Instant Target Oriented Emergency Volunteer Networks

Core Mission

A common goal shared by emergency providers, the victims, their families and communities, is to avoid or minimize personal and/or property damage. Our approach is to take an advantage of human capital resources including those of the victims themselves, in order to help them help themselves and to create a rapid response network of local and neighborhood volunteers. This approach has an added advantage by facilitating critical coping skills for the immediate event and its aftermath, as well as organizing local groups for future emergencies or disasters.

The Model

The model sets parameters to quickly build a task oriented emergency volunteer network based on the ad hoc recruitment of individuals from the emergency site as well as from neighboring areas. The network is activated by a small number of trained professionals for achieving specific goals as well as its long term maintenance. This process becomes self generating as individuals recruit additional volunteers in a geometric fashion. Life expectancy of such networks is high due to socially based recruitment processes based on prior community relations along with leadership qualities.

Developing Networks

The volunteer based networks begin by the direct recruitment of a core group of about five individuals in the disaster's area. Each core group member is assigned a specific task and then actively recruits others to join him/her by offering assistance in line with the network’s goal. Each member of this new group is then assigned specific sub-goals that provide them with more precise goals, targets and tools to achieve results. As the goals are broken down into even more specific operational objectives, each network member continues to recruit new small groups of volunteers in a downward pyramid process so the total network of volunteers continually grows. A network which completes three iterations will include at least 125 active members with new iterations occurring every 2 to 3 hours.

The geometric pyramid growth pattern begins with easily achievable goals to enhance the groups’ self assurance in its capability to increase its members' commitment and obligations. These small groups split, create new groups and multiply as network goals become more specific, especially as they begin to support its activities by utilizing assets related to logistics, communication (distribution of ‘assisting’ information) and leadership (bonding to local community leaders).

Some Key Factors in Building and Operating a Network

· At first you need a few people with initiative and willing to invest their time.

· Little investment brings big results – effectiveness and efficiency.

· Using the team as a "motivating platform" to encourage resource management.

· The network acts to reinforce desired helping behaviors.

· Promotes sharing decision making and involvement in activities.

· Flexible options in the structuring of networks.

· "The bubble effect" in filling the network and its maintenance.

· Documenting network activities and information sharing.

· Providing information and knowledge to recruit network members.