The Triad Responds

Learning from Katrina: A Blueprint for Future Disasters

OCTOBER 2007 - International Association of Disaster Management -

Report lauds local Katrina response

WEDNESDAY, OCT. 18, 2006 3:00 AM - GREENSBORO — The local response to Hurricane Katrina evacuees avoided problems that occurred in other cities and was able to "bend and flex" to meet evacuees' needs, according to a report released Tuesday. Read more at the Greensboro New and Record link.

Time Line for Katrina Response in Guilford County

September 2nd - Initial Meeting convened by Ron Campbell of the Guilford County office of Emergency Management mainly with other government agencies:
- Guilford County Emergency Services
- Greensboro Fire Department
- Greensboro Police Department
- High Point Fire Department
- High Point Police Department
- Guilford County Manager’s Office
- American Red Cross (Greensboro)
- United Way of Greater Greensboro

September 3rd - Set up of Coliseum and GTCC Aviation Center at Airport to receive plane with arriving evacuees.

September 4th thru 8th - Waiting for Plane to arrive

September 10th - Call came in to Ron Campbell from the State that NO planes were coming. Red Cross (Susan Smith) alerted Guilford County Office of Emergency Management (Ron) that evacuees were arriving via their own transportation.

September 11th - Took everything down @ the airport and Coliseum

September 12th or 13th - Unmet needs committee met (Ron Campbell, Sam Parker, Susan Smith and Neil Belenky)

September 15th - Initial meeting @ United Way of 40+ agencies w/ 60+ people

September 16th - Planning for the GCRC (Guilford Crisis Resolution Council)

September 27th - 29th - Guilford County Evacuee Resource Center came online.

The first Guilford County Evacuee Resource Center was coordinated by Guilford County Emergency Management and hosted by the members and staff at Christ United Methodist Church at 410 North Holden Road in Greensboro.

Guilford Crisis Resolution Council Formed

The work is never complete. The original group of volunteers and agencies that came together to help the Katrina and Rita survivors have now join together to form the Guilford Crisis Resolution Council. The group will keep  doing its' coordination job for the Katrina Evacuees and be available in the future for other community level crises.  It may also move towards helping and training others to create the same model to strengthen community efforts to solve problems such as "Homelessness." This group of dedicated volunteers will meet every Wednesday at the United Way offices in Greensboro to discuss and make plans to be prepared for future disasters and how to help in our local community.

United Way of Greater Greensboro - Lessons Learned from Katrina

• As a community, seize the moment! Don't hesitate if others need help.

• Pull together everyone: Public Sector (DSS, Mental Health, Public Health, Schools, etc.), private non profits (United Way, Red Cross, Volunteer Centers, Lutheran Family Services, Family Services of the Piedmont, etc.), faith community leaders and organizations (The Pulpit Forum, FaithAction), private concerned citizens

• Treat every person with kindness and dignity!

• Make plans around what the person or family needs, not just what you think you have to offer!

• Do not let bureaucracy get in the way of getting the job done...respect the process, but get what is needed for the families and individuals!

• Know and understand who are the experts in certain areas (Lutheran Family Services in Resettlement Issues, FaithAction in development of Care Teams, Volunteer Center for skill with placing and using volunteers, Joblinks for Jobs, Red Cross for disaster emergency needs, the United Way for its leadership, resource development, and convening expertise)

• Put away all turfism and territorialism and focus on the Problem and Solutions

• Revalidate behaviors: Change strategies if the Crisis Changes (at one point we thought 200 people were coming by plane to our coliseum, the next thing we knew was that no plane, but over 800 people got here in other ways)

• Stay focused on the ultimate goals

• Use the media to help communicate the needs, including setting up a website such as ncdisasteraid.org

We did have three days at a Resource site that was provided by the Christ Methodist Church on Holden Road. Everyone came together and over 500 Katrina evacuees came through to sign up for services and to see FEMA officials. Also we put together a resource guide that still is available on the website NCDISASTERAID.ORG. It really tells a story.

The following agencies and non-profit organizations were at the Resource Center:

FEMA
The Red Cross
United Way of Greensboro
The Volunteer Center of Greensboro
Greensboro Housing Authorities
The Greensboro Housing Coalition
The Guilford Center
Lutheran Family Services
Faith Action
Guilford County Health Department
Guilford County Social Services
Guilford County Schools
Guilford Child Development
NC JobLink
American Job Core
Internal Revenue Service
NC Employment Security Commission
US Postal Service
Sickle Cell Anemia Association

In the News - February 15, 2006

Agencies, congregations team up. Crisis group focuses on collaboration to address critital issues. Read the entire store at http://philanthropyjournal.org/lu.cfm?lu=2578

Nicky Smith given honor of Volunteer of the Week

February 12, 2006 - Nicky Smith is honored as Volunteer of the Week by the Volunteer Center of Greensboro a United Way Agency. Read the entire story at http://www.carolinanet.com/volunteer_of_the_week.html. If you'd like to register as a volunteer for future emergencies, call The Volunteer Center of Greensboro, 373-1633.

As seen on WFMY News 2 on Monday, February 12th you can watch the story at at this link WFMY News 2 Volunteer of the Week Nicky Smith.

Hurricane Evacuee Resource Center a Success for all

The first Evacuee Resource Center opened in Greensboro a few weeks and was a big success. We saw more than 300 individuals and families. The following agencies and non-profit organizations were are the Resource Center: FEMA, The Red Cross, Greensboro and High Point Housing Authorities, The Greensboro Housing Coalition, The Guilford Center, Lutheran Family Services, Faith Action, Guilford County Health Department, Guilford County Social Services, Guilford County Schools, Guilford Child Development, NC JobLink, NC Employment Security Commission, HUD, IRS, US Postal Service, and others. The Disaster Resource Center was a one-stop center for families to meet face-to-face with the agencies that can help then the most. Read and view the news and more at:

FOX8 News: http://www.ncdisasteraid.org/media/fox8news.small.mov
WXII News 12: http://www.wxii12.com/video/5027599/detail.html

QuickTime may be required to view the above video clip

To receive Email Announcements: Send your email to announcements@ncdisasteraid.org with the word 'subscribe' in the subject heading.

You can make a difference!

As caring community we need to be very aware of these survivors and their needs.

1) If you know of a victim of the Gulf Coast disaster make sure that have first registered with their local Red Cross offices and FEMA. Print the updated United Way Resource Guide at this link: http://www.ncdisasteraid.org/docs/United_Way_Resource_Guide.pdf

2) Encourage others to keep informed of relief donations and projects in your community by visiting our local relief projects page.

3) Please forward this web site and email to your friends and encourage them to visit our web site www.ncdisasteraid.org and become a volunteer to offer assistance to our neighbors in need.

4) Most important, keep yourself and others informed. You may know of someone who can help in small or large situations. If you know others that would like to receive this informative email have them send an email to announcements@ncdisasteraid.org with the word 'subscribe' in the subject heading.

Why Our Site is Here

The people of our community are compassionate and willing to assist others when a disaster such as Hurricane Katrina strikes. Triad residents have generous hearts and willing hands. All we need to know is how and when we can offer our assistance during this time of crisis. We hope that this site will help you connect your desire to help with the many service opportunities that are already present and will certainly arise in the coming days and weeks.

NCDISASTERAID.ORG, Inc. is a non-profit corporation with the purpose to provide timely information to individuals and agencies via the internet. This organization is made up 100% of volunteers in the community that have an interest in keeping others informed of news, events and how they can help others.

*This site will be updated frequently. Check back for new information and ways you can help.