Florida Baptist Disaster Relief is mobilized and responding to Hurricane Ian. Available and credentialed volunteers should make contact with your Blue Hat or Regional Coordinator.

Want to volunteer but not trained?

Florida Baptist Disaster ministries uses trained and credentialed volunteers to serve communities in the aftermath of disasters. Some training is basic and some is much more technical. We recognize that many of our Florida Baptist church members have not been trained through our ministry but have heart and desire to serve others who are hurting. We want to give you that opportunity to come along side churches and hurting families as part of what your Florida Baptist Disaster Relief ministry is doing in these communities. We do have a system in place that will afford you as an individual or your church group to join in the response efforts of FLDR through our Day Volunteer ministry avenue.

Steps to Become a Day Volunteer

1. You or your church contacts us for partnership. Groups of 4 or less: Complete this form. Groups of 5 or more: Contact Myles Dowdy at myles.dowdy@flbaptist.org or (813) 493-9608.
2. Download PDF forms: DR Day Volunteer Forms.
3. You or your church completes Group Form (link above) and email it to us.
4. We identify and notify you with site info where you’ll serve.
5. Onsite Command will be notified of your arrival.
6. You must bring completed roster form PLUS signed hold-harmless forms.
7. Let’s serve!

Have questions? Email us.

Thank you so much for your service in the past. We look forward to continuing serving together.

1. Backgrounds are required once every three years to renew your credentials and remain an active DR volunteer. Click on this link to be taken to the correct location. There is a $16.00 charge for this – using a credit card.
2. Registration – Please click on link to register and verify your current information. There is a $10.00 charge for this (once every three years)

If you have been an active DR volunteer these last three years, this is all that is required to renew your credentials. However, with changes every day, we ask that you watch the Orientation videos if you are not attending an onsite training. If you have not been active, this is necessary.

At any time, you may take any of the listed classes on the instruction page for new volunteers. Simply click on the link and you will be taken into the correct program. There is no charge for taking one or as many as you choose.

It is helpful to expand our knowledge and see what other ministry areas are doing, or even broaden your training to be of service in more areas.

Thank you again for your service in offering Help, Healing and Hope.

Disaster Relief seeks to involve every church and member in this ministry. By being trained and credentialed you will be ready to serve in the event of a disaster. We offer in person trainings for credentialing volunteers from March to June. You are encouraged to attend a training when offered in your area to experience the full benefit of hands on trainings. We also have provided for you online trainings. Noted on this page and elsewhere on our website is information for our training dates and locations in 2023 – usually 7 trainings are spread around the state each year.

We look forward to seeing you at one or more of these trainings.

Steps to Become a Credentialed Volunteer

(Each bolded word will link you to the proper site to complete that step)
1. Complete a background check. The Florida Baptist Convention requires a background check for all credentialed volunteers, which is good for three years.
2. For in person trainings, choose a date/location to attend and register on site the day of the event. For online training, follow the on-line process for registration and training below.
3. We will identify needs and notify you via email with site information where and when you may serve.
4. We look forward to ministering together!

Online Process for registering and training

1.Click HERE to Register– Please enter all information. This is for both returning and/or new volunteers. There is a $10.00 registration fee per person that may be paid with a credit card. You only need to register once a year no matter how many classes you take.

2.Click HERE to Watch the Orientation segment videos. You may watch these separately or all at one time. When finished, answer the short questionnaire. The questionnaire will be sent to the office and your attendance will be recorded. This is required of all beginning volunteers and when renewing your badge (once every three years).

3. Choose a ministry area class you would like to take and/or review and click on the link listed below. Again, answer the questionnaire at the end which will record your attendance of this class.

• Clean Up & Recovery
• Feeding
• Safe Food Handling
• Emergency Response Team
• Administrative Support
• Assessment Training
• Flood Response Training
• Trailer Safety Training
• Chaplaincy | Becoming a Chaplain Instructions | Application
• Temporary Childcare Training
• Introductory Communications Volunteer Training
• Communications Trailer Operations Manual
• Advanced Administration/Google Docs

You may take as many ministry area classes as you desire – remembering to answer the questionnaire at the end to have your attendance recorded.

Allow a few weeks following your background clearance, registration, and class attendance to receive your badge. If we do not have a current headshot picture of you, one will be requested. Pictures may be selfies. When sending a picture, please remember – no hats or sunglasses may be worn in the shot, and a plain background should be used (for instance – a clear wall).

For online trainings, you will order your hat, shirt, and lanyard from IWantYellow.com At the time you place your order, you will need to provide your badge number. When ordering, you may decide to order extra shirts and items, which is perfectly acceptable. Whatever you order will be at your expense. Registration cost has been reduced since we will not be providing these items.

Any questions –  email us at dr.assistant@flbaptist.org

Download instructions here.

Need to find an area of service?

DR has many ministry areas to serve. Everyone should be able to find a ministry that fits their physical capabilities.

Cross training is another way you can help DR. Once you have been trained in one ministry and become interested in another all you need to do is attend another training event. Cross training is helpful when a specific ministry area is not called out to a disaster but more people are needed in another ministry area.

You must be a credentialed volunteer to be a part of these and any ministry of FLDR.

Feeding – Meet the physical and spiritual needs of those impacted by a disaster through preparing up to 40,000 meals per day.

Clean Up & Recovery – Provide hope to others while engaging in temporary roofing, chainsaw crews, yard clean up, and flood recovery.

On Site Management – Provide safety/security to responding volunteers and local communities while onsite.

Temporary Child Care – Care for children in the aftermath of a disaster.

Emotional & Spiritual Care – Comfort and encourage all who are affected by a disaster.

Chaplaincy – Click here for more information on the requirements for becoming a Disaster Relief Chaplain.

Administrative Support – Serve in a clerical support role by compiling reports, tracking volunteers and job information, while offering compassion to those in need.

Logistical Support – Move all the equipment and supplies: before, during, and after as well as keep it running.

Have questions? Email us.