Be a Disaster Volunteer!

A Disaster Volunteer is an individual who comes forward following a disaster to assist with disaster-related activities during the response or recovery phase without pay or other consideration. There are many ways that you can prepare now to help during times of disaster.

• Emergency Volunteer Mobiliziation Team
• Snow Buddies
• Community Emergency Response Team
• Medical Reserve Corps
• Volunteers in Police Service
• Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department
• American Red Cross Alexandria Chapter

Volunteer Alexandria manages unaffiliated or spontaneous volunteers, those individuals who are not initially affiliated with a response or relief agency (Such as the Red Cross or Medical Reserve Corps); however, they may possess training, skills, and experience that can be useful in the relief effort.

In the event of a disaster, Volunteer Alexandria will activate a Volunteer Reception Center (VRC) to help ensure that these skills and talents are matched to areas of critical need. A VRC provides a place where a large number of volunteers can be processed and referred to agencies that need their services.

We are in need of volunteers to join our Emergency Volunteer Mobilization Team to help us staff a Volunteer Reception Center, should an emergency affect Alexandria. Join us for our next training! Contact This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it for the next training date.

To register as a Disaster Volunteer with Volunteer Alexandria, please visit: 1-800-volunteer.org, or complete and return the application.

For any questions, please call at (703) 836-2176

Snow Buddies provides snow removal, leaf raking, and lawn mowing assistance for Alexandria’s residents who are unable to do it themselves. Snow buddies will be assigned a home where they will go to perform these services when needed. To register, complete and return the Snow Buddy Application to This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it , or fax it to (703) 683-1793

The Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) provides citizens with a mechanism to increase neighborhood disaster readiness and support first responders during emergencies and disasters. Training is provided in how to assess damage after a disaster, extinguish small fires, perform light search and rescue, triage and provide first aid, and provide much needed assistance in times of crisis. When emergencies happen, CERT members can give critical support to first responders by providing immediate assistance to victims and organizing spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also participate in non-emergency projects that help improve the safety of the community. For more information, contact Kim Purcell at (703) 706-3940 ext. 231, or visit the website: Community Emergency Response Team (CERT).

The Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) is a group of volunteers that includes individuals with medical training and experience as well as individuals from a wide range of non-medical backgrounds. The MRCs local mission is to strengthen the health emergency preparedness and response of the people in Alexandria, and to develop a Corps of medical and non-medical volunteers to respond as needed to such emergencies. MRC volunteer activities range from community preparedness to assisting in a variety of settings if a natural or terrorist-caused health emergency occurs. For more information, contact Amy Tarte at (703) 838-4400 x283 or visit the website to learn more: Medical Reserve Corps (MRC).

The Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) program allows citizens who wish to donate their time and talents to the Police department to assist with administrative and operations support duties, thus allowing officers to spend more time on law enforcement and crime prevention activities. Visit the website for more information: Police Volunteers

The Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD) has served the citizens of our fine City for more than two hundred years. AVFD members provide assistance in the areas of firefighting, emergency medical services, communications, canteen and administration. The website, Alexandria Volunteer Fire Department (AVFD), has more information.

The American Red Cross Alexandria Chapter volunteers are on-call 24 hours a day, every day, to assist individuals affected by disaster in Alexandria. Disasters of any size create immediate needs for those who are affected. Red Cross volunteers meet with the individuals and families who are affected by disaster (clients) and provide immediate assistance for food, clothing, shelter and emotional or physical health care if needed. For more information, visit their website, Alexandria Red Cross