Disaster Volunteer Academy History

     In 2003, Brazos County Emergency Management recognized a need by the public to have a greater understanding of personal, family, and community preparedness, a greater understanding of emergency management itself, as well as to create a cadre of local volunteers for disaster response and recovery. A curriculum was developed for a series of classes and thus, the Disaster Volunteer Academy was created.

     The Brazos County Interjurisdictional Emergency Management team, comprised of representatives from Brazos County, City of College Station, City of Bryan, and Texas A&M University, hosted the first Academy in 2003. The volunteers were provided information and skills relating to various areas of hazard mitigation and disaster preparedness, response, and recovery. An additional goal of the training was to enhance Emergency Management’s readiness by including citizen response teams.

Training Description

     The Disaster Volunteer Academy has been held annually, until 2007, and is offered to the public and employees of local jurisdictions who cannot participate in the Academy during the normal work week. Participants must be at least 18 years of age. The core training is 24 hours and comprised of eight sessions. The sessions take place in the evening and can be held in various locations. The instructors come from professionals in Emergency Management and Volunteer agencies.

     Core training provides an overview of local emergency management and how our community responds in a disaster. Volunteers will learn skills that will help safeguard their life, their property, and their loved ones. The final session involves an exercise that allows volunteers to experience a mock disaster and receive hands-on training in disaster response and recovery activities.

Training Benefits

     Americans today are aware of the "war on terror" and the need for volunteer assistance in a time of crisis. This training will not only assist in safeguarding our homeland, but it also provides a resource for those needs that arise when natural disasters occur locally, regionally, or statewide or during a time of crisis, such as the Bonfire collapse. Many of our graduates participated locally in the Emergency Operations Center and in with other volunteer organizations during the evacuation responses for hurricanes Katrina and Rita.

Upcoming Sessions

     The Interjurisdictional Emergency Management team will be hosting the next Disaster Volunteer Academy in the new Community Emergency Operations Center in downtown Bryan and it is planned for spring of 2009. If you are interested in attending the next Academy, email the Department of Emergency Management at emc@bcdem.org.