Disaster Relief/COAD VolunteerUnited Way of Madison County and Disaster Relief
A crisis disrupts the building blocks of a good life: education, income and health. Disaster work is
foundational to United Way of Madison County's goal of mobilizing the caring power of communities
to advance the common good
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We are part of the community -- there long before catastrophe strikes, and long after first
responders have moved on. At United Way, we know that one’s fate is tied to the fate of
others and that all of society benefits from improvements in quality of life. Our success at
preparing for, responding to and recovering from disasters underpins our goals in
education, income and health.
Would you help your community if a disaster occured?
When asked this question, most people answer "Yes". But when asked a serious question like
"Do you want to become a disaster assistance volunteer?", the answer is different. Many people
are intimidated by the idea of becoming a disaster relief volunteer. However, these same people
would not hesitate to help their community when disaster strikes. The reality is a disaster relief
volunteer is a person who helps their community in the event of a disaster with one difference.
Training.
When you become a trained disaster relief volunteer you become a better volunteer. The skills
you learn, as well as, the skills you bring with you are used to their full potential.
More disaster relief volunteers are needed to prepare our community. We cannot sit back and
assume that we are exempt from a disaster. In Madison County, you can help with many different
organizations from United Way to the American Red Cross, through local churches, or with our
local COAD.
What is a COAD?
- COAD =Community Organizations Active in Disaster
A COAD is an umbrella organization that exists to bring together stakeholders interested in building
better prepapred and more resilient communities. COADs do not provide direct services, but
provide a network through which individual organizations can more effectively address their
mission and service goals during all four phases of disasters. COADs may help communities plan
for disasters and/or provide community education. COAD members maintain their autonomy while
working to reduce duplication of services and other inefficiencies that occur during times of disaster.
In our community- The Madison County COAD is focused on volunteer coordination, case
management, donations management, education, advocacy, spiritual care, mass care,
mental health, information and referral, funding, and organizing a structure for long-term recovery.
If you or your organization want to learn more about the Madison County COAD, contact Kim
Rogers-Hatfield, United Way of Madison County, 765-608-3067, rsvp@unitedwaymadisonco.org.
History of COAD- In June of 2008, following a number of disastrous floods through the state,
Lilly Endowment created a $50,000,000 fund to assist Hoosiers who have suffered in those events.
$45,000,000 of that fund has been administered by Indiana Association of United Ways (IaUW)
COAD Documents:
MADISON COUNTY COAD PARTNERS
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