Disaster Response

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From FEMA's -- A CITIZEN’S GUIDE TO DISASTER ASSISTANCE
The following agencies often play such a major role in disasters that a brief description is in order.

The Adventist Community Services (ACS) receives, processes, and distributes clothing, bedding, and food products. in major disasters, the agency brings in mobile distribution units filled with bedding and packaged clothing that is pre-sorted according to size, age, and gender. ACS also provides emergency food and counseling and participates in the cooperative disaster child care program.

The American Radio Relay League, Inc. (ARRL) is a national volunteer organization of licensed radio amateurs in the United States. ARRL-sponsored Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) provide volunteer radio communications services to Federal, State, county, and local governments, as well as to voluntary agencies. Members volunteer not only their services but also their privately owned radio communications equipment.

The American Red Cross is required by Congressional charter to undertake disaster relief activities to ease the suffering caused by a disaster. Emergency assistance includes fixed/mobile feeding stations, shelter, cleaning supplies, comfort kits, first aid, blood and blood products, food, clothing, emergency transportation, rent, home repairs, household items, and medical supplies.
Additional assistance for long-term recovery may be provided when other relief assistance and/or personal resources are not adequate to meet disaster-caused needs. The American Red Cross provides referrals to the government and other agencies providing disaster assistance.

The Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team (AMURT) renders immediate medical care, food and clothing distribution, stress management, and community and social services. AMURT also provides long-term development assistance and sustainable economic programs to help disaster-affected people.
AMURT depends primarily on full- and part-time volunteer help, and has a large volunteer base to draw on worldwide. AMURT provides and encourages disaster services training in conjunction with other relief agencies like the American Red Cross.

Brethren Disaster Ministries, provides volunteers to clean up debris and to repair or rebuild homes for disaster survivors who lack sufficient resources to hire a contractor or other paid labor. Working with long term recovery committees, the volunteers stay until the work is done. The presence of these volunteer work teams helps to ease the trauma that is felt in the aftermath of a disaster. Brethren Disaster Ministries .

The Catholic Charities USA Disaster Response is the organization that unites the social services agencies operated by most of the 175 Catholic dioceses in the
United States. The Disaster Response section of Catholic Charities USA provides assistance to communities in addressing the crisis and recovery needs of local families. Catholic Charities agencies emphasize ongoing and long-term recovery services for individuals and families, including temporary housing assistance for low income families, counseling programs for children and the elderly, and special counceling for disaster relief workers.

Children's Disaster Services
(CDS) provides childcare in shelters and disaster assistance centers by training and certifying volunteers to respond to traumatized children with a calm, safe and reassuring presence. CDS provides respite for caregivers as well as individualized consultation and education about their child's unique needs after a disaster. CDS creates a more favorable work environment for the staff and volunteers of their
partner agencies. Through consultation or workshops specifically tailored to each situation, CDS works with parents, community agencies, schools or others to help them understand and meet the special needs of children during or after a disaster.

The Christian Disaster Response (CDR) worked in cooperation with the American Red Cross, the Salvation Army, Church World Service Disaster
Response, and NOVAD to enable local church members to become effective volunteers for assignment on national disasters. CDR provides disaster assessments, fixed/mobile feeding facilities, and in-kind disaster relief supplies.
CDR also coordinates and stockpiles the collection of donated goods through their regional centers throughout the U.S.

The Christian Reformed World Relief Committee (CRWRC) has the overall aim
of assisting churches in the disaster-affected community to respond to the needs of persons within that community. CRWRC provides advocacy services to assist disaster victims in finding permanent, long-term solutions to their disaster-related problems, as well as housing repair and construction, needs assessment, clean-up, child care, and other recovery services.

The Church World Service (CWS) Disaster Response assists disaster survivors through partner organizations in the U.S. and worldwide on behalf of its 35 member communionsplus affiliated agencies. CWS deploys Emergency Response Specialists who (1) coordinate andconduct training to assue that its partners can carry on effective long-term recovery efforts when disasters strike and (2) work with its partners in developing and implementing projects that addressunmet needs of vulnerable populations.

The Episcopal Church Presiding Bishop’s Fund for World Relief responds to domestic disasters principally through its network of nearly 100 U.S. dioceses and over 8,200 parishes. It also sends immediate relief grants for such basics as food, water, medical assistance, and financial aid within the first 90 days following a disaster. Ongoing recovery activities are provided through rehabilitation grants, which offer the means to rebuild, replant ruined crops, and counsel those in trauma. The Episcopal Church works primarily through Church World Service in providing its disaster-related services.

The Friends Disaster Service (FDS) provides clean-up and rebuilding assistance to the elderly, disabled, low income, or uninsured survivors of disasters. It also provides an outlet for Christian service to Friends’ volunteers, with an emphasis on love and caring. In most cases, FDS is unable to provide building materials and, therefore, looks to other NVOAD member agencies for these materials.

The International Association of Jewish Vocational Services (IAJVS) is an affiliation of 26 U.S., Canadian, and Israeli Jewish Employment and Vocational and Family Services agencies that provides a broad spectrum of training and employment initiatives needed in disaster. Some of these specific services include vocational evaluation, career counseling, skills training, and job placement. In addition to providing vocational services, IAJVS is also involved in problems of drug and alcohol abuse programs for the homeless, specialized services for welfare recipients, and workshops for disabled individuals.

