What Volunteers Mean to Emergency Management Budgets

On July 4, 2025, flash floods inundated Kerr County, Texas, and the surrounding area. That flood event killed at least 135 people, of whom 37 were children. Disasters like that one place a spotlight on the vulnerability of small communities and the need to reevaluate their preparedness for and ability to manage large-scale emergencies. It also places a focus on available resources that could be activated at a moment’s notice and not affect a municipal budget—such as volunteers.

Following the devastating floods in Texas, over 13,000 volunteers signed up to help Kerr County provide much-needed skills and resources. Those volunteers—some with specialized expertise and others who just wanted to help—brought their own equipment, devoted their time, shared their abilities, and contributed money that the town, county, and state did not have to budget for. Many volunteers were trained experts and assisted in search and rescue, communications (ham radio), debris removal, and much more. Approximately 45 members of the Kendall Amateur Radio Club donated their time and equipment to the flood efforts. They were on the air 24 hours a day assisting with search and rescue communication activities.

The monetary value of the services that volunteers provided and the hours they donated is immeasurable. If a government entity had to provide compensation, it could possibly even bankrupt its budget. According to a 2023 study done by  Independent Sector, a recognized nonprofit in the volunteer world, the national average value of each volunteer hour is $33.49. At that rate, the value of 13,000 volunteers donating hundreds of hours adds up extremely fast.

Best Practices in One Texas County

Fannin County is in northeast Texas and has a population of less than 36,000 residents, most of whom reside within the city limits of Bonham, the county seat. In a recent Fannin County Judge Newt Cunningham, he indicated that “volunteers are an available resource that is key to our public wellbeing, safety, and future development.” According to him, the “annual county budget covers just the basics, and doesn’t go far, so volunteers help fill the gaps when and where possible.” 

One such area is the county’s emergency management office, headed by Troy Hudson, who is also the county’s fire marshal and director of the Fannin County Search and Rescue Task Force, which was developed in 2022, during the construction of the new 16,000-acre Bois D’Arc Creek Reservoir. After reviewing the budgets of the two local and county law enforcement agencies surrounding the new lake, as well as the new responsibilities being added, two cities (Bonham and Honey Grove) that surround the new lake indicated that they did not have the extra money to accommodate the new responsibilities of “Search and Rescue.” So, out of necessity, the Fannin County Search and Rescue Team was formed, using volunteers from the local amateur radio club, the county’s Community Emergency Response Team, and residents from within the county. To date, members of the team have volunteered more than 1,200 hours of their time for training and missing persons missions.   At an average of $33.49 per hour, these volunteers have saved the county more than $40,000 in training and field time costs since its inception. In addition, they pay for their own equipment, vehicle fuel, and travel time to help their community.  

The Fannin County Office of Emergency Management uses several volunteer groups to meet needs that the county budget does not cover, such as the Fannin County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES), a member of the American Radio Relay League (ARRL). Since its formation in 1935, ARES has provided emergency communication services to groups such as the American Red Cross, the Civil Air Patrol, Boy Scouts of America, and the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA).

2025 wildfires in Colorado, Oklahoma, and Texas are a testament to the value of volunteers and how they can make a difference. Ham radio operators assisted in livestock and property checks throughout the areas and radioed that information back to emergency management coordinators allowing them to make an accurate assessment of damage. Church groups in Texas donated and shipped hundreds of hay bales to aid farmers and ranchers feed their animals. These are just a few instances where volunteers filled the gaps for needed resources, decreasing the burden on affected citizens but also on local government budgets,

Nationwide Networks of Volunteers

Volunteerism in America has deep roots, including the founding of the American Red Cross in 1881. Volunteers come from all backgrounds, skills, and experiences. Some volunteers informally give their time to neighborhood projects such as National Night Out, church activities like “Trunk or Treat” nights, and school functions involving their children’s activities. Other volunteers serve in a more formal capacity, such as reserve law enforcement officers and volunteer firefighters or ham radio operators who donate time to augment communication needs during an emergency.

Many specialized volunteers, such as those involved in emergency management, must take and pass specific courses offered by FEMA,  which are designed to teach distinct aspects of helping during emergencies. Most of these courses are free to the public and can be completed online, which allows individuals to go at their own pace and complete applicable requirements before volunteering their time. Although requirements may vary by jurisdiction and discipline, other volunteers, such as those in law enforcement, fire, and emergency medical services, may be required to attend the same schools and meet the same requirements as their paid counterparts (and sometimes at their own expense).

Volunteers in all their forms come with many valuable skills, able to assist their communities when needed and contribute thousands of hours, which equate to millions of dollars of value. Rural counties with smaller budgets across the country are learning just how valuable volunteers can be.

However, being a volunteer, depending on the task, can be expensive and time-consuming. Physical and mental aspects of volunteering need to be taken into consideration as well. Potential volunteers should do some research to find out what is involved and need to include family members in these decisions because they will be affected by the time away, any financial cost involved, and physical or mental effects caused by volunteering.

Government agencies needing volunteers can access databases from specialized groups. For emergency communication services, they can contact ARRL or ARES. For response volunteers, they can contact local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT). More information may be found at the local library, local governments, or other organizations in the community.

Agencies seeking volunteers should have clear expectations, accessible training, and a positive infrastructure to support their volunteers. With a passion to serve, volunteers can fulfill local emergency response needs while easing budget constraints that many organizations face during a crisis.