The Oregon Department of Emergency Management (OEM) recognized the importance of volunteers and volunteer organizations in disaster response and recovery on Apr. 21, as part of National Volunteer Week celebrations running from April 19 to 25.
National Volunteer Week serves as a time to honor individuals and organizations whose commitment strengthens communities across Oregon. OEM emphasized the crucial contributions made by Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD), which include nonprofit, faith-based, community, and service groups that assist before, during, and after emergencies.
“VOADs are essential partners in Oregon’s whole‑community approach to emergency management,” Quinn Butler, OEM Disaster Recovery Program Manager, said. “They are among the first to arrive in a disaster-stricken community and the last to leave. They provide compassion, capability and community knowledge to every emergency; providing shelter, meals, cleanup support, and long‑term recovery assistance. They also help to build community trust and resilience, reducing the overall impacts of a disaster.”
Recent examples highlighted by OEM include response efforts following the Rowena Fire in June 2025 where American Red Cross provided initial aid while Northwest Baptist Disaster Relief volunteers contributed nearly 1,000 hours toward personal property recovery for affected residents. Team Rubicon also deployed dozens of volunteers from around the world to remove hazardous trees hindering rebuilding efforts.
During disasters, VOAD partners collaborate with OEM staff as well as county emergency managers and Tribal governments through planning sessions and coordinated responses designed to strengthen statewide readiness. The department is further involving VOADs in its upcoming exercise “Getting Through Lahar’d Times 2026,” inviting nonprofits and community members to participate or observe simulated recovery processes.
Butler said: “We are so grateful for the volunteers who give their time and talent to help Oregon communities through their hardest days. Their service demonstrates the best of what it means to show up for one another. Whether they are preparing meals, staffing shelters, rebuilding homes…volunteers make recovery possible.”