The International Relief Friendship Foundation (IRFF) has the fundamental goal of assisting agencies involved in responding to the needs of a community after disaster strikes. When a disaster hits, IRFF mobilizes a volunteer group from universities, businesses, youth groups, women’s organizations, and religious groups. IRFF also provides direct support and emergency services immediately following a disaster such as blankets, food, clothing, and relief kits.

The Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) provides for immediate disaster response, in both natural and technological disasters, long-term rebuilding efforts, and support for preparedness planning through synods, districts, and social ministry organizations. The disasters to which LDR responds are those in which needs outstrip available local resources. LDR provides for the coordination of 6,000 volunteers annually. In addition, LDR provides crisis counseling, support groups, mental health assistance, and pastoral care through its accredited social service agencies.

Mennonite Disaster Services assists disaster victims by providing volunteer
personnel to clean up and remove debris from damaged and destroyed homes
and personal property and to repair or rebuild homes. Special emphasis is
placed on assisting those less able to help themselves, such as the elderly and
handicapped.

The National Emergency Response Team (NERT) meets the basic human needs
of shelter, food, and clothing during times of crisis and disaster. NERT provides
Emergency Mobile Trailer units (EMTUs), which are self-contained, modest
living units for up to 8-10 people, to places where disaster occurs. When
EMTUs are not in use, they serve as mobile teaching units used in Emergency
Preparedness programs in communities.

The National Organization for Victim Assistance provides social and mental
health services for individuals and families who experience major trauma after
disaster, including critical incident debriefings.

The Nazarene Disaster Response provides clean-up and rebuilding assistance,
especially to the elderly, disabled, widowed, and those least able to help
themselves. In addition, a National Crisis Counseling Coordinator works into
the recovery phase by assisting with the emotional needs of disaster victims.

The Northwest Medical Teams International supports the lead voluntary
agencies responding to disaster situations by enlisting volunteers as needed to
the stricken areas and sending money and supplies for cleaning and
reconstruction.

The Phoenix Society for Burn Survivors provides social services and emotional
support for individuals who experience major burn injuries, as well as their
families. Three-hundred area coordinators throughout the U.S. give their time to
support burn survivors and their families on a volunteer basis. All are burn
survivors themselves or parents of a burned child.

The Points of Light Foundation coordinates spontaneous, unaffiliated
volunteers and meets the needs of the local community and other disaster
response agencies through its affiliated network of local Volunteer Centers.

The Presbyterian Disaster Assistance works primarily through Church World
Service in providing volunteers to serve as disaster consultants and funding for
local recovery projects that meet certain guidelines. This agency also provides
trained volunteers who participate in the Cooperative Disaster Child Care
program. On a local level, many Presbyterians provide volunteer labor and
material assistance.

The REACT International provides emergency communication facilities for
other agencies through its national network of Citizens Band radio operators
and volunteer teams. REACT teams are encouraged to become part of their
local disaster preparedness plan. Furthermore, they are encouraged to take first
aid training and to become proficient in communications in time of disaster.

The Salvation Army provides emergency assistance including mass and mobile
feeding, temporary shelter, counseling, missing person services, medical
assistance, and distribution of donated goods including food, clothing, and
household items. It also provides referrals to government and private agencies
for special services.

The Second Harvest National Network of Food Banks collects, transports,
warehouses, and distributes donated food and grocery products for other
agencies involved in both feeding operations and the distribution of relief
supplies through its national network of food banks. Second Harvest also
processes food products collected in food drives by communities wishing to
help another disaster-affected community. Second Harvest develops, certifies,
and supports their food banks; serves as a liaison between the food banks and
the donors; and educates the public about the problems and solutions of hunger.

The Society of St. Vincent De Paul provides social services to individuals and
families, and collects and distributes donated goods. It operates retail stores,
homeless shelters, and feeding facilities that are similar to those run by the
Salvation Army. The stores’ merchandise can be made available to disaster
victims. Warehousing facilities are used for storing and sorting donated
merchandise during the emergency period.

The Southern Baptist Disaster Relief provides more than 200 mobile feeding
units staffed by volunteers who can prepare and distribute thousands of meals a
day. Active in providing disaster childcare, the agency has several mobile
childcare units. Southern Baptists also assist with clean-up activities, temporary
repairs, reconstruction, counseling, and bilingual services.

The UJA Federations of North America organizes direct assistance, such as
financial and social services, to Jewish and general communities in the U.S.
following disaster. It also provides rebuilding services to neighborhoods and
enters into long-term recovery partnerships with residents.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief provides funding for local units in
response and recovery projects based on the needs of each situation. This
agency also provides spiritual and emotional care to disaster victims and long-term
care of children impacted by disaster.

The United States Service Command provides trained corps of volunteers to
voluntary and governmental agencies during disaster.

The Volunteers in Technical Assistance provides telecommunications and
management information systems support to the emergency management
community.

The Volunteers of America is involved in initial response services aimed at
meeting the critical needs of disaster victims, such as making trucks available
for transporting victims and supplies to designated shelters. It also collects and
distributes donated goods and provides mental health care for survivors of
disaster.

The World Vision trains and mobilizes community-based volunteers in major
response and recovery activities; provides consultant services to local
unaffiliated churches and Christian charities involved in locally-designed
recovery projects; and collects, manages, and organizes community-based
distribution for donated goods.