Virginia MRC volunteers provide emergency response support as well as ongoing daily public health support to their local communities. It is important for volunteers to be ready to support both emergency and non-emergency response roles. Volunteers should work with their local MRC unit coordinator to ensure they meet their local unit training and administrative requirements and understand their role and expectations prior to all deployments. Below are checklists to help guide MRC volunteers before, during, and after supporting an MRC public health activity or emergency response.
The MRC Volunteer Pre-Deployment Readiness training provides volunteers with an understanding of the phases of deployment, terms and acronyms used, and personal and family preparedness to plan for potential emergency responses, as well as nonemergency events.
- MRC Volunteer Deployment Readiness: Pre-Deployment Course #1086867
Pre-deployment Checklist
This checklist includes recommendations to prepare for volunteering for a public health activity or emergency response.
- Complete the MRC orientation through your unit or online
- Complete the MRC Unit administrative requirements
- Organize and start a personal and family preparedness plan if you do not have one
- Complete training requirements for the MRC Core Competencies identified by the MRC unit
- Obtain MRC uniform and credentials (MRC shirt/vest and badge)
- Understand your MRC unit alert and activation process
The MRC Volunteer Deployment and Post-Deployment Readiness training provides volunteers with understanding of the types of activities they can expect during and after a deployment. It also provides information on health and safety factors, equipment, supplies, training, administrative and operational activities.
MRC Volunteer Deployment Readiness: Deployment and Post-Deployment Course #1086868
Deployment Checklist
This checklist includes actions volunteers should take immediately prior to and during their support for a public health activity or emergency response.
- Ensure Personal and family preparedness plans are up to date
- Complete training requirements for the support or response role
- Respond to and follow the unit alert and activation process (never self-deploy)
- Follow job action sheets or instructions for the support or response role that you have been assigned
- Know your chain of command, who you report to, and who to contact for questions before and during your deployment
- Ensure you bring personal equipment or supplies needed for the deployment
- Review and understand any required personal protective equipment, supplies or other required equipment issued by your MRC unit for the deployment mission.
- Sign-in and sign-out for all activities
Post Deployment Checklist
This checklist includes actions volunteers should take after they have completed a public health activity or emergency response.
- Ensure you have properly reported your volunteer time
- Complete all post deployment surveys to provide feedback on your experience
- Return any equipment or supplies you have been issued for the activity
- Participate in after-action reviews if scheduled
- Understand what disaster behavioral health resources are available for you or your family members
If you would like additional information on resources available to help volunteers and first responders adapt to the stresses of COVID-19 and their deployments please see these websites:
MRC TRAIN: www.mrc.train.org
Virginia Frontline Wellness-Supporting Virginia’s Frontline Healthcare Workers
See website for resources and information in support of Virginia’s frontline healthcare workers during COVID-19.
Read the latest version of Southwest Resilience Team Newsletter
Thank you for your invaluable service to the MRC and our mission to support the COVID-19 response efforts across Virginia. Your feedback on this survey will help us improve our processes so that we can better support volunteers for future responses. Your responses will be confidential and will be used for internal purposes only.