PARKERSBURG — Local agencies are seeking residents with a desire to help in Mid-Ohio Valley emergency events with a volunteer drive event Wednesday.

With the recent industrial fire at the Peoples Cartage warehouse, responding nonprofits have joined forces to become better prepared for future events. After hundreds of Wood County and surrounding area residents showed a willingness to help out in some way, area agencies are joining forces to hold a one-stop shop for people to become familiar with emergency response activities and register as volunteers, said Sydney Weber, director of the Center on Market.

The event will be held at the Center on Market, also known as the Wood County Resiliency Center, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. Wednesday.

It quickly became apparent during the recent warehouse fire that local volunteer fire departments needed access to more trained volunteers.

“We noticed that there was an all-out call for help from surrounding counties to back fill where the original responders needed a break,” Weber said. “We have been hearing for some time that volunteer fire departments are suffering from lack of trained personnel.

“So, we thought we’d offer the community a chance to learn more and perhaps decide to volunteer.”

Because of the weekend involvement of area nonprofit agencies providing supportive emergency services, it was decided to include four other groups.

“We’ve asked Mid-Ohio Valley Health Department, American Red Cross, United Way and the Salvation Army to join our local volunteer fire departments and add to their volunteer base”, Weber said.

Weber explained that residents can quickly become part of the solution when emergencies strike if they are already connected and trained by local responders before any event occurs.

“We recognize there is much we can learn from this fire and how people can help,” she said. “The better organized we are, the more manageable the event becomes.

“And there will always be space for those that want to help.”

For more information on this event, email sweber@woodcountywv.com.