National Dialogue on Preparedness

Nongovernmental and Volunteer Organization Preparedness : Browse Popular Ideas

What new policies and guidance would you like to see to increase the ability and interest of non- government agencies in participating in preparedness activities? What are examples of partnerships that have improved preparedness?

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  Manage non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers more effectively

  I suggest you...Promote and facilitate the use of non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers in response and recovery through the development of a standardized, Type Classified, NIMS Compliant, Volunteer Management Strike Team (VMST). The VMST would provide onsite supervision of non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers while performing appropriate accountability and maintaining safety awareness. The VMST would ...more »

  I suggest you...Promote and facilitate the use of non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers in response and recovery through the development of a standardized, Type Classified, NIMS Compliant, Volunteer Management Strike Team (VMST). The VMST would provide onsite supervision of non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers while performing appropriate accountability and maintaining safety awareness. The VMST would ensure that work performed was properly documented in order to be eligible as (FEMA) Category A or B Donated Resources during a presidentially declared incident. The VMST would provide situational awareness and a management tool of non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers to the on-scene Incident Commander.

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  3 comments for Idea: Manage non-affiliated and/or spontaneous volunteers more effectively

  Submitted by Dan Niederman 2 years ago

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  Supporting Funding for Disaster Preparedness

  Nongovernmental and Voluntary Organizations need more funds for disaster preparedness efforts, especially funds to hire staff who are fully devoted to disaster preparedness tasks! I have represented my agency at NYC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) meetings since October 2007. A lack of funds for disaster preparedness is absolutely a barrier for the NYC disaster preparedness community. We have lost some ...more »

  Nongovernmental and Voluntary Organizations need more funds for disaster preparedness efforts, especially funds to hire staff who are fully devoted to disaster preparedness tasks!

  I have represented my agency at NYC Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) meetings since October 2007. A lack of funds for disaster preparedness is absolutely a barrier for the NYC disaster preparedness community. We have lost some key players who closed their disaster preparedness programs over the past few years due in part to a lack of funding for disaster preparedness. And few NYC voluntary agencies have staff who are fully devoted to disaster preparedness tasks. For most of our agencies, disaster preparedness tasks are assigned to one staff member who is also responsible for a slew of other non-disaster-related activities. Disaster preparedness is a full time job in itself, and when juggling this work with other demands that are typically "more urgent" for the agency, disaster preparedness tasks tend to fall to the background.

  Funds will flow after a major disaster, but disaster response agencies need to be prepared, need to plan, need to collaborate PRIOR to a disaster in order to ensure for a timely, effective, efficient, and compassionate response. We need funding for fully devoted disaster preparedness staff in order to make this "best practice" a reality.

  - Julianne Pannelli, NYC

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  1 comment for Idea: Supporting Funding for Disaster Preparedness

  Submitted by Julianne Pannelli 2 years ago

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  Nongovernmental and Volunteer Organization Preparedness »

  Empowering Communities

  I suggest you make one goal to empower private and public sectors and NGOs by providing training and tools, which will enable them to conduct timely and informative outreach strategies to vulnerable populations, within our nation’s diverse communities, during all phases of emergency management. In collaboration with local, state, and tribal emergency managers, deployment of FEMA’s External Affairs Reservist and Voluntary ...more »

  I suggest you make one goal to empower private and public sectors and NGOs by providing training and tools, which will enable them to conduct timely and informative outreach strategies to vulnerable populations, within our nation’s diverse communities, during all phases of emergency management.

  In collaboration with local, state, and tribal emergency managers, deployment of FEMA’s External Affairs Reservist and Voluntary Agency Liaison Cadres and local Community Emergency Response Teams (CERT) to support local preparedness outreach strategies and empower communities.

  This FEMA/CERT team will focus on capacity and partnership building with NGOs, private sector, nonprofit organizations, grassroots organizations, elderly and children’s programs, and faith and community based organizations’ leaders. As community champions, who work within the diverse communities, these leaders can identify volunteer trainers to participate in a “Neighbor Helping Neighbor” volunteer training program, which has an accompanied tool kit. We believe this approach to community preparedness, resiliency and sustainability will help “improve our capability to prepare for, protect against, respond to, recover from, and mitigate all hazards”. (FEMA mission statement)

  These trained volunteers will encourage and enlist the help of area residents to ensure everyone is aware about the importance of preparedness.

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  1 comment for Idea: Empowering Communities

  Submitted by Dr. Jacqueline McBride 2 years ago

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  Nongovernmental and Volunteer Organization Preparedness »

  Coordination And Planning Between States

  Encourage coordination and planning activities for hospitals in counties who border counties in other states. Many small hospitals are a few miles from statelines and may be closer to hospitals in the bordering state than they are in their own state.

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  Submitted by May Cramer 2 years ago

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  Churches-Underutilized Preparedness Resources

  Many Church buildings have had the Civil Defense Logo attached to the edifices for years. Previous generations in government saw churches as integral to the process of Homeland Security/Civil Defense. Why aren't we utilizing Pastors and church members in specialized training for emergencies? They are the places communities reach out to or go to in times of trouble. Studies show that clergy and churches are seen as "shelter ...more »

  Many Church buildings have had the Civil Defense Logo attached to the edifices for years. Previous generations in government saw churches as integral to the process of Homeland Security/Civil Defense. Why aren't we utilizing Pastors and church members in specialized training for emergencies? They are the places communities reach out to or go to in times of trouble. Studies show that clergy and churches are seen as "shelter in times of a storm", but they are woefully unprepared. PREPARE THEM! Regardless of the type of facility from cathedral to 'storefront' each one can be trained to provide specific services from triage to shelter, from inflatable dinghies in the cellar to safety gear and life jackets stored under the pews. Conduct an assessment of our national church facility resources and let's be serious about truly being a prepared nation.

  Pastors and religious leaders can be trained at local, state and national denominational meetings . They are held on regular schedules. Many have divisions or units for preparedness, but they are not stressed or mandatory. Local ministerial alliances or professional bodies often meet weekly in many towns and cities-mandate training!

  Rev. Anita Burson, New York City

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  Submitted by Rev. Burson 2 years ago

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  Suggestions

  I suggest you make more webinars they are convient.

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  Submitted by wxdude225 2 years ago

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