Mechelen: (Brussels Morning) Mechelen’s new crisis volunteer team trained in May sprang into action after a severe storm, assessing damage, providing relief and supporting the community’s recovery efforts.
In May Mechelen city created a crisis volunteer team with basic training to help during emergencies. They were tested after a big storm hit Mechelen yesterday. It was their first time in action and they helped with assessing damage providing relief and supporting the community after the storm. These volunteers are essential for making the city better prepared and able to respond during crises like this.
How Mechelen’s Crisis Volunteer Team Aids Community Recovery After Storm Damage?
Els and Gerda from Mechelen’s new crisis volunteer team are helping out today after a big storm hit Lest. They are going door to door to check homes carefully for storm damage and note everything down. Their goal is not just to see how much the storm affected the area but also to give important information to the people impacted. They will assist homeowners in starting insurance claims for storm damage and guide them on how to reach out to city authorities for more help or clarification.
Els and Gerda are also important in telling residents where to throw away waste after the storm either in onsite containers or local container parks. This helps make the cleanup process smoother so residents know how to handle debris and clean up well. By giving hands-on help and information these volunteers are key in making the community stronger and better prepared during tough times in Mechelen.
Els a committed member of the crisis volunteer team in Mechelen talks about how they handle storm damage in the affected areas. When they see damaged homes they ring the doorbell to talk to the residents. After making contact they check and list all the damage they see noting down details to record everything clearly. Els also highlights how the team helps by giving important info and help to those affected. They make sure residents know what to do next like how to claim insurance and reach out to city services for more support. This active way of helping shows how dedicated the team is to supporting the community in Mechelen during tough times, making the recovery process smoother and helping everyone bounce back effectively.
Gerda says she retired last year and wants to help people by volunteering. She feels good about starting this and mentions they are there to provide assistance after the first responders. Gerda is a bit nervous but promises to do her best to help people. Alderman Labsir mentions they use the information from the team to figure out who needs extra support like physical help or care. The crisis volunteer team is just starting and training begins in September.
