National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Encyclopedia
The National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (National VOAD) is a coalition of the major national voluntary organizations in the United States
that have made disaster-related work a priority. NVOAD member agencies provide skilled direct services along the continuum from disaster prevention and preparation to response, recovery and mitigation.
, which hit the Gulf Coast in August, 1969.
Prior to the founding of National VOAD, numerous organizations served disaster victims independently of one another. These included both government and the private, nonprofit sector. As a result, help came to the disaster victim haphazardly as various organizations assisted in specific ways. Unnecessary duplication of effort often occurred, while at the same time, other needs were not met. People who wanted to volunteer to help their neighbors affected by disaster were often frustrated by the variety of organizations in some areas of service and the total lack of opportunities to serve other needs. Further, there was only limited availability of training for potential volunteers. Information for victims on services during disasters was woefully inadequate. Likewise, communication among voluntary disaster agencies was very limited and coordination of services was negligible. In fact, mechanisms for this were non-existent.
The seven founding organizations met on July 15, 1970 in the American Red Cross
headquarters to establish a unified response to national disasters, committing to fostering the four C’s (communication, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation) in order to better serve people impacted by disasters. In attendance were the Seventh-day Adventist Church
, Southern Baptist Convention
, Mennonite Disaster Service
, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the National Disaster Relief Office of the Roman Catholic Church and the American Red Cross
. Annual meetings were held from 1971 onwards, and National VOAD was established in 1975.
National VOAD is a leader and voice for the nonprofit organizations and volunteers that work in all phases of disaster—preparedness, response, relief, recovery, and mitigation. National VOAD is the primary point of contact for voluntary organization in the National Response Coordination Center (at FEMA headquarters) and is a signatory to the National Response Plan.
In 2010 FEMA and National VOAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each other to broaden the communication and coordination between FEMA and National VOAD’s members.
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
that have made disaster-related work a priority. NVOAD member agencies provide skilled direct services along the continuum from disaster prevention and preparation to response, recovery and mitigation.
History
National VOAD was founded in 1970 in response to the challenges many disaster organizations experienced following Hurricane CamilleHurricane Camille
Hurricane Camille was the third and strongest tropical cyclone and second hurricane during the 1969 Atlantic hurricane season. The second of three catastrophic Category 5 hurricanes to make landfall in the United States during the 20th century , which it did near the mouth of the Mississippi River...
, which hit the Gulf Coast in August, 1969.
Prior to the founding of National VOAD, numerous organizations served disaster victims independently of one another. These included both government and the private, nonprofit sector. As a result, help came to the disaster victim haphazardly as various organizations assisted in specific ways. Unnecessary duplication of effort often occurred, while at the same time, other needs were not met. People who wanted to volunteer to help their neighbors affected by disaster were often frustrated by the variety of organizations in some areas of service and the total lack of opportunities to serve other needs. Further, there was only limited availability of training for potential volunteers. Information for victims on services during disasters was woefully inadequate. Likewise, communication among voluntary disaster agencies was very limited and coordination of services was negligible. In fact, mechanisms for this were non-existent.
The seven founding organizations met on July 15, 1970 in the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
headquarters to establish a unified response to national disasters, committing to fostering the four C’s (communication, coordination, collaboration, and cooperation) in order to better serve people impacted by disasters. In attendance were the Seventh-day Adventist Church
Seventh-day Adventist Church
The Seventh-day Adventist Church is a Protestant Christian denomination distinguished by its observance of Saturday, the original seventh day of the Judeo-Christian week, as the Sabbath, and by its emphasis on the imminent second coming of Jesus Christ...
, Southern Baptist Convention
Southern Baptist Convention
The Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
, Mennonite Disaster Service
Mennonite Disaster Service
The Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network through which various groups within the Anabaptist tradition assist people affected by disasters in North America...
, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, the National Disaster Relief Office of the Roman Catholic Church and the American Red Cross
American Red Cross
The American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
. Annual meetings were held from 1971 onwards, and National VOAD was established in 1975.
National VOAD is a leader and voice for the nonprofit organizations and volunteers that work in all phases of disaster—preparedness, response, relief, recovery, and mitigation. National VOAD is the primary point of contact for voluntary organization in the National Response Coordination Center (at FEMA headquarters) and is a signatory to the National Response Plan.
In 2010 FEMA and National VOAD signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with each other to broaden the communication and coordination between FEMA and National VOAD’s members.
National members
- Adventist Community Services
- American Baptist Men
- American Radio Relay LeagueAmerican Radio Relay LeagueThe American Radio Relay League is the largest membership association of amateur radio enthusiasts in the USA. ARRL is a non-profit organization, and was founded in May 1914 by Hiram Percy Maxim of Hartford, Connecticut...
