With the 2006 Hurricane Season upon us, we want to share with you some general information from the Florida Department of Health (DOH) on volunteering for disasters. The last two years of active hurricane seasons have brought forth many questions from the physician and health care communities in general. I hope this information will better help you prepare for the season ahead.

• DOH recommends that ALL volunteers participate in the FEMA NIMS (National Incident Management System) Basic Course: www.fema.gov/emergency/nims/index.shtm.

The volunteer system is structured as follows:
For volunteering to assist with disasters in your community or in other parts of Florida:

• Emergency personnel utilize local assistance, such as faith-based, community based and Medical Reserve Corps first after a disaster.
• Medical Reserve Corps - 16 in the state: www.medicalreservecorps.gov (find local unit and sign up)
• Red Cross - www.redcross.org (find local unit and sign up)
• Contact your local County Health Department (CHD) and ask how you may assist the CHD if an event was to occur; you may find the CHD closest to you by going to the following Web site: www.doh.state.fl.us/chdsitelist.htm
• If there is further need, then the state volunteer database is used. All public health resources are exhausted first before the private sector is activated. (Florida's Medical Volunteer Registry: www.disasterhelp.net/medical - if you have already registered on this site, be sure to update your information if needed).

For volunteering to assist when disaster strikes in another state:

• If the other state determines they are in need of assistance, they will make a formal request to Florida. The Florida Department of Health will first utilize public health resources (publicly employed physicians and other state employees). Once those resources are exhausted, the private sector is activated. To become part of this state volunteer database go to Florida's Medical Volunteer Registry: www.disasterhelp.net/medical
• FEMA encourages volunteers to affiliate with a voluntary agency involved in disaster response and recovery, such as,
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)
• Citizen Corps
• American Red Cross Volunteer Service

• For up-to-date hurricane preparedness and response information, visit www.fmaonline.org/hurricanepreparedness.asp.
• Information on Pre-Deployment Considerations