How are MRCs across the U.S. similar, and how are they different?
The units are all the same in that they adhere to the basic principals of the national organization: response to disasters in their community, through medical volunteers who have been trained in advance. They are different because each unit is entitled to operate in the best way for its unique situation. The climate, geography, number and composition of volunteers, sources of hazards, and many other aspects can vary wildly from one region to another. (For example, the issues faced by units in Alaska are entirely different from those in New York City or the U.S. Virgin Islands.) Therefore, it is vital for participants to structure and train their units according to local needs. Because there can be such a difference between individual units, the answers to the remaining questions pertain specifically to the Upper Merrimack Valley MRC. Other units may handle things differently.
