A Flemish government plan is to create local volunteer corps to support municipal authorities during emergencies like floods, heatwaves, and power outages.

Volunteers will be trained in crisis team operations, undergo annual refreshers, and obtain first-aid qualifications.

Currently, 52 volunteer corps exist, with 15 municipalities offering first-aid training and more likely to join.

The initiative targets roughly 15,000 volunteers across Flanders, funded publicly with about €1 million and backed by the Belgian Red Cross Flanders.

The Flemish Minister emphasizes that volunteers are essential and indispensable to Flemish society.