When an emergency strikes Hancock County, medical professionals and the Hancock County Health Department will need lay volunteers to support the response effort. The tasks to be performed might range from registration to walking traffic control. In Hancock County, the Health Department is looking to the volunteers with Hancock County COAD to provide the support that was formerly provided by a Medical Reserve Corps.
Indiana Department of Health has recently provided funds to the Hancock County Health Department to assist in the recruitment, training and administration of lay volunteers, including unaffiliated volunteers who respond from other parts of the state and county. Since Hancock County Health Department partners with Hancock County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) they have extended funding to the COAD to foster that recruitment, training and administration.
Hancock County COAD recently ran an exercise to test their Volunteer Reception Center response at Brandywine Community Church. If you are interested in learning more about how you can be prepared to assist your neighbors during an emergency please contact Kate Dennis at (317) 477-1125 or Jim Peters at https://hancockcoad.org/contact-us.
Photo caption: Kate Dennis, Hancock County Health Department Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator presents check to Bob Benefiel (l) and Russell Shirley (r), Hancock County COAD Board members.
