susan Dyer-Pastor - St. Barnabas Episcopal Church

Helen Young-Pastor - First Presbyterian Church-Saratoga

Miki Laws-Pastor - Encampment Presbyterian Church

John Zeiger - Carbon County Emergency Management Coordinator.

 

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