Big Bear Lake, CA – The Big Bear Valley Community Organizations Active in Disaster or (COAD) is providing a free Emergency Disaster Services training on Thursday, June 30th, 2016 from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm. The classes will be held at the Adult Learning & Referral Center located at 40946 Big Bear Blvd in Big Bear Lake, CA.  Reservations are required; please call Yomar Cleary at 760.946.6448

In order to volunteer during a disaster in our community, volunteers need to be under an organization umbrella and the local Salvation Army has accepted to bring volunteers under their umbrella.  An emergency disaster volunteer can request to be assigned in various fields:  animal rescue & sheltering; HAM radio operator; language translator; debris removal; distribution of clothes and food; food preparation; damage assessment; clerical work in the Volunteer Center; transportation of people, supplies and equipment and the list goes on.  If you can help in any of these fields, you need to attend this three hour basic training.

The instructor will be Captain Emily Jones of the local Salvation Army.  This training is for anyone 18 years old or older who would like to volunteer their time during a disaster event in Big Bear.   This training will include the basics for volunteer deployment during times of disaster in our community.

Volunteers can always decline an activation.  Volunteers will have no other commitments until disaster strikes