RSVP VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT FOR EMERGENCIES (VME)

(Story County Only)

Central Iowa RSVP has a special role in the event of a disaster, contracting with the City of Ames and Story County Emergency Management to provide management for volunteers of all ages during a disaster. Trained RSVP volunteers operate a non-emergency Phone Bank and staff the Volunteer Reception Center where all volunteers are registered, given proper ID, and assigned to disaster-related tasks as directed.

RSVP volunteers are pre-trained in order to better handle their responsibilities when disaster strikes. All volunteers start with the Basic Training, which provides an overview of both the Volunteer Reception Center and the Phone Bank. Based on interest, volunteers may then take additional training for Phone Bank, Data Entry, or Supervisory Training.

Drills and exercises are conducted twice a year so volunteers can stay sharp and ready-to-serve when called upon.

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OTHER DISASTER/PUBLIC SAFETY INITIATIVES

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VOLUNTEER MANAGEMENT IN

PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCIES

RSVP contracts with Mary Greeley Home Health Services (Story County’s Public Health Agency) to provide the management of volunteers needed during public health emergencies.  RSVP volunteers are trained to serve in a variety of capacities in the facilitating of PODS (Points of Disbursement) in the event of a pandemic or infectious outbreak, including assistance in the following areas: Set-up, Greeters, Registration, Traffic/Crowd Control and Flow, Runners, and Data Entry. 

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STORY COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE PARTNERSHIP 

RSVP collaborates with the Story County Sheriff's Office to provide pre-trained volunteers to assist in the event of a missing or abducted person(s) case. Called PARTNER (Personnel Actively Responding To Individuals Needing Emergency Resources), RSVP volunteers will assist the Sheriff's Office with answering the Tip Hotline and also registering spontaneous volunteers who want to assist with search and rescue.