The Role of National Service in Disaster Response

SouthwestNational Service Training Conference July 24-25, 2013 Denver, CO

Four Phases of Disaster

RESPONSE Activities to provide emergency assistance to victims of the event and reduce the likelihood of secondary damage

RECOVERY Short-term recovery returns vital life support systems to minimum operating standards. Long-term recovery returns area to normal or near-normal conditions
PREPAREDNESS Planning how to respond to a disaster and increasing resources available to respond effectively MITIGATION Activities that prevent, eliminate or reduce the effects of a disaster

Roles That National Service Has Played

AmeriCorps members worked Call Center at State EOC Coordinated NCCC placements NCCC worked shelters, mucking out homes, rebuilding homes Senior Corps, RSVP works with American Red Cross in disaster, helps with disaster mock trainings, trains seniors to make disaster kits and other preparedness activities Senior Corps, RSVP serves on State Citizen Corps Council, also part of Parish (County) Mounted CERT Search and Rescue RSVP serve in Volunteers in Police Service (VIPS) All Senior Corps programs work in shelters RSVP runs animal shelters VISTA Summer of Service 2007, 2008 Gulf Response VISTAs

American YouthWorks Charter High School & Training / Service Programs Texas Conservation Corps
Service Learning Academy Charter High School

Texas Conservation Corps Program

Casa Verde Builders

Youth High School Crews Youth Summer Crews Conservation Field Crews Texas Parks and Wildlife Trails Crews Emergency Response Crews Internship / Single Placement AmeriCorps Positions

Disaster Response Statement of Work

Sample Disaster Response Statement of Work:
Support activities in the following areas: Shelter; feeding; donations and volunteer management; warehousing; nonhazardous disaster debris removal for elderly, low-income, and special needs populations; tarping; chain saw work (for qualified crews); call centers; volunteer base camp needs assessment; assist with case management; and, long-term recovery committee work.

Hurricane Rita 2005 Orange, Texas

Hurricane Katrina 2006, 2007 New Orleans, Louisiana

Seco Creek Flood 2007 DHanis, Texas

Hurricane Ike 2008 Baytown, Texas

10

EF-5 Tornado, Joplin, Missouri 2011

11

Bastrop Complex Wildfire 2011 Bastrop, Texas

12

Hurricane Isaac 2012 Baton Rouge and LaPlace, Louisiana

13

Hurricane Sandy 2013 New York and New Jersey

14

Disaster Preparedness

Things to Consider ..
Who do you want to reach? How do you want to reach them? What resources do you need? What resources are available?

Volunteer Job Description Examples

Disaster Preparedness Presenter Disaster Preparedness Management Liaison Disaster Preparedness Administrative Assistant Disaster Preparedness Educational Assistant

Volunteer Recruitment
Volunteer Match Idealist.org Recreation Centers Volunteer Fairs Neighborhood Associations Veterans

Program Evaluation
Follow-up Surveys Volunteer Retention Continued Trainings

Decision Points
What role do you want to play? Does it fit within your mission/ service delivery model? What resources do you need to meet this role? Are there community resources you can partner with, leverage?

Connections
Local COAD/VOAD State VOAD Local Office of Emergency Preparedness State Commission Local/Regional Volunteer Centers Other National Service Providers CNCS Disaster Services Unit

Questions?