Individuals who would like to volunteer during public health emergencies can do so through the Medical Reserve Corps (MRC) and the Medical Volunteer Coordinating Committee (MVCC).
Medical Reserve Corps (MRC)
The MRC is community-based way to organize and utilize volunteers who want to donate their time and expertise to prepare for and respond to emergencies and promote healthy living year-round.
MRC volunteers include medical and public health professionals such as physicians, nurses, pharmacists, dentists, veterinarians, and epidemiologists. Many community members—interpreters, chaplains, office workers, legal advisors, and others—can fill key support positions.
Medical Volunteer Coordinating Committee (MVCC)
The MVCC is a partnership between Metro Health, Department of State Health Services Region 8, and medical staffing agencies to provide a local network of medical and mental health volunteers available to respond to all hazards public health emergencies.
All Federal, State, Tribal, and Local entities, Private Sector and Nongovernmental personnel with a direct role in emergency management and response must be National Incident Management System (NIMS) and Incident Command Structure (ICS) trained. This includes all emergency services related disciplines such as EMS, hospitals, public health, fire service, law enforcement, public works/utilities, skilled support personnel, and other emergency management response, support and volunteer personnel (FEMA).
Disaster Volunteer Registry
The Texas Volunteer Registry is an Emergency System for Advanced Registration of Volunteer Health used to pre-register, manage, and mobilize clinical and non-clinical volunteers to respond to all types of disasters.