Disaster Hubs Team: Team Development

The Disaster Hubs Team consists of the Team Leads and the volunteers who help prepare Hubs for disasters. After a disaster, the Hubs may be staffed by members of the Disaster Hubs Team as well as by members of various other teams, like the Medical Reserve Corps, the Communications Team, and the Wellness for First Responders Team.

Step 1. Reach out to the community to recruit volunteers for the Disaster Hubs Team. Look for people who have management experience and, especially, resource management experience.

Step 2. Identify a Team Lead. 

Step 3. Have volunteers take IS-100 (An Introduction to the Incident Command System) and IS-700 (An Introduction to the National Incident Management System).

Step 4. Working with your Community’s Emergency Manager, make a list of potential locations for Disaster Hubs. These should be buildings with enough configurable space, a parking lot, and restrooms. You will want to find facilities located throughout your community so that every resident is within walking distance of one. Good options are churches and recreation facilities. Note: You do not have to identify all Hubs at once. Start by creating one Hub and then slowly expand throughout the community. Otherwise, the task will feel overwhelming. 

Step 5. Meet with facility administrators/owners to explain your needs for Disaster Hubs and discuss terms. Reassure them by promising post-disaster cleanup help and post-use cleanup.

Step 6. Create a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each selected location. Make sure your Community’s legal team reviews the agreements.

Step 7. Meet with the Medical Reserve Corps and Communications Team leadership to generate maps for the use of each facility. Determine where medical treatment areas will go, where the Communications Team will set up ham radio, and where people seeking shelter, food, and water will be served.

Step 8. With the Medical reserve Corps and Communications Teams leadership, create lists of needed gear and supplies. 

Step 9. Write grants and fundraise to purchase supplies. Turn to local community service organizations to help with supplies procurement. 

Step 10. Begin to gather supplies. Attend rummage sales to find supplies. Partner with gear companies. In exchange for promoting their gear on your Anytown Prepares website, they will offer discounts to your community members and to your Anytown Prepares organization.

Step 11. Store supplies in trailers or sheds on each property site.

Step 12. Educate the public about Disaster Hubs. Teach them to report to their local Disaster Hub before seeking help at the community hospitals and Disaster Medical Clinic.

Step 13. Write a Scope of Practice for your volunteers.

Step 14. Write Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) for the Disaster Hubs, including facility maps and layouts.

Step 15. Develop Standard Operating Procedures for the Disaster Hubs Team.

Step 16. Conduct annual exercises and training for volunteers.