Introducing . . . Eric DahlCoordinator, Santa Barbara VOAD and San Luis Obispo County VOADVice President, Southern California VOAD August 25, 2011
It began in 1969 with Hurricane Camille • Second strongest landfall in recorded US history. • Category 5 with winds of at least 190 miles per hour.
It began in 1969 with Hurricane Camille • 8,931 injuries • 296 deaths: 143 in Gulf states and 153 in Virginia due to catastrophic flooding • 5,662 homes destroyed, 13,915 severely damaged Responding agencies did the best they could, but . . .
Response Deficiencies • Services were not coordinated • Numerous organizations served disaster victims independently of one another, including government and the nonprofit sector. • Help came to the disaster victim haphazardly as different organizations assisted in specific ways. • Service coverage was uneven • Some efforts were duplicated, wasting precious resources. • Some needs were not met, leaving victims vulnerable.
Response Deficiencies • Volunteers were poorly utilized • Many organizations offered the same kinds of volunteer opportunities, while there was a total lack of other service opportunities, frustrating volunteers. • Training was limited or unavailable. • Information sharing was haphazard • Public information about services during and after the disaster was inadequate and "catch-as-catch-can." • Communication among voluntary disaster agencies was very limited and mechanisms for coordinating services were non-existent.
National VOAD Founded in 1970 • Seven national nonprofit organizations met on July 15, 1970, at the headquarters of the American Red Cross to address these problems and to improve coordination of national disaster responses. • American Red Cross • Christian Reformed World Relief Committee • Mennonite Disaster Service • National Disaster Relief Office of the Roman Catholic Church • Seventh-day Adventist Church • Southern Baptist Convention • St. Vincent de Paul Society • Annual meetings were held starting in 1971. • National VOAD was established in 1975.
National VOAD Today • 50 National Members
State & Territory VOADs • VOADs in all 50 states and 5 territories
Central Coast VOADs • Three VOADs on the Central Coast
Santa Barbara County VOAD • In 2007 leaders from the American Red Cross, Unity Shoppe, Foodbank, and other nonprofits active in disaster joined together to inaugurate Santa Barbara County VOAD (SBC VOAD).
Santa Barbara County VOAD • In 2008 the Aware & Prepare Initiative began funding SBC VOAD activities under Priority Theme Area # 7: Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Mission of Santa Barbara County VOAD • To promote improved outcomes for people affected by disasters • by fostering communication, cooperation, coordination, and collaboration • among nonprofit organizations, government agencies, and for-profit companies active in all phases of the disaster management cycle.
Disaster Responses • SBC VOAD was activated in response to the Tea Fire, which began on November 13, 2008. • Members collaborated on: • Food preparation and delivery • Managing in-kind donations • Long term recovery • The Long Term Recovery Committee worked for 18 months and distributed $434,447 to county residents. Tea Fire
Disaster Responses • SBC VOAD also responded to the Jesusita Fire, which began on May 5, 2009. • Activities included: • Sheltering and feeding close to 1,000 evacuees • Boarding hundreds of small and large animals • Evacuating residents from nursing care facilities • Sorting and distributing in-kind donations • Assisting residents with long term recovery Jesusita Fire
Disaster Responses • SBC VOAD members assisted residents of Guadalupe affected by flooding of the Santa Maria River on December 19, 2010 with: • Shelter • Food • Temporary housing funds Tea Fire Guadalupe Flooding
Current Membership • SBC VOAD membership now includes more than 40 organizations.
VOAD Structure • SBC VOAD has been organized according to the Incident Command System (ICS)
Achievements • Disaster Resource DirectorySearchable database of members’ disaster-related resources and services to enable the EOC to fill community needs more quickly and effectively
Achievements • Coordinated Emergency Procedures For key operational areas, including • Feeding • In-kind donations • Volunteer management • Long-term recovery
Achievements • Emergency Volunteer Centerfor managing spontaneous unaffiliated volunteers Request volunteers Agencies Receive volunteers
Achievements • Shake-Out Santa Barbara County 2010 Earthquake Recovery Exercise —65 participants, 15 organizations
Achievements • Ensuring Operational SurvivalBusiness Continuity Planning for Nonprofits—44 participants
Achievements • VOAD EOC Liaison Training ProgramBuilding capacity to coordinate VOAD resources through the EOC
Current Activities and Goals • Access and Functional Needs Steering GroupMission: to increase preparedness of people with access and functional needs who are living independently
Current Activities and Goals • Public Information KiosksMission: to improve the dissemination of useful information about disaster services to the public throughout Santa Barbara County
Current Activities and Goals • Incident-Specific Collaborative Fund Raising Mission: to provide a system for accepting donations and distributing funds . . . • For donors who want to support response and recovery efforts related to a specific disaster • That distributes 100% of the funds locally • And is administered through a transparent and collaborative decision-making process
Current Activities and Goals • In-Kind Donations Management System Mission: to manage information and donated goods so that • The community’s specific needs are quickly ascertained • Potential donors are informed about what is needed • Goods are promptly sorted and distributed to individuals in need
Current Activities and Goals • Emergency Response Planning for NonprofitsMission: to help VOAD members and other nonprofits to implement practical plans during a disaster to: • Protect staff and volunteers • Respond effectively to scaled-up client needs
Current Activities and Goals • Multi-agency disaster case management systemMission: to improve tracking and reporting of services, goods, and financial assistance provided to clients during and after a disaster
Current Activities and Goals • Shake, Rattle and Roll 2011 Earthquake Recovery ExerciseMission: to evaluate and improve communication and coordination among VOAD members and the EOC. • Emotional and Spiritual Care Steering GroupMission: to build skills among pastoral counselors, therapists, and disaster workers to improve emotional and spiritual health of people affected by disasters.
VOAD Improving Outcomes for People Affected by Disasters
