Coordination aids relief and recovery in disasters

 

As the Federal Emergency Management, city and county Disaster Assistance Center, and other immediate coordinated emergency response efforts by congregations, faith and nonprofit groups begin to shift to long-term recovery efforts, faith-based and nonprofit organizations have organizations set to carry on the long-term recovery mode.

Those include Washington State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (WA VOAD), United in Crisis-Greater Spokane.

Faith and nonprofit organizations also connect with the Washington Volunteers Organizations Active in Disasters (WA VOAD) to help groups work collaboratively in the long term, after media headlines cease to keep concerns in front of people and when the tedious work of rebuilding and recovery continue.

It is one tool for the long-term response to a disaster like the recent wildfires, some still burning in the Cascades, west of Tonasket, near Yakima, on the Colville Confederated and Spokane Reservations, and in the Spokane Complex.

Ray Sherjven, WA VOAD representative for Lutheran Disaster Response, invited ELCA Bishop Meggan Manlove to a statewide Zoom meeting of the WA VOAD. The present WA VOAD President Christie Merrill asked members, including county and tribal participants, to name their needs. A request for hay for livestock was met by one group.

Each agency shared what resources and expertise they bring—help with childcare, food and hazardous material gear (PPEs) for people in burned areas.

VOAD members were referred to a website on urban fires, washington.postfire.org set up by organizations to share learnings from wildfires in Los Angeles two years ago.

WA VOAD's 39 organizations operate under four C's: cooperating, collaborating, communicating and coordinating, said Marty Grisham, past president of WAVOAD.

Marty was emergency manager for the City of Tukwila Fire Department before becoming involved with the WA VOAD. He also works with The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints Charities.

Christie, who also serves on the American Red Cross Board of Northwest Washington, came to the Spokane Disaster Assistance Center on Aug. 6 to share about emotional and spiritual resources. She told Marty she's been receiving phone calls and offers from around the Pacific Northwest.

Organizations in WA VOAD include the national and state Catholic Charities, Lutheran Disaster Response, the Episcopal Church, Disciples of Christ, United Church of Christ, Latter-day Saints, Mennonite, Church of the Brethren, United Methodist churches and Adventist Community Services, The Salvation Army, and Buddhist, Sikh, Jewish, Muslim and other interfaith groups, as well as nonprofits such as the American Red Cross, Second Harvest of the Inland Northwest, United Ways of the Pacific Northwest and more.

"We have conference calls in which everyone participates. If a specific need arises, organizations say they will take care of that," said Marty. "It's easier because everybody's at the same table at the same time, enhancing and not cross purposing or duplicating efforts."

There may be 50 to 80 at those meetings, said Marty.

Government partners see VOAD as a resource for unmet needs. For example, Second Harvest had almost run out of their supply of water. The Latter-day Saints Charities had a warehouse with water and sent a truck with 20 pallets.

"We coordinate and work together for the better of the whole," Marty said. "We connected people to provide hay for livestock, personal protective equipment and air purifiers, and to receive donations for people who lost everything."

While media focus was on Spokane, WA VOAD also was responding to fires in Okanogan, Stevens, Yakima and other counties, diverting resources from the abundance going to Spokane.

"We ask people to not empty their old clothes from closets because it can be a problem for emergency management teams, such as the Red Cross or Salvation Army to manage too many donations of used clothes," Marty said. "We tell people to contact their local religious community and participate through them."

"It's humbling and restores my faith in humanity to see all the different people helping," said Marty

For information visit wavoad.org or facebook.com/voadwa.

United in Crisis-Greater Spokane is an alliance of local churches and volunteers helping individuals and families prepare for, respond to and recover from community crises. It is supported by United in Crisis, a global nonprofit training organization that unites and equips churches to form local crisis-response networks to address the emotional, spiritual and physical needs of those affected by crises.

It opened a disaster assistance center to serve individuals and families affected by the Spokane fires the third week in August at Family of Faith Community Church, 1504 W. Grace Ave.

Trained volunteers from churches provide emotional and spiritual care, emergency financial assistance and other disaster-relief services.

"Recovery continues long after the immediate crisis," said Daniel Geraci, CEO of United in Crisis. "By bringing churches and volunteers together, we help survivors address immediate challenges and know they will not have to navigate the recovery process alone."

United in Crisis-Greater Spokane is preparing to support survivors through its Crisis Relief Shepherd Program that pairs volunteers with individuals and families for support through recovery.

Volunteers help survivors address emotional, spiritual, physical and practical needs and connect them with resources, providing long-term relationships families need as they rebuild.

United in Crisis-Greater Spokane churches are receiving donations for gift cards for essential needs, emergency housing, emergency transportation, building materials and other recovery assistance.

It has 17 years of experience developing, mobilizing and training church networks to meet needs.

For information, call 512-825-8211, or email daniel@unitedincrisis.org.