Fire Volunteering Opportunities

[J]

So far I have found a bunch of pages to donate to the red-cross as they are helping with the relief efforts for those relocated during the fires. Not my first choice, as you can't specify where the funds are to go, they just go into the general red-cross relief fund.

Its a good place to donate, and im sure SOME of the funds will go to the fire refugees, but I'd rather do something more direct, and something with a volunteering aspect as well.

[Birddog1911]

I started a thread on Saturday, and have had a couple of responses, regarding those who are willing and able to help with evacuation of guns and animals in particular. As a re-iteration, I've got a good 4x4 that can haul a trailer, several small animal crates, a couple of giant sized crates, and 3 fenced acres to help with.

Maybe this should be the offical thread for it; good idea.

[Birddog1911]

Another thought; I'm at work, but perhaps someone can get hold of specific gun shops in these areas, and see if they'd be willing to allow evacuees to store firearms in their safes; folks might be more comfortable with that than at a site members house.

[Great-Kazoo]

Another thought; I'm at work, but perhaps someone can get hold of specific gun shops in these areas, and see if they'd be willing to allow evacuees to store firearms in their safes; folks might be more comfortable with that than at a site members house.

This will require a 4473 to retake ownership.

[Birddog1911]

I could see that if someone is notified to be prepared to evacuate, they could get in contact with members in their same town or city, give them a call, and those volunteers could help in whatever way they can.

[HoneyBadger]

I could see that if someone is notified to be prepared to evacuate, they could get in contact with members in their same town or city, give them a call, and those volunteers could help in whatever way they can.

This is an intriguing idea and I would certainly be willing to help as my work schedule allows. I have a truck and slightly beefy arms

[Birddog1911]

Damn, well it was just a thought; thanks for clarifying that, Jim.

[El Caballo Loco]

CAPS Colorado Springs
Red Cross
Helpcoloradonow.org
United Way

[cmailliard]

The idea of evacuations is one of the best. Adams County has a 4x4 response we team to help get people out of areas and response officials in to work during snow storms and severe weather events.

As far as phone trees there are some nice technology solutions to help with this.

Thinking beyond the current situation there are needs for crews to help clear roads after tornados (chainsaw crews), snow storms support, mitigation and preparedness efforts can be put in place (this would be huge), and more.

If you want to have some real opportunities to help and be taken seriously by officials there needs to be true organization and training done.

I think there is hard core group of people on here that really want to do some good. But as I said above being an organized group, not just a bunch of individuals will go far. Spontaneous Unaffilated Volunteers tend to be a large management problem for incident managers. In Houston after Katrina there was 25,000 evacuees and over 85,000 volunteers, which do you think became a bigger management problem?

I would be willing to help with organization efforts.

[cstone]

I agree that this type of organization would be useful for more than just the current fires. Like Jim was describing, if you already live in a community with similarly minded people this would not be as much of an issue. Here in the burbs, most of my neighbors are nice but not necessarily similarly minded. I can think of a few neighbors who would birth calves if they thought there was an evil black rifle within a five mile radius of their home.

Chris, that is a generous offer to assist in the organization. What steps would you suggest we take first?