Local Volunteers The Focus Of Pinal Co. Exercise

Officials from 5 Arizona Counties, the states of Arizona & Nevada along with volunteer organizations met for a day long exercise to examine ways to encourage volunteerism within local communities. The tabletop exercise, held on Jan. 19th, at the Pinal Co. Emergency Operations Center was in response to the amount of unmet needs after flooding hit left many without shelter or food. The Pinal Co. EOC was standing room only for this 1st of its kind tabletop exercise.

“While we were effective in responding to the actual flooding, there was a problem with the human factor afterward,” explained Pinal Co. Emergency Manager Pete Weaver. “There are many human service agencies & it is imperative that we bring them all together to help our residents out when disaster hits. This will serve to streamline the process from disaster to service delivery & reduce the waste of scarce resources.” Weaver added that this isn't only a concern for Pinal Co., but for many areas across the state & throughout the western US.

“When you have officials from Nevada saying they have problems in filling these gaps in services, you cannot help but to understand there is a definite need for volunteer services to citizens during disasters which government cannot offer.”

This 1st tabletop that addressed volunteer services in a disaster or emergency setting is hoped to serve as a template for others of its kind throughout the western US. Pinal Co. agency participants included officials from Public Health & Animal Control, as well as the Superstition Horsemen’s Association.

Weaver offered the following advice for those looking to volunteer: “People can call the United Way of Pinal Co. at 800-390-0736. They can also call Pinal County Public Health at (520) 866-7314 to see about volunteering opportunities.”