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1.1. The local counterpart to the state and National The local counterpart to the state and National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). (NVOAD).

2.2. AA humanitarian association of independent humanitarian association of independent voluntary organizations who may be active in all voluntary organizations who may be active in all phases of the emergency management cycle. phases of the emergency management cycle.

– PreparednessPreparedness

– ResponseResponse

– RecoveryRecovery

– MitigationMitigation

Disaster

What Is A VOAD?

Emergency Management

Cycle

1.1. Foster efficient, streamlined service delivery to Foster efficient, streamlined service delivery to disaster victims.disaster victims.

2.2. Eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort Eliminate unnecessary duplication of effort through cooperation in the four phases of the through cooperation in the four phases of the emergency management cycle. emergency management cycle.

VOAD Mission

The basis for meetings and other VOAD-type activities are The basis for meetings and other VOAD-type activities are related to the characteristics and quality of collaboration related to the characteristics and quality of collaboration among voluntary organizations following a disaster and not to among voluntary organizations following a disaster and not to direct services to disaster victims. direct services to disaster victims.

It is not a competing or exclusionary organization. It is not a competing or exclusionary organization.

Coordination Vs. Operation

Each member organization maintains its own identity and Each member organization maintains its own identity and independence while closely collaborating with other member independence while closely collaborating with other member organizations, interfaiths, and local, state, or federal organizations, interfaiths, and local, state, or federal authorities. authorities.

It is intended to be a network for organizations active in It is intended to be a network for organizations active in disaster. disaster.

VOAD Activities

The main activities of a VOAD fall into four categories:

Planning

VOADs identify the primary resources of their member organizations and determine roles members will fill in time of disaster.

Training

VOADs sponsor or facilitate the training of members and their organizations for effective activity in all phases of the emergency management cycle.

VOAD Activities (Cont.)

ConveningWhen a disaster occurs in their area, VOADs usually convene to share information concerning the disaster and their plans for response. State and local VOADs work together during large disasters.

PartneringVOADs enter partnerships with government emergency management agencies to facilitate communication and coordination.

The Four Cs

o o p e r a t i o n

o m m u n i c a t i o n

o o r d i n a t i o n

o l l a b o r a t i o n

C

CCC

Cooperation

VOADs fVOADs foster cooperation among member oster cooperation among member organizations at all levels and in all phases of the organizations at all levels and in all phases of the emergency management cycle.emergency management cycle.

Voluntary agencies rely on each other. No one Voluntary agencies rely on each other. No one member organization has all the answers for all the member organization has all the answers for all the challenges faced during disasters. challenges faced during disasters.

Voluntary agencies treat each other Voluntary agencies treat each other as partners. as partners.

Communication

VOADs exchange and disseminate information among VOADs exchange and disseminate information among member organizations and the public, as well as local, state member organizations and the public, as well as local, state and federal agencies. and federal agencies.

Member organizations share information regularly about their Member organizations share information regularly about their capacities, accomplishments, limitations, and commitments.capacities, accomplishments, limitations, and commitments.

Members develop and maintain effective channels for collecting and sharing information, and deal openly with concerns.

Coordination

VOADs VOADs coordinate the development of policies and coordinate the development of policies and procedures, and the implementation of services among procedures, and the implementation of services among member organizations. member organizations.

Member organizations commit to working together, not Member organizations commit to working together, not competitively, toward the goal of effective service to disaster competitively, toward the goal of effective service to disaster victims. victims.

ThroughThrough careful planning and preparation member careful planning and preparation member organizations operate in a coordinated fashion in time of organizations operate in a coordinated fashion in time of disaster. disaster.

Collaboration

Member organizations work together at disaster Member organizations work together at disaster sites to sites to achieve specific goals and to accomplish achieve specific goals and to accomplish projects. projects.

Partnerships are formed during the disaster Partnerships are formed during the disaster response. response.

Voluntary agencies are usually one of the first to Voluntary agencies are usually one of the first to arrive and respond at a disasterarrive and respond at a disaster scene. scene.

Since agencies are community-based, they are able Since agencies are community-based, they are able to mobilizeto mobilize quickly and provide immediate quickly and provide immediate emergency response activities such as feeding, emergency response activities such as feeding, sheltering, and clothing victims. sheltering, and clothing victims.

Voluntary Agencies

First To Arrive, Last To Leave

Voluntary agencies are almost always on the scene Voluntary agencies are almost always on the scene prior to a Presidential declaration and often provide prior to a Presidential declaration and often provide their services when a Presidential declaration is not their services when a Presidential declaration is not needed.needed.

Have knowledge and awareness about the local community and its Have knowledge and awareness about the local community and its unique unique circumstances and sensitivities; circumstances and sensitivities;

Have volunteers who are qualified to address the unique needs of Have volunteers who are qualified to address the unique needs of the affected the affected community; community;

Voluntary Agencies (Cont.)

Trusted by the Public

Have staff and volunteers who are representative of the diverse Have staff and volunteers who are representative of the diverse populations in the community;populations in the community;

Voluntary agencies are trusted for the following reasons:

Are considered “good stewards” of resources and donations; andAre considered “good stewards” of resources and donations; and

Are skilled listeners and respect the privacy of confidential Are skilled listeners and respect the privacy of confidential information such as immigration , family, and mental health information such as immigration , family, and mental health issues.issues.

VOADs seek the expertise of the local and state emergency VOADs seek the expertise of the local and state emergency management agency for understanding how disaster response management agency for understanding how disaster response works and for training. works and for training.

VOADs invite representatives of such agencies to be liaisons VOADs invite representatives of such agencies to be liaisons between the VOAD and the agencies. between the VOAD and the agencies.

Relationships to Governmental Organizations

VOADs establish close working relationships with their local VOADs establish close working relationships with their local emergency management agency.emergency management agency.

Independent Study Course

IS-288 The Role of Voluntary Agencies in Emergency Management

http://training.fema.gov/EMIWeb/IS/