05/08/2026
🚨 VOLUNTEERS NEEDED: DISASTER DAMAGE ASSESSMENT TEAM 🚨
Help Grant County document disasters, support recovery efforts, and assist communities when they need it most.
Grant County Emergency Management is currently recruiting volunteers for our Damage Assessment Team — a specialized group that plays a critical role following tornadoes, flash flooding, severe storms, and other disasters.
As Wisconsin’s most disaster-prone county, Grant County experiences repeated impacts from flash flooding and severe weather. In the hours immediately following a disaster, one of the most important tasks is quickly determining how bad the damage is, where it occurred, and who needs help. That’s where Damage Assessment Teams come in.
📍 Information & Organizational Meeting
🗓 Thursday, May 21, 2026
🕡 6:30 PM
📍 Grant County Community Services Building
8820 US Highway 61, Lancaster, WI
Community members may attend either:
✔ In person
✔ Virtually via Zoom
🔗 Zoom Link: https://co-grant-wi-gov.zoom.us/j/82328974866...
What Does the Damage Assessment Team Do?
Following disasters, trained volunteers deploy in teams throughout affected communities to help Emergency Management rapidly assess the scope and severity of damage.
Volunteers help:
--Conduct neighborhood “windshield” and door-to-door damage assessments
--Document damaged homes, businesses, farms, and public infrastructure
--Photograph and map damaged areas
--Use the FEMA-style Survey123 mobile app to collect and transmit damage data in real time
--Help identify washed out roads, damaged bridges, culverts, utilities, and other infrastructure issues
--Support municipalities and emergency officials with accurate documentation needed for disaster declarations and recovery assistance
This information becomes the foundation for:
--State disaster assistance requests
--FEMA Individual Assistance and Public Assistance programs
--Emergency protective measures
--Infrastructure repair prioritization
--Situational awareness for local responders and decision-makers
Without accurate damage assessment data, communities can struggle to receive disaster aid and recovery resources.
What Volunteers Would Actually Be Doing
Damage Assessment volunteers are not entering dangerous structures or performing rescue work. Instead, they operate as organized field teams under the direction of Grant County Emergency Management.
Typical tasks may include:
✅ Driving or riding assigned routes in affected areas
✅ Going door-to-door to speak with residents
✅ Recording basic damage information on a smartphone or tablet
✅ Taking photographs of impacted structures and infrastructure
✅ Assisting with mapping and documentation
✅ Reporting urgent needs or hazards back to the Emergency Operations Center
✅ Helping build a countywide picture of the disaster in real time
Most assessments are completed by two-person teams for safety and efficiency.
No Prior Experience Needed
We are looking for dependable, community-minded people who want to help during disasters.
Training will be provided, including:
--Damage assessment procedures
--Use of Survey123 Damage Assessment App
--Safety and situational awareness
--FEMA damage classification basics
--Incident Command System (ICS) fundamentals
Why This Matters
After major disasters across the country, communities often say the same thing:
“The faster we could document damages, the faster help could arrive.”
Damage Assessment Teams are one of the most important — and often overlooked — parts of disaster response and recovery.
The information collected by volunteers directly influences:
--Whether disaster aid is approved
--How quickly resources are deployed
--Which areas receive priority attention
--How local governments plan recovery efforts
In many cases, volunteers help provide the first comprehensive picture of a disaster to county and state officials.
Grant County Emergency Management is building a trained, organized volunteer corps capable of supporting communities during some of their worst days. The Damage Assessment Team is only one part of the broader Grant County Emergency Management Volunteer Auxiliary. Additional opportunities will also exist in areas such as:
• Shelter and survivor support
• Emergency Operations Center support
• Logistics and supply operations
• Drone operations
• Communications support
• Firefighter Rehab
• Vehicle and equipment maintenance
📧 Questions? Contact Steve Braun
📞 608-723-7171
📧 [email protected]
Together, we can help Grant County recover faster, smarter, and stronger after disaster strikes.
