Courtesy of Volunteer Louisiana
With hurricane season underway, Volunteer Louisiana and Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser are encouraging residents to get prepared and get connected.
After a storm, it can take up to 72 hours or more for emergency assistance to arrive. Louisiana residents should update their emergency supply kit, form a family evacuation and communications plan, sign up for alerts from their local emergency management office, and monitor local news for hurricane watches and warnings in their area. For more information, visit GetAGamePlan.org.
In times of emergency, Louisiana relies on volunteers to assist with response and recovery. However, it is vital that volunteers not self-deploy. The best practice is to affiliate yourself with a disaster response organization now, before an event, so you can become part of the coordinated response effort when needed. Louisianans can find up-to-date information about disaster-specific volunteer opportunities by following the Volunteer Louisiana Facebook page or visiting VolunteerLouisiana.gov.
“One of the most important assets we have in Louisiana is our people and their willingness to pitch in and help their neighbors in a time of crisis. It truly says a lot about the Louisiana spirit,” said Lieutenant Governor Billy Nungesser. “Through Volunteer Louisiana, we want to help people get prepared and get connected.”
Volunteer Louisiana, in collaboration with the Governor’s Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (GOSHEP), also supports Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training throughout the state to educate volunteers in disaster readiness to prepare for hazards that may affect their areas. Basic CERT trains individuals in disaster response skills such as fire safety, light search and rescue, team organization, and disaster medical operations so volunteers can assist first responders and/or care for themselves and others during a disaster-related event.
Since 2019, Volunteer Louisiana has helped train and develop CERT teams across the state. These teams are often the first to respond after disasters, working with local emergency management officials to address urgent needs. Volunteer Louisiana also works with non-profit organizations to post updated volunteer opportunities in impacted communities. To get involved, visit the Volunteer Louisiana CERT webpage for a listing of any upcoming trainings and contact information for CERT teams around the state.
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Volunteer Louisiana, located in the Office of Lt. Governor Billy Nungesser, manages 17 AmeriCorps State programs, promotes volunteerism, and coordinates spontaneous, unaffiliated volunteers in times of disaster. It is supported by grants from the federal agency, AmeriCorps. To learn more about the AmeriCorps State programs or for more information on Volunteer Louisiana, visit VolunteerLouisiana.gov.
