Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

What does the DR in DR Solutions stand for?

The DR in DR Solutions stands for Disaster Response, so it's Disaster Response Solutions, which is quite a mouthful so we shortened it.

What does DR Solutions do?

DR Solutions has four main Programs:
Disaster Preparedness Education - We provide education and training to the community on topics dealing with Disaster Preparedness.
We offer courses on-line, and in-person at either a common location or at the group's chosen location.
Disaster Preparedness Services - We provide assistance and expertise in helping small businesses and organizations develop their emergency
plans including Emergency Action Plans (EAPs), Continuity of Operations Plans (COOPs), Comprehensive Emergency Management Plans (CEMPs), and other
necessary and stutory documentation.
Disaster Response Software - We provide license free software solutions for incident management and collaboration. These currently include ICS
management and collaboration (LightHouse) and Mass Casualty Triage (MCT) which is installed on a cell phone and provides patient tracking, vitals, treatment,
and triage tag barcode scanning.
Disaster Response Services - We provide man power and expertise in disaster response activities such as Points of Distribution (PODs), Volunteer
Reception Centers (VRCs), and general man power needs to augment man power short falls.

How do I become a Volunteer for DR Solutions?

Simply click on the link in the header labeled "Not a Volunteer yet?" and you will be taken to an application page.
Once you complete and submit the application, it will be reviewed and you will be notified when you are accepted.

I have been accepted as a Volunteer, now what?

You will be contacted by one of the Volunteer Intake team members and asked a few questions to determine in what capacity you want to volunteer.
You will also be asked to complete a skills survey and may be asked to submit to a background check in certain situations.

What training or certifications do I need in order to become a Volunteer for DR Solutions?

DR Solutions will take care of training you for basic Disaster Response and job specific skills. If there are specific certifications or licenses needed for a job,
we will direct you to where you need to go to acquire those. Those cases are rare though and DR Solutions can take care of the majority of the training you will need.
All training provided by DR Solutions is free of charge. External trainings may have an individual cost involved.

I already have a lot of training and certifications, do I need to retake them with DR Solutions?

No. Just forward PDF copies of all your licenses, certifications, and certificates of training to DR Solutions. We will review them and give you credit for those
that we require for specific jobs. The most common certificates of training will be for the FEMA IS-100, IS-200, IS-700, and IS-800.

Does anyone at DR Solutions get paid?

DR Solutions is a fully and completely volunteer organization. As such no one, even the CEO and Chairman of the Board, are paid anything. All of the funds collected
through donations and grants go directly to the work of responding to the disaster survivors.

Is the volunteer work physically demanding?

Some of the volunteer work is of course physically demanding. Some of is mentally demanding. We have a number of ways that you can serve your community without
physically or mentally exhausting yourself. Our intent is to serve our communities without burning out our volunteers. You should know your physical and mental
limitations before you decide what jobs you would like to help with. Each job will have a description of the duties and an expected level of physical and mental
capability. Any time you are feeling overworked, just notify your team leader and they will look into re-assigning you.

How did DR Solutions start?

DR Solutions started because the founding member had responded to numerous disasters dating from Hurricane Andrew and including the 2004 hurricanes.
He developed a passion for responding to disaster and providing help to those affected by them and created DR Solutions to be a fully volunteer organization.
Using his experience in responding to the numerous disasters, he concentrated on a few specific activities that were in most need.

What are DR Solutions Mission, Vision, and Values?

DR Solutions Mission, Vision and Values are as follows:
Mission
The purpose for which the corporation is organized is to provide charitable organizations and government emergency management agencies with solutions for disaster response
at no cost to the organizations in order to lessen the burden on those organizations and their limited resources. Solutions will include, but not be limited to, incident
software and consultation, volunteer management, spontaneous volunteer processing and management services, and education and training for the general public and organizations
on disaster preparedness.
Vision
All citizens educated and prepared for disasters and all charitable and government agencies supplied with the necessary tools to accomplish their disaster response mission.
Values
1. We fulfill a vital role in our community and society. All non-profit organizations are an integral part of the fabric of our society. They each fulfill a role that adds
one more moving part to the overall community machine which keeps the community moving forward. We provide needed services and add overall value to the existing government
and non-government entity efforts.
2. We respect others and their contributions to society. Everyone has something to give and we should value everyone’s contribution to the overall cause. Differing opinions
and viewpoints help to shape the total effort more completely.
3. We are accountable to society and must always act with the highest integrity. We must always be honest and forthcoming in our dealings with those we serve and with those who
serve us with their gifts of time and money.
4. We must be proper stewards of the resources we have been given. Others have sacrificed to give of themselves and we must be good stewards of those gifts. We must not waste
nor frivolously use that which has been given us to fulfill our mission.
5. We must always strive to relieve the suffering and promote healing and recovery. We inject ourselves into a community after a traumatic event and must always strive to be part
of the solution instead of part of the problem.