The management of unaffiliated, often spontaneous, volunteers in times of emergency is guided by the following principles and values:  

Volunteering in community life: Volunteering is a valuable part of every healthy community. Volunteers come from all segments of society; everyone has the potential to contribute strength and resources in times of emergency.  

The value of affiliation: Ideally, all volunteers should be affiliated with established organizations and trained for specific disaster response activities. However, spontaneous volunteers are inevitable; therefore, they must be anticipated, planned for and managed.  

Volunteer involvement in the four phases of disasters: There are valuable and appropriate roles for spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers in mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery – as well as in other areas of community need.  

Management systems: Volunteers are a valuable resource when they are trained, assigned and supervised within established emergency management systems. An essential element of every emergency management plan is the clear designation of responsibility for the on-site coordination of unaffiliated volunteers.  

Shared responsibility: The mobilization, management, and support of volunteers is primarily a responsibility of local government and nonprofit sector agencies, with support from the state level. Specialized planning, information sharing, and a management structure are necessary to coordinate efforts and maximize the benefits of volunteer involvement.  

Volunteer expectations: Volunteers are successful participants in emergency management systems when they are flexible, self-sufficient, aware of risks, and willing to be coordinated by local emergency management experts. Volunteers must accept the obligation to “do no harm.”  

The impact on volunteers: The priority of volunteer activity is assistance to others. When this spontaneous activity is well managed, it also positively affects the volunteers themselves and thus contributes to the healing process of both individuals and the larger community.  

Build on existing capacity: All communities include individuals and organizations that know how to mobilize and involve volunteers effectively. Emergency management experts and VOAD partners Participant Materials: Managing Spontaneous Volunteers in Times of Disaster 4 are encouraged to identify and utilize all existing capacity for integrating unaffiliated volunteers.  

Information management: Clear, consistent and timely communication is essential to successful management of unaffiliated volunteers. A variety of opportunities and messages should be utilized in order to educate the public, minimize confusion, and clarify expectations.  

Consistent terminology: When referring to volunteers in emergency management, it is helpful to use consistent terminology. The following terms and definitions are recommended:  

Affiliated volunteers are attached to a recognized voluntary or nonprofit organization and are trained for specific disaster response activities. Their relationship with the organization precedes the immediate disaster, and they are invited by that organization to become involved in a particular aspect of emergency management.  

Unaffiliated (or Spontaneous) volunteers are no part of a recognized voluntary agency and often have no formal training in emergency response. They are not officially invited to become involved but are motivated by a sudden desire to help others in times of trouble. They come with a variety of skills and may come from within the affected area or from outside.