It has been some years since the subject of mutual aid in the event of a disaster has been discussed here. I have been investigating the plans by various volunteer communications groups, ARES, ACS, etc., for deploying operators out of their home areas. I have seen some impressive plans for recruiting, organizing, equipping, and training volunteers who can be sent as teams to requesting communities to fill gaps after a communications emergency. Although it is less and less likely that public service systems will fail, there are likely to be additional needs for communications such as between shelters and feeding centers and other NGOs. ARRL/ARES has floated a concept of Mutual Aid Teams, but this does not seem to have gotten past a proposal. But one size does not fit all so it is difficult to establish a national structure for mutual aid. State emergency managers rely on the Interstate Mutual Aid Compact to request and provide additional resources including volunteer communicators.
It occurs to me that rather than building up teams which, when deployed, only get broken up by the served agencies, why not plan to receive individual volunteers such as is done with public service events. When a marathon or back-country run comes up, the word goes out and the organizers put together a plan. Year to year these plans are recycled with new people. The same can be done, to the extent possible with a draft activation plan by an ARES or RACES group.
There could be a template where a served agency can put out the word and qualified volunteers show up. It would be up to the served agency to vet volunteers rather than an outside agency, to receive the volunteers, assign and manage them, provide accountability, and plan for demobilization. It should also be up to the served agency to provide logistical support for the volunteers. This business of "be self sufficient for three days" is laudable, but will exclude much qualified talent. Three days is basically a pickup load. The served agencies should do better than that.
It may not be necessary for each volunteer to provide a full VHF/UHF/HF station. There is usually plenty of equipment. I find it laughable when I go to an event each ham sets up his or her own station right next to another fully functional station or two.
Have any groups made plans to receive individual volunteers?