Published: January 25, 2006 07:19 pm      

More than 450 in SWVa. trained for disaster aid

TAZEWELL, Va. — If a disaster were to strike in Southwest Virginia, more than 450 citizens would be prepared to offer assistance.

That’s because they have been trained through the Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps, a group of volunteer health care professionals and community members trained to respond and assist with public health crisis if they were to arise.

But Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps wants to be able to call on many more local residents to offer assistance in case of an emergency.

“Volunteers are needed for many public health emergencies, as well as for non-emergency programs and activities in our communities on a regular basis,” Kristina Morris, Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps volunteer coordinator, said.

To be able to volunteer during a public health emergency or natural disaster, Morris said residents need to register with SVMRC and get the proper training so that they can be prepared.

Recent national natural disasters and the threat of pandemic flu outbreak have attracted much attention to the immediacy of these needs, and the realization that it is too late to organize and register when the disaster occurs, Morris said.

“We want to have more of a local focus, of course. When Hurricane Katrina hit, it was a disaster that affected so many, that was why we were able to deploy some of our volunteers to those areas,” Morris said.

Morris said five locally-trained volunteers were able to provide a wide variety of services, in response to Hurricane Katrina and Hurricane Rita.

Morris said they are looking for volunteers who are average, everyday people, and also those who have some previous experience in the medical field. “Basically, we are looking for willing citizens that we can register and train, so if there is a local emergency we have people right here at home to help,” she said.

SVMRC serves Bland County and Cumberland Plateau, which is comprised of Tazewell, Buchanan, Russell and Dickenson counties and Cedar Bluff, Va.

Morris said there will be two training sessions at Southwest Virginia Community College Feb. 7 at 2:30 p.m. and 6 p.m.

There will also be two training sessions at Mount Rogers Community Services Board in Wytheville, Va. Feb. 28 at 10 a.m. and 2 p.m.

For more information, contact Morris at (276) 274-1994 or access the Southwest Virginia Medical Reserve Corps website at www.vdh.virginia.gov/mrc/swvamrc.

— Contact Adria Hairston at

ahairston@bdtonline.com