We have guidelines for volunteering in a disaster because of the requirements set forth by the Federal Government in the National Response Plan (NRP).  [If you currently hold a USAR certification, SAR Level II or I, then you may already qualify without taking the EMI/FEMA courses below, however you will still be required to take our organization courses and be current on your vaccinations.]

There are several  elements that a disaster volunteer must take:  

• First, you must take all the required FEMA courses, noted below. 

•  Second, you must take a Red Cross or American Heart Association First Aid/CPR course.  You may qualify for reimbursement.

• Third, you must take our online course work that will prepare you for animal behavior, proper capture, control, transport and care-taking. Forthcoming to our University - TBD.

• Fourth you will need to take our online course work on our organizations required policy and procedures.  Forthcoming to our University - TBD. 

• Fifth, you must be in good physical and mental health and be current on vaccinations and provide proof.  Vaccinations That Are Required Are In Green: 

  • Tetanus/diphtheria vaccine or booster, if the most recent vaccine or booster was 5 years ago or more.
  • Hepatitis B. For optimal protection, ideally vaccination should begin at least 6 months before travel so that the full vaccine series can be completed. 
  • Hepatitis A. For optimal protection, the first dose of vaccine should be given at least 30 days prior to travel.
  • Rabies - This is optional and left at your discretion. Please know that exposure to animal bites, most notably from dogs in resource-poor areas, poses a risk for rabies. Proper administration of the rabies pre-exposure series (days 0, 7 and 21 or 28) requires at least 3 weeks to complete. Although risk of exposure to stray animals and thus increased risk of exposure to rabies may be increased in areas affected by disasters, there would be little to no value in administering incomplete pre-exposure prophylaxis. In the event of an animal bite, the partially immunized individual would be considered unimmunized and should receive full postexposure prophylaxis (i.e., rabies immune globulin (RIG) + 5 doses of vaccine).  If you do the pre-exposure your looking at three doses.  If you wait until after you are biten then you are looking at the five doses.  
  • Typhoid - this is optional and left at your discretion.

  If you want to learn more about vaccinations, please visit the CDC website: Health Recommendations for Relief Workers Responding to Disasters, click here.  We encourage you to contact your physician or local Health Department to find out about these vaccinations.  You may qualify for reimbursement.

   

• Last, if you wish to be on the Search and Rescue squads then you must must have at minimum: Level III SAR certification by NASAR or certification from FEMA as a USAR Task Force Member.   If you do not have one of these certifications but want to learn more, please contact us and we will be more than happy to direct you toward obtaining this goal.   You may qualify for reimbursement.

*Certified CERT Members, you may qualify for Search and Rescue squads, please contact us to find out, if you do.  CERT qualifications are taken on an individual basis and evaluated by your training and participation in the program.  The Board of Directors will review your documentation and submit to our FEMA representative for approval.

CARRMISSOURI ONLINE UNIVERSITY

Our University will be offered free and provide additional elements you need to be successful in helping prior, during and after a community natural and or man-made disaster event.  Please check back.  Launch date is scheduled for TBD.

Learn about Preventing A Disaster Within A Disaster, then you will understand why we are committed to the highest level of training and education!  Click Here.

In the meantime, below is a list of courses that you must complete online through FEMA.  All courses must be completed and passed to work in a disaster area.   You will receive EMI/FEMA certificates for passing the courses.  

You must either email or snail mail a copy of each certificate that you pass to us, so that we can keep in your training completed file for our  requirements.  

In order to take these courses online with FEMA you must complete their application.  FEMA requires that you be a U.S. Citizen and provide proof of such.  

Click here to complete the application and then email or snail mail back this application along with a legible copy of your proof of U.S. citizenship.  

We will provide to our FEMA representative for approval and send you back the instructions via email or snail mail once we have received approval.  We will be your sponsoring organization.

We are very excited that you have decided to take this recognized coursework to be successful, safe and approved to work in disasters to help people and animals. Thank you!  

The FEMA Online Training (Independent Study) Site can be found at: http://training.fema.gov/IS/

BASIC REQUIRED FEMA COURSE WORK:

Most of these courses can easily be completed in 1 to 3 hour time frames each, depending upon your own learning level with online learning and your internet connection speed.