DISASTER SERVICES UPDATE 11/1/12

Having trouble viewing this email? View it as a Web page.
Disaster Brief Banner
 

DISASTER SERVICES UPDATE 11/1/12


The Corporation for National and Community Service has deployed national service members and staff to the Hurricane Sandy anticipated impact regions.  Below is a synopsis as of 10:00 a.m. on Thursday, November 1, 2012.

  • IN TOTAL, more than 765 national service members have deployed and are serving in disaster-affected communities, and more than 915 national service members are on standby for possible deployment.
  • 320 AmeriCorps and Senior Corps members are assisting with shelter operations and other response activities.
  • 445 FEMA Corps have deployed or are being re-routed to New York and New Jersey to support FEMA Emergency Response operations in storm-impacted communities.

STATE SERVICE COMMISSIONS

Commissions in the region activated for disaster response by reaching out to volunteers, asking them to pre-register to volunteer; distributing newsletters to volunteers and AmeriCorps State programs informing them on how to be safe and how to volunteer; and Commission staff along the Atlantic coast are monitoring the weather, volunteer registration, and volunteer requests.  

Serve Rhode Island Update
October 29, 2012 
Serve Rhode Island has begun outreach and pre-registering volunteers to support recovery operations on their website.  Commission staff remains available, working off-site.  

Volunteer New Hampshire Update
October 29, 2012 
Volunteer New Hampshire has been activated as part of the State Emergency Operations Plan to oversee the management of volunteers and donations.  Volunteer NH has called on programs including NH Disaster Animal Response Team (DART), Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), national service programs (AmeriCorps, VISTA, and Senior Corps) and CERT teams to be on standby with volunteer rosters prepared.

NEW  American Red Cross Preparedness and Response Corps
October 31, 2012  
9 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations, mass care, and Emergency Response Vehicle operations in New York, New Jersey, and Pennsylvania. 

CONNECTICUT

BRIDGEPORT, CT
NEW  AmeriCorps NCCC - Atlantic Region 
October 31, 2012  
18 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

MARYLAND

BALTIMORE, MD
NEW  AmeriCorps Together We Prepare Program
October 28, 2012 
9 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations, mass care, and Emergency Vehicle Response operations.

NEW JERESEY

AmeriCorps State
October 27, 2012 
30 members have deployed under the direction and authority of the New Jersey State Administration to assist with ESF 6 functions including shelter operations and mass care. Some members have been assigned to assist at the Joint Field Office.

NEW  AmeriCorps Together We Prepare Program
October 31, 2012   
5 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations and mass care.

BRUNSWICK, NJ
NEW  Washington Service Corps
October 31, 2012   
1 member has deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

NORTH BRUNSWICK, NJ
NEW  AmeriCorps NCCC - Atlantic Region
October 31, 2012   
60 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

PRINCETON, NJ
NEW  Washington Service Corps
October 31, 2012   
1 member has deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations. 

TRENTON, NJ
NEW  AmeriCorps NCCC - Atlantic Region
October 31, 2012   
16 members have deployed to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations

PRINCETON AND TINTON FALLS, NJ
AmeriCorps NCCC - Atlantic Region
October 27, 2012   
16 members deployed on October 28 to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

NEW YORK

NEW YORK, NY
NEW  Washington Conservation Corps
October 31, 2012   
48 members have deployed under FEMA Mission Assignment to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

NEW  AmeriCorps St. Louis
October 31, 2012   
15 members have deployed under FEMA Mission Assignment to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.

WHITE PLAINS, NY
NEW  Washington Service Corps
October 31, 2012   
1 member has deployed to support the American Red Cross with feeding and shelter operations.

ALBANY, NY
AmeriCorps NCCC - Southern Region
October 27, 2012   
16 members deployed on October 28 to support the American Red Cross with shelter operations.  This team is expected to be deployed for up to three weeks.

RHODE ISLAND

PROVIDENCE, RI
AmeriCorps NCCC - Atlantic Region
October 31, 2012   
20 members have deployed to support the Rhode Island Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) with 211 Call Center support.  

BRISTOL AND NEWPORT COUNTIES
RSVP
October 29, 2012   
15 RSVP volunteers (approx.) are providing shelter operations support at the Bristol, Barrington, and Tiverton Shelters.

Eastbay Community Action AmeriCorps Program 
October 29, 2012   
20 members (approx.) are supporting the United Way 211 Call Center and shelter operations at the Barrington shelter.

NEW DISASTER EVENTS

For information on new disaster events, please visit FEMA’s daily situation report at: http://www.fema.gov/emergency/reports/index.shtm

RESOURCES

How to Volunteer or Donate to Hurricane Sandy Response Efforts

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD) has posted information on how individuals can give of their time or resources to those affected by the storm.  For more information, please visit: http://www.nvoad.org/help

American Red Cross Disaster Relief - Become an American Red Cross Spontaneous Volunteer by contacting Leslie R. Fletcher, Director of Volunteer Administration, at leslie.fletcher@redcross.org or (215) 405-8558 or (267) 246-4521.

Blood donations are needed not only because of the injuries caused by the powerful storm but also because 100 blood drives on the East Coast have been cancelled in 11 states. All blood types are needed right now. For more information on how to donate, go to redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-REDCROSS.

Salvation Army - The Salvation Army recommends having a three- to five-day supply of food and water for each member of your family as well as flashlights, medication, and battery-powered radios. It's never too early to make sure you (and your neighbors, friends, and family) are prepared for the next snowstorm or natural disaster.

Those interested in volunteering should register at www.disaster.salvationarmyusa.org. Please note that disaster service training is a prerequisite for volunteering in a disaster zone and not all registered volunteers will be called on to serve.

Philabundance – While it’s not guaranteed that your donation will go directly to a Hurricane Sandy victim, the Philadelphia nonprofit is currently facing a critical food shortage. You can donate to the organization at www.philabundance.org.

Jersey Cares – Anyone who wants to volunteer in NJ can call 1-800-JERSEY7.

Visit www.SERVEPhiladelphia.com and/or www.facebook.com/SERVEPhiladelphia on a regular basis for the latest opportunities to support neighbors in need!

Disaster Distress Helpline 1-800-985-5990

The Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, year-round crisis counseling and support.  The Helpline is staffed by trained counselors from a network of crisis call centers located across the United States, all of whom provide:

  • Crisis counseling for those who are in emotional distress related to any natural or human-caused disaster
  • Information on how to recognize distress and its effects on individuals and families 
  • Tips for healthy coping
  • Disaster-specific resources and referral information.

If you would like to learn more about how you can assist communities affected by disaster, visit www.serve.gov. If you would like to learn more about how to prepare your family and/or community, please visit www.ready.gov.