TLHCA

Arlington County Volunteer Emergency Support Team (VEST)

The Arlington County Volunteer Office invites you to volunteer for a new county initiative for community emergency preparedness — The Volunteer Emergency Support Team (VEST). VEST is a group of trained volunteers that may be asked to assist with emergency preparedness, response, and recovery efforts in Arlington during or after major emergencies or disasters. Overall coordination will be provided by the Volunteer Office, under the supervision of the Arlington County Office of Emergency Management (OEM). Please click here for VEST webpage in the Online Volunteer Connection: http://www.volunteersolutions.org/acvo/org/21213525.html.
Examples of extreme events that could result in activation of the Volunteer Emergency Support Team include:

• * Natural Hazards (floods, ice or snowstorms, tornadoes, hurricanes, earthquakes)
  * Technological Hazards (hazardous material spills, power outages, etc.)
  * Public Health Emergencies (disease outbreaks, mass care events)
  * Intentional Hazards (domestic and foreign terrorism, civil disruption)

Activities

In the event of an emergency situation, Volunteer Emergency Support Team members may be contacted by the Volunteer Office in response to a request for assistance from OEM. VEST team members may be asked to:

• • • • • * Help out at Volunteer Reception Centers by welcoming, interviewing, credentialing and distributing assignments to unaffiliated/spontaneous volunteers;
          * Assist the County with its Emergency Hotline (703-228-3000) and/or follow up to callers who have offered volunteer help and/or donations;
          * Provide assistance to county agencies or nonprofit organizations to support their services as needed. Examples could include:
          –Transporting elderly or disabled homebound residents to shelters, hospitals or pharmacies, grocery stores etc
          –Helping distribute emergency supplies, donated goods, meals, groceries, or medications to vulnerable populations

Training

Periodic trainings and briefings will be provided by the Volunteer Office to VEST members. Upcoming activities include:

VEST orientation to be held in October.
Participation in Arlington County Public Health Exercise on Saturday, October 21, 2006.
Next Steps

To express your interest in becoming a member of the VEST team:

1. Please send an email to the Volunteer Office at volunteer@arlingtonva.us by Friday, September 29.

2. In your email, indicate which of the following possible meeting times would be best for you to attend a 3-hour orientation session at the DHS building at 3033 Wilson Blvd. (across from Clarendon Metro):

* Saturday mornings, 9am-noon

* Weekday evenings, 6-9 pm

· * Weekday evenings, 7-10 pm