One of the difficulties after a major hurricane, for Santa Rosa County, is that the county seat, in Milton, is separated from the South Santa Rosa area by Escambia Bay, East Bay, and Eglin Air Force Base. After a hurricane, many volunteers want to help, and the Retired & Seniors Volunteer Program (RSVP) in Milton has been designated by the county to operate a Volunteer Reception Center, registering and dispatching volunteers to help where needed, especially where residents are elderly, disabled, or so economically disadvantaged as to not be able to handle cleanup and repair on their own.

But many of the volunteers, and those needing help, are in South Santa Rosa. After a hurricane, we have enough problems with communications and transportation. We don't need to physically go to Milton to register to help!

Santa Rosa County DEM and RSVP have agreed to have the Navarre CERT open and operate a Volunteer Reception Center in Navarre if there is another disaster calling for it. Several of us have been trained to do that. The Holley-Navarre Seniors Association have graciously agreed to let us use their center at James Harvell Rd and Presidio St (across from the Navarre Public Library) for that purpose. Santa Rosa County has provided a generator and supplies required to operate the center.

So if you are fortunate to be spared any serious problems by the next storm, and want to volunteer to help others, you may come to the Volunteer Reception Center and get an assignment.

Don't hesitate because you think you're not strong or skilled or whatever. There is always a need for you, even if it is to register other volunteers, or provide sympathy and support to victims.