Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee invites new volunteers to Aug. 7 training
July 22, 2026 | By Matt Dugan
With a mud-sucking vactor truck on hand, volunteers take a break from mucking out flooded homes on Randall Street in 2023. File photo
Effective flood response is a matter of math: Volunteers + training = a faster cleanup. And a faster cleanup can make all the difference for affected residents when it comes to salvaging property, saving money, and maintaining the best possible mental health.
Toward that end, the Waterbury Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee has created a Volunteer Corps. “The more local residents we can recruit and train, the better prepared we are for whatever Mother Nature has in store for us,” explained committee Chair John Malter.
The third and final training in a series that began in February will be held on Aug. 7 and it will focus on three areas: communication (with volunteers and affected residents), trucking (or moving heavy equipment and trash), and running (delivering food/beverages to volunteers and affected residents).
“In a flood situation, anyone can play a valuable part, and we can use a variety of skills, ages, and abilities,” Malter said. “Maybe you’re a good communicator. We can use you in a variety of roles such as case management. Maybe you have an SUV that can be used to bring an industrial dehumidifier to a home, or a truck to transport discarded material for disposal. Maybe you’ve got a car and an hour or two to spare to bring food and water to volunteers or flooded residents. This training will acquaint volunteers with various valuable roles they can play.”
Previous trainings have focused on mucking out mud and debris, case management, and administration. The training series also will be repeated, starting this fall.
The public is invited for the Aug. 7 session regardless of whether they participated in any previous trainings. The upcoming session will run from 5 to 7 p.m. in the Steele Room of the Waterbury Municipal Building. Pizza, soft drinks and dessert will be provided.
No formal registration is required, but an email to the committee at waterburyvc@gmail.com will help organizers plan for food and refreshments.
Formed after the July 2023 flooding, the Waterbury Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee is a town committee charged with preparing to respond to future natural disasters. It has created a response manual and it is building and training a volunteer corps to respond to future natural disasters.
Volunteers are being trained to assist with tasks such as removing water, mud and trash from homes, providing food, water, supplies and emotional support to affected residents, and helping make things right as quickly as possible.
The committee holds monthly public meetings in the Steele Room at the Waterbury Municipal Complex. More information is online on the committee’s page of the town website here.
Matt Dugan is a volunteer member of the Waterbury Natural Disaster Preparedness Committee.