- American Red CrossAmerican Red CrossThe American Red Cross , also known as the American National Red Cross, is a volunteer-led, humanitarian organization that provides emergency assistance, disaster relief and education inside the United States. It is the designated U.S...
- Brethren Disaster Ministries
- Catholic Charities, USA
- Christian Disaster Response International
- Christian Reformed World Relief Committee
- Church World ServiceChurch World ServiceFounded in 1946, Church World Service is a cooperative ministry of 37 Christian denominations and communions in the United States, providing sustainable self-help, development, disaster relief, and refugee assistance around the world...
- Churches of Scientology Disaster Response
- City Team Ministries
- Convoy of HopeConvoy of HopeConvoy of Hope is a nonprofit organization that provides disaster relief, supply lines and outreaches to the poor and disaster-stricken in the United States and around the world. During a Convoy of Hope outreach, free groceries are distributed, job and health fairs are organized and activities for...
- Episcopal Relief and DevelopmentEpiscopal Relief and DevelopmentEpiscopal Relief & Development is the international relief and development agency of the Episcopal Church. It helps to rebuild after disasters and aims to empower people by offering lasting solutions that fight poverty, hunger and disease...
- Feeding America (Formerly America's Second Harvest)
- Feed the ChildrenFeed The ChildrenFeed The Children founded in 1979 is an international, non-profit relief organization guided by Christian values, whose stated mission is "providing hope and resources for those without life's essentials". In FY 2010, Feed The Children distributed more than 133 million pounds of food and other...
- Habitat for Humanity InternationalHabitat for Humanity InternationalHabitat For Humanity International , generally referred to as Habitat for Humanity or simply Habitat, is an international, non-governmental, non-profit organization devoted to building "simple, decent, and affordable" housing, a self-described "Christian housing ministry." The international...
- Hope Coalition America
- The Humane Society of the United States
- International Aid
- International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
- International Relief and Development
- International Relief Friendship Foundation
- Latter Day Charities
- Lutheran Disaster Response
- Mennonite Disaster ServiceMennonite Disaster ServiceThe Mennonite Disaster Service is a volunteer network through which various groups within the Anabaptist tradition assist people affected by disasters in North America...
- Mercy Medical Airlift/Angel Flight AmericaAngel FlightAngel Flight is the name used by a number of groups whose members provide free transportation for needy patients and perform other missions of community service...
- National Association of Jewish Chaplains
- National Emergency Response Teams (NERT)
- National Organization for Victim Assistance
- Nazarene Disaster Response
- Noah's WishNoah's WishNoah's Wish is a charity that rescues and takes care of animals endangered by natural disasters.The singular mission of Noah's Wish is to save animals during disasters with our rescue and recovery services and to mitigate the impact of disasters on animals through our educational outreach...
- Animal Disaster Response - Operation Blessing
- The Hands On Network
- Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
- REACT International
- The Salvation ArmyThe Salvation ArmyThe Salvation Army is a Protestant Christian church known for its thrift stores and charity work. It is an international movement that currently works in over a hundred countries....
- Samaritan’s Purse
- Save the ChildrenSave the ChildrenSave the Children is an internationally active non-governmental organization that enforces children's rights, provides relief and helps support children in developing countries...
- Society of St. Vincent de Paul
- Southern Baptist ConventionSouthern Baptist ConventionThe Southern Baptist Convention is a United States-based Christian denomination. It is the world's largest Baptist denomination and the largest Protestant body in the United States, with over 16 million members...
–North American Mission Board - Taiwan Buddhist Tzu Chi Foundation USA
- United Church of ChristUnited Church of ChristThe United Church of Christ is a mainline Protestant Christian denomination primarily in the Reformed tradition but also historically influenced by Lutheranism. The Evangelical and Reformed Church and the Congregational Christian Churches united in 1957 to form the UCC...
–Wider Church Ministries - United Jewish CommunitiesUnited Jewish CommunitiesThe Jewish Federations of North America , is an American Jewish umbrella organization representing 157 Jewish Federations and the Network of Independent Communities, 400 smaller Jewish communities across North America. The JFNA was formed from the 1999 merger of the United Jewish Appeal, the...
- United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR)
- United Way of America
- Volunteers of AmericaVolunteers of AmericaVolunteers of America, based in Alexandria, Virginia, is a national, nonprofit, faith-based human services organization providing support programs to more than two million people throughout the United States each year...
- World VisionWorld VisionWorld Vision, founded in the USA in 1950, is an evangelical relief and development organization whose stated goal is "to follow our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ in working with the poor and oppressed to promote human transformation, seek justice and bear witness to the good news of the Kingdom of...