For the Rapids City Times

WISCONSIN RAPIDS – If a disaster were to hit our community – and you were okay – would you volunteer?  Volunteering during a disaster is a way to help bring the community back to normalcy and to help our friends and neighbors.  One way to volunteer during a disaster is to assist in the Disaster Volunteer Reception Center (VRC).

In the event of a disaster, any “spontaneous” volunteers who arrive at a disaster scene will be directed to the VRC, where they will fill out an application, be interviewed and screened, matched with a disaster volunteer opportunity, trained and fitted with a wristband before being sent back out to the disaster scene.

In partnership with Wood County Emergency Management, United Way of South Wood & Adams Counties’ Volunteer Center will be conducting a Disaster VRC training March 13- 14, 5:30-7:30 p.m. The event will be held at the town of Sigel Municipal Building at 3678 Town Hall Rd., Wisconsin Rapids.

Day one of our VRC training will consist of lecture on what happens during a disaster, what we do at the VRC, and why it is important.  Day two will be a hands-on exercise.  At the conclusion of the training, each participant will be asked to join the VRC team.

To register or for more information, call 715-421-0390 or email [email protected].  Deadline to register is March 11.