Mayor Cantrell, City Officials Recruiting
NOLA Ready Evacuation Volunteers
NEW ORLEANS — Today, the New Orleans Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Preparedness (NOHSEP) and the New Orleans Medical Reserve Corps (NOMRC) encouraged New Orleans residents to become NOLA Ready Evacuation Volunteers during the 2020 hurricane season, which starts June 1st. The first volunteer training will be held online at 6 p.m. on Thursday, June 4th.
An estimated 35,000 New Orleanians are unable to evacuate on their own ahead of a major storm. City-Assisted Evacuation, run by NOHSEP and the New Orleans Fire Department, provides transportation assistance as an option of last resort for these residents during a mandatory evacuation order. As an essential part of the evacuation plan, volunteers assist first responders by providing additional staffing at the 17 evacuation bus stops (evacuspots), at the Smoothie King Center where evacuees are triaged and board buses bound for safe shelter out of the area, and at the 3-1-1 call center where evacuees can have their questions answered over the phone. Volunteers still evacuate, just after helping their neighbors beforehand.
“As we’ve seen over and over again, neighbors helping neighbors is what makes New Orleans so strong,” said Mayor LaToya Cantrell. “This hurricane season will be no different. We are preparing for an active hurricane season coupled by the impacts of COVID-19, and there is a real need for an increased number of volunteers. Please, if you’re able, volunteer to help all of our residents get to safety should a storm come our way.”
This volunteer program was previously run by evacuteer.org, a local non-profit organization. Due to the unique nature of this hurricane season occurring simultaneously with the COVID-19 pandemic, organizing volunteers in 2020 will involve key medical and health considerations best informed by the strategic leadership of NOHSEP and NOMRC. NOLA Ready Evacuation Volunteers will be trained online, will undergo a background check, and will also be called upon for other public safety volunteer opportunities year-round. Due to COVID-19, all staff, volunteers, and evacuees will be provided with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) and will be required to socially distance if a mandatory evacuation is necessary.
“Because of this year’s combined threats of a major hurricane occurring alongside the COVID-19 pandemic, it is now more important than ever that we engage a group of dedicated volunteers to ensure our most vulnerable community members can get to safety ahead of a major hurricane,” said NOHSEP Director Collin Arnold. “I’d like to thank evacuteer for their partnership for the last nine years and for their shared mission in serving the people of New Orleans who rely on City-Assisted Evacuation.”
Volunteers who were formerly trained and registered as evacuteers are absolutely encouraged to train again this season with NOLA Ready and the NOMRC if they want to volunteer with City-Assisted Evacuation. Trainings will be offered regularly throughout the 2020 hurricane season, with the first training on Thursday, June 4th at 6 p.m. All interested volunteers should register to join the one-hour webinar.
The City of New Orleans thanks you in advance for your service.
# # #
|
