When disaster strikes, especially in or around our area, we may ask ourselves what we can do to help

Disaster Relief News & Information

American Red Cr= oss Disaster Action Team (DAT)

The Volunteer Disaster Action Team (DAT) members assist local people who have been affected by disasters such as a single fa= mily fire, with their emergency needs. After evaluation of the extent of damage, a DAT member may provide assistance to replace essential items such= as food, clothing, shoes and medical supplies that are lost or destroyed in the disaster. In addition, where a home is uninhabitable, short term acco= mmodation may be offered.

Volunteer DAT members respond to disasters on a 24-hour= a day basis, seven days a week. Men’s Fraternity of Wakulla in conjunction with Volunteer Wakulla in cooperation with the American Red Cro= ss (ARC) is currently recruiting new volunteers from Wakulla to serve the local area. ARC offers free training.

For more specific information= call 850-878-6080 ext 122 or go to www.tallyredcross.= org/disaster_svcs.html

Disaster Preparedness, Relief & Recovery

In conjunction with Volunteer WAKULLA Disaster Relief & Recovery we = were able to deliver sandbags to several families that were unable to go and get them and disburse them themselves. In addition we were able to cut up trees, remove debris, make minor short term roof repairs, provide transportation for some displaced citizens, assess needs and deliver Salvat= ion Army ‘clean up kits’ to area residences that were effected by rising water.

There were a few glitche= s on our part but we learned from our mistakes. This was a first for us and= we were so glad it was not a ‘hurricane disaster’ as we would not = have been prepared. Men's Fraternity of Wakulla in conjunction with Volunteer Wakulla Disaster Relief & Recovery is currently seeking volunteers who could assist during pre & post disaster situations. Assistance may be anywhere from transportation to clean up= of homes, including removal of carpet, furniture, and other items affected including roof tarping and minor repairs.&= nbsp; Volunteers would be working in conjunction with the Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Florida Baptist Disaster Relief and other agencies as needed. (for security, safety = and protection, necessary applications are required). <= span style=3D'color:maroon'>If you are or will be able to assist in this effort now or in the future PLEASE contact us via e-mail: vol.wakulla.disaster.r.r= @gmail.com , or telephone (850-508-2560). For an application to volunteer for Disa= ster Relief & Recovery click here http://www.volunteerwakulla.org/FORMS/Disaster= _Volunteer_Enrollment_Form.pdf

When disaster strikes, especially in or around our area, we may ask ourselves wh= at we can do to help. Donations = are helpful... but many people feel the need to physically do something.

Eyewitness News Reporter Liza Park explains how you can = lend a helping hand. When a tornado struck the community of Chaires-Capitola back in March... the victims needed help... and quick. Local Government Emergency Management agencies went into action as did the Red Cross... but a group fr= om the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Team, this one made up of members from Celebration Baptist Church, also came to the immediate aid of the torn= ado victims. Eddie Potter with the Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Program says, “(within = this organization) ‘We have more than 5,000 trained volunteer= s in food service, clean up and recovery with chain saws and carpentry (skills). We have a child care facili= ty. (for volunteers & staff family members wh= ile serving)= "….

click here

What about COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster)

In a major emergency, community organizatio= ns and businesses that are willing to help are asked to participate in a coordinat= ed response. Until a formal structure is in place, Volunt= eerLEON will serve as COAD Coordinator at the EOC and will communicate and coordina= te with COAD organizations to identify and respond to community needs. Organizations not involved in COAD will be directed to the appropriate lead organization or to the COAD Coordinator. Recruitment of COAD members takes place on an ongoing basis.

All COAD and other community organizations that become involved in disaster response and recovery operations will maintain their au= tonomy .

"We just wanted to bring an umbrella organization s= o we're really clear and coordinated and communicate more effectively and efficiently," says Jeri Bush, VolunteerLEON Director. Part of that efficiency means avoiding confusion, duplication of services and making a b= ad situation worse. "What you can have too many of is agencies or organizations that self-deploy and aren't coordinated and become part of the problem as opposed to part of the solution," explains Richard Smit= h, Leon County's Director of Emergency Management. However, organizations that provid= e some form of disaster relief or would like to provide coordinated help in times = of need are encouraged to join Community Organizations Ac= tive in Disaster or COAD for short. Organizers are welcoming businesses, faith-based groups, civic and service groups and individuals.

