Volunteer Emergency Response Hotline Activated

TRENTON – New Jersey residents can help their neighbors recover from storm damage Hurricane Sandy may cause by volunteering in their communities. Depending on the severity of the approaching storm, volunteers may be needed to help with a variety of clean-up activities.
“During Hurricane Irene, I saw firsthand how individual New Jerseyans worked selflessly to help others during a crisis,” said Lt. Governor Kim Guadagno. “Based on what we learned, we established this volunteer emergency response hotline to enhance our responsiveness during emergencies and better organize volunteers. Today we’re activating the hotline so that our state is prepared to direct volunteers where help may be needed.”
If you are interested in volunteering, call the state’s volunteer emergency response hotline at 1-800-JERSEY-7 (1-800-537-7397). This hotline was established earlier this year to enhance the state’s emergency responsiveness by harnessing New Jerseyans’ strong spirit of service.
If storm conditions preclude the hotline from being answered by live operators, volunteers may call one of two backup hotline numbers: 609-775-5236 or 908-303-0471. Volunteers may also send an email to rowena.madden@sos.state.nj.us.
If you are already a trained volunteer affiliated with an emergency response organization, please contact that agency to register your readiness to receive an assignment.
This hotline is managed by the New Jersey Business Action Center and the Governor’s Office of Volunteerism. Both divisions are within the New Jersey Department of State.
Calls placed to the hotline will be received by the Business Action Center, which will work with the Office of Volunteerism and NJ AmeriCorps to match and direct volunteers where help is needed. When live operators are not available, callers can leave a voicemail message that includes their place of residence, availability and skills.
Those who need help from volunteers and other services may call 211 or go online at www.nj211.org.