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Enthusiasm and engagement among volunteers may wane as the natural disaster recovery process moves out of the immediate response phase and into the months and even years of long-term recovery. However, volunteer efforts still play an important role in helping a community recover. Keep volunteers engaged with the following tips.

• Check-in with volunteers. Talk with them about any concerns they have. Volunteers may become overextended or burned out; it’s important to make sure that they are receiving enough support. Remind them of how much their efforts are appreciated throughout the response and recovery phases.
• Offer opportunities to train and credential volunteers at community events.
• Employ locals as long-term volunteers. By doing so, they will become invested in recovery efforts and be more likely to stay engaged over the long-term.
  • Creating a long-term recovery committee is one way to keep volunteers engaged in the long-run.