Disaster Response

Illinois Department of Public Health Regional Hospital Coordination Center

Emergency Disaster Services

Disaster Relief Services

Illinois Emergency Management Agency and Office of Homeland Security

Volunteer Management

• Coordinate affiliated and spontaneous volunteers.

• Support or operate a Volunteer Reception Center.

• Register, screen, orient, assign, track, and demobilize volunteers.

• Coordinate volunteer safety briefings, identification, supervision, and accountability.

• Match volunteers’ skills and capabilities with appropriate assignments.

Donations Management

• Coordinate the receipt and distribution of donated goods.

• Publicize specific donation needs and discourage unsolicited or inappropriate donations.

• Establish collection, sorting, storage, and distribution procedures.

• Coordinate gift-card, financial, and in-kind donation programs.

• Refer used or unsuitable items to appropriate resale, recycling, or disposal programs.

Mass Care and Human Services

• Support emergency sheltering, feeding, hydration, and comfort services.

• Assist with family reunification, child care, pet support, transportation, and accessibility needs.

• Provide clothing, hygiene supplies, household goods, and emergency financial assistance.

• Support individuals with disabilities, access and functional needs, limited English proficiency, or transportation barriers.

Emotional and Spiritual Care

• Provide disaster spiritual care, emotional support, and crisis ministry.

• Support disaster survivors, responders, volunteers, and bereaved families.

• Coordinate referrals for professional behavioral-health services when appropriate.

Disaster Case Management

• Conduct household assessments and verify disaster-related needs.

• Develop individualized recovery plans.

• Connect survivors with governmental, nonprofit, charitable, and community resources.

• Help resolve unmet needs that remain after insurance and government assistance have been exhausted.

Cleanup and Recovery Support

• Coordinate debris removal, muck-outs, tarping, chainsaw work, minor repairs, and property cleanout.

• Provide cleanup kits, tools, personal protective equipment, and volunteer labor.

• Support rebuilding, repair, replacement of essential household items, and long-term recovery projects.

Long-Term Recovery

• Establish or participate in a Long-Term Recovery Committee or Group.

• Coordinate unmet-needs tables and funding decisions.

• Support reconstruction, housing stabilization, financial recovery, and community resilience.

• Track unresolved needs after the immediate response phase has ended.

• Assist with recovery planning, mitigation, and preparedness improvements.