Celebrating Global Volunteer Month in Yavapai County

As April comes around, Yavapai County is gearing up to honor Global Volunteer Month by highlighting the significant roles that volunteers play in our community.

Throughout the year, emergency management counts on volunteers to assist with everything from preparation to response and recovery efforts. Currently, there’s a call for volunteers to get involved in various specialized programs.

• Animal Disaster Services (ADS): This program ensures that pets receive shelter and care during emergencies and offers emergency-focused education to the community.
• Large Animal Shelter and Emergency Preparation (LASER): Volunteers will help evacuate domestic livestock—like horses, goats, and chickens—during emergencies, as well as provide response education to animal owners.
• ARES/Race: These are Ham Radio Volunteers who maintain emergency communications during disasters and planned events, keeping the Emergency Operations Center (EOC) informed and maintaining critical communication when conventional systems fail.
• Medical Reserve Corps (MRC): Volunteers in this group aid with staffing phone banks, vaccination events, and public health initiatives to address community health needs during emergencies.

If you’re already volunteering elsewhere, it might be worth looking into joining a community organization in Yavapai County that’s active in disaster response. The Community Organizations Active in Disasters (COAD) collaborates with volunteers, non-profits, faith-based groups, public safety agencies, and government entities to enhance community preparedness and resource coordination before, during, and after disasters.

“Volunteers lie at the center of our emergency management efforts,” remarked Yavapai County Emergency Manager Ashley Earlquist. “Whether it’s assisting shelter animals, facilitating communication during wildfires, or providing community education, every volunteer significantly boosts the resilience of our county.”

For more details about the Yavapai County Emergency Management Office, you can reach out to Saratownsley at 928-777-7509.