As residents and emergency management agencies along the Gulf coast assess the damage in Isaac's wake, the Mississippi Commission for Volunteer Service (MCVS), in coordination with the Mississippi Emergency Management Agency (MEMA), is assessing volunteer needs and opportunities to support recovery in Mississippi. MCVS and its valued partners are currently registering standby volunteers and managing donation requests for disaster relief throughout the state. Visit www.mcvs.org to donate your time, funds or goods.
 
Please do not try to enter disaster-stricken areas. Individuals and groups without proper credentials will be turned away until Emergency Management officials authorize volunteers for entry.
 
Isaac was a slow-moving front, affecting much of the Gulf region with heavy flooding and high winds. Response efforts span state lines and organizations: state agencies, Mississippi VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) (https://msvoad.communityos.org/cms/) and South Mississippi VOAD, state service commissions (http://www.statecommissions.org/) throughout the southeast, the Corporation for National and Community Service (http://www.nationalservice.org , Points of Light (http://www.pointsoflight.org) and its HandsOn Network (http://www.handsonnetwork.org) affiliates, and the countless faith-based and community organizations who lend their skills and time to bring relief to affected areas.
 
"Disaster relief is a cooperative effort. Federal and state emergency managers are assessing the damage so that organizations and individual volunteers can quickly and effectively respond to the individual needs of affected communities," said Susan Gregersen, MCVS Emergency Operations Manager. To maximize impact, ensure volunteers' safety and—most importantly—allow emergency response teams to do their job, physical addresses and phone numbers for Volunteer Response Centers (VRCs) will only be provided once Emergency Management officials declare the area safe for volunteers.
 
Get breaking news via social media: MCVS is on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/volunteeryall). We're also tweeting as @volunteeryall (http://www.twitter.com/volunteeryall) and posting volunteer ideas and opportunities under the hashtag #volunteeryall (http://twitter.com/#%21/search?q=%23volunteeryall).