Emergency managers' perspectives of recruiting, training, and integrating volunteers for a disaster.

摘要

Disasters are increasing in intensity and frequency throughout the world, causing public safety organizations to become more involved in disaster management. The purpose of this qualitative case study was to examine county emergency managers' perspectives of recruiting, training, and integrating volunteers for a disaster. Research has shown when disaster volunteers are not properly recruited, trained, and integrated into disaster planning they can negatively impact efforts to save lives and protect property. This qualitative case study is likely the first study to examine county emergency managers' perspectives of recruiting, training, and integrating volunteers for a disaster to save lives and protect property. This study used POSDCORB as the theoretical framework and the concepts of disaster management and volunteer management to answer the principal research question, "How do county emergency managers recruit, train, and integrate volunteers for a disaster?" This study also used one-on-one, face-to-face, semi-structured interviews to gather data about county emergency managers' perspectives on how they recruit, train, and integrate volunteers for a disaster. During the course of the study there were eight emergent themes: (a) planning for volunteers, (b) organizing volunteers, (c) staffing volunteers, (d) directing, (e) legal issues, (f) coordinating and integrating volunteers, (g) directing volunteers, and (h) training volunteers.