What is a COAD and why become involved?

When people hear of a disaster that has str= uck a community, many feel the need to reach out to those affected. It will be the mission of the Big Bend COAD to bring together organizations that provide h= uman services and volunteer services to create a coordinated response to urgent human needs caused by disaster. Membership consists of any organization (community, faith-based, non-profit, private and public= ) active in any phase of emergency management. If you would like more information on how you or your group can join CO-AD, you can call Volunteer Leon at 850-606-1970.

Through collaborations, Big Bend COAD membe= rs seek to minimize duplication of services. Also, through cooperation they identify and advocate for the closure of gaps in local, state, and federal disaster relief programs. By getting involved with the Big Bend COAD your organization can improve its effectiveness in serving people in need in tim= es of disaster.

Volunteer Reception Center

The Volunteer Reception Center is a support team of trained volunteers that are needed to be on "standby" in the event that = VolunteerLEON activates the "Volunteer Reception Center." The support team is responsible for making sure that the center is operational and can be of positive assistance during the emergency. VolunteerLEO= N is continuously seeking volunteers who:

● Are able to work i= n a crisis situation?
● Can work as part of a team?
● May have a background in customer service, counseling or facilities management, etc...
● Serve in various roles such as greeters, runners, interviewers, pho= ne bank operators, safety trainers, etc...

Click here to sign up to volunteer for the Volunteer Reception Center.

TRAINED DISASTER RELIEF TEAM= S NEEDED

Hurricane Season= is right here at us…This is something that affects all of us in the coun= ty, we never know

who or where disaster might strike and we all need to be prepared to respond to an emergency situation = when it happens. Being prepared not only means food & water, but how &= amp; what to do “safely” to get things back to ‘normal’ as soon as possible. Emergency Management Officials now require all volunteers to be credentialed by an organization like Florida Baptist Disaster Relief before they are allowed to work in a disaster response= area. Florida Baptist Disaster Relief Training is designed to meet those requirem= ents and prepare volunteers to do effective ministry when called upon. Und= er certain conditions, a mandatory evacuation may be enacted which could inclu= de the entire county. Only ‘Credentialed (Trained) = Volunteers’ would be allowed to remain or = enter into an area effected.

Training includes: Mass Feeding, Clean up & Recovery, Temporary Childcare, Emergency Communications, Spiritual Care &am= p; Water Purification.

First Time Volunteers Registration Fee $25.00 (participants receive a= DR shirt & hat, ID badge, training material, instruction and lunch)

Returning Volunteers Registration Fee $10.00

Quick FAQs

Who should attend this training?

(1) Anyone who wants to = become a new volunteer in the Florida Baptist Disaster Ministry

(2) Any previously train= ed volunteer who wants additional training or needs to retrain. (Volunteers must retrain every 3 years)

Why do I have to be train= ed to be a volunteer?

Emergency Management Off= icials now require all volunteers to be credentialed by an organization like ours before they are allowed to work in a disaster response area. Our training is designed to meet requirements and prepare volunteers to do effective minist= ry when called upon.

How do I register?

There is no pre-registra= tion. Register at the event site between 8:30 AM & 9:00 AM the day of the eve= nt.

Why is there a fee to att= end?

The cost of training a n= ew volunteer is more than $40. The fee is to help us offset some of the costs. Participants will receive DR shirt & hat, ID badge, training material, instruction and lunch for attending.

What about lunch?<= /b>

Lunch is prepared by tra= ined feeding volunteers on one of our feeding units at the event. The cost of the is included in the registration fee.

Why isn’t there an = event closer to me?

The training season can = only be done between March and June because we have to

ready to respond to our most = likely disaster, hurricanes, between July –October. With a limited number of weekends available, have to do regional events.

Our goal is to have at l= east 1 event within a 2 1/2 hour drive for volunteers to attend. We move sites to different associations from year to year within specific regions.

For more information go to: http://www.flbaptist.org/evangelism/disas= ter_relief.htmwith

For information or que= stions on joining a Disaster Relief Team in Wakulla County con= tact MensFraternityofWa= kulla@byHISgrace.cc or call 850-508-2560

For Further Informatio= n or questions on Florida Disaster Relief Training OR building a Disaster Relief Unit, contact the Disaster Relief & Recovery Department, 1-800-226-8584 ext. 3121 = OR e-mail disaster@flbaptist.org

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