Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
such as the Corporation for National and Community Service and the National
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD), provide personnel to sup-
port a variety of mass care and sheltering operations.
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Support to Unaffiliated Volunteers and Unsolicited Donations.
Use
of unaffiliated volunteers and unsolicited donations during the immediate
aftermath of a disaster can present some daunting challenges. There are risks
associated with deploying spontaneous volunteers, particular those in profes-
sional positions such as doctors and nurses. Likewise, lack of chain of custody
of unsolicited donations presents risks especially as it relates to medications
and perishable products. Local, tribal, and state officials should establish
proactive mechanisms for managing spontaneous volunteers and unsolicited
donations. FEMA also has resources such as the Donations Management
Unit to support management of volunteers and donated goods. Procedures,
processes, and activities to support spontaneous volunteers and unsolicited
donations are defined in the Volunteer and Donations Management Support
Annex.
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Voluntary Agency Coordination.
As all emergencies start and end at the
local level, proactive planning with local volunteer organizations, NGOs,
faith-based organizations, and the private sector can provide valuable and
validated resources to support citizens during a time of need. FEMA VALs
can support coordination with VOLAGs affiliated with NVOAD, other
NGOs, and private-sector entities to support ESF-6 operations.
The services described above are supported at the federal level by FEMA, HHS,
USDA, ARC, DOD, and other support agencies to support expedited emergency
service and to establish a long-term recovery strategy to address the unmet needs of
all individuals and families.
Housing
Once the immediate mass care and emergency assistance services are established
and an initial roadmap to recovery begins to form, support for housing can begin.
Although local resources are critical to support housing needs, substantial federal
resources, managed by FEMA and other federal agencies, are available as identified
in the National Disaster Housing Strategy, which defines the full scope of options
for disaster housing assistance:
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Temporary Roof Repair
—Expedited repairs to damaged roofs on private
homes allows residents to return to and remain in their own homes while
performing permanent repairs.
◾
Repair Program
—Financial assistance is available to homeowners for repair
of their primary residence, utilities, and residential infrastructure.
