Disaster Services Unit - Overview

The Mission of the Disaster Services Unit

The Disaster Services Unit (DSU) coordinates the agency’s engagement across the disaster services continuum to include: preparedness, mitigation, response and recovery.

The DSU’s role as the central hub for all AmeriCorps and Senior Corps disaster related activities ensures that CNCS’ engagement in this area is appropriate, consistent, and coordinated.

CNCS Disaster Timeline

1994

•1st Disaster Deployment

2005

•Hurricane Katrina

2010

•BP Oil Spill

•DSU is instated

•Disaster written into the CNCS Strategic Plan Priorities

2012

•FEMA Corps Launches

2014

•A-DRT and Cadre re-launch

•Disaster Agency top priority in updated strategic plan

2015 - 2016

•Sustained Operations in Texas, Missouri and other states for Flooding and storm response

Priority Areas

• Partnerships – FEMA Corps

– American Red Cross: Fire Prevention, Project Pillow Case, etc

– Interagency Workgroups

• White House Task Forces & Committees

– PPD 8 American’s PrepareAthon

– Deepwater Horizon Presidential Task Force

– Hurricane Sandy Presidential Taks Force

– Flint Water Crisis WH Task Force

• State Service Commissions – State based partnerships

– Convening's

– Preparedness

• Senior Corps – Training and Technical Assistance

– Volunteer Reception Centers

– Intergenerational Preparedness

• CNCS Disaster Cadre

• VISTA

– Long Term Recovery Committees

• AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams – AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams are

CNCS’ elite, specialty-trained crews deployed at the request of local and federal emergency managers.

External Partnerships

Partnership with FEMA

• America’s PrepareAthon!

• Simulations/Scenarios

• Trainings/Webinars

• Advisory Committees

• State Commission Engagement with State EM

• A-DRT & Cadre Development

• Building Partnerships

Preparedness

•Emergency Support Functions (ESF)

•National Response Coordination Center (NRCC)

•A-DRT Deployments

•FEMA Corps Deployments

•Senior Corps Engagement

•VISTA Engagement

•Communications – Leadership Briefs / Agency Disaster Brief

Response

• Recovery Support Functions (RSF)

• Project development

• Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) Engagement

• VISTA Long Term Recovery Committees

• Task Forces (i.e. Flint Operations)

• Data / Reporting

Recovery

CNCS Response Incident Command

CNCS CEO

Federal Partners, Task Forces

Senior Advisor

Kelly DeGraff

CNCS Leadership Team

Operations Manager

Jen Murphy

A-DRT Programs

State Commissions/State Offices

Senior Corps, VISTA’s Local AmeriCorps

FEMA Corps Manager

Katrina French FEMA Corps

Planning and Training Manager

Chad Stover

CNCS Disaster Cadre

CNCS Disaster Resources

AmeriCorps State/National

A-DRT’s

AmeriCorps VISTA

AmeriCorps NCCC

FEMA Corps

Senior Corps State Service Commissions

CNCS Cadre

“Gray Skies” – Early Disaster Response

• Engages with:

– CNCS State Office and State Service Commission:

– VOAD (National, State, National Committees)

– FEMA

– NASEDoVoC

• Communication, Coordination, Collaboration

• Reporting

• Task Forces

“Blue Skies” – Normal Operations

• Preparedness

• Mitigation

• Develop and conduct trainings

• Manage Partnership – Partnership Building

• Close out of previous disasters

• A-DRT and Cadre Program development and management

• Committee meetings

• Taskforce work

• VOAD and FEMA After Action Reviews

• Outreach and education of disaster related national service

• Building CNCS’s reputation in disaster arena

On-Going Initiatives

• Increase Partnerships with State Emergency Management Agencies (EMA)

• State Commission Disaster Service Council

• AmeriCorps Disaster Response Teams (A-DRT’s) / Grantees

• Senior Corps: RSVP Think Tank

State Offices During a Response

• Pre Disaster

– Building a plan & building relationships partnerships (DSU, State Commissions, State EMA, etc)

• Familiarity with state programs capacity to respond

• Emergency/Disaster Event

– Safety & notification

• Communication with DSU and State EMA

• Safety of your staff & Programs

• Response

– Communication & Reporting

• Coordinate Senior Corps and VISTA response where appropriate

• Coordinate with DSU, state Commission, state OEM

• Contact local/state programs evaluate safety of members and capacity to respond

Program Engagement

VISTA and SENIOR Corps

• Manage spontaneous volunteers

• Staffed volunteer reception centers (VRCs)

• Facilitated and helped to manage spontaneous volunteers when a disaster strikes

• Donations management

• Debris removal

• Transportation support

• Supported the local Red Cross

• Meal preparation and delivery

• “Chain saw” gangs

• Surveillance of shelters; policing

• Long Term Recovery Groups

• Case Management

• Assessments

• Establish preparedness programs

• Increases organizations capacity for sheltering, feeding

• Provide case management services

• RSVP is a network of close to 500,000 individuals age 55 or over who perform a wide range of volunteer services that meet community needs.

• RSVP is one of the largest volunteer efforts in the nation.

• RSVP offers a full range of volunteer opportunities with thousands of local and national organizations.

• Unlike FGP and SCP volunteers, RSVP volunteers do not receive a stipend and can volunteer anywhere from four to forty hours per week.

• With RSVP, volunteers choose how and where they want to serve and for what amount of time.

• RSVP volunteers work in disaster response and preparedness, tutor children, help organize neighborhood watch programs, help feed the elderly and homeless, and just help community organizations operate more efficiently.

Senior Corps RSVP

Capabilities

• Preparedness education

• Accessibility improvements to homes and emergency shelters

Preparedness

• Public information outreach Mitigation

• Volunteer coordination

• Warehouse management

• Volunteer base camp setup and operation Response

• Needs assessments and case management

• Long Term Recovery Committee support Recovery

• The Valley Fire - fire burned through 76,067 acres, destroying 1,955 structures of which 1,281 were homes.

• 200 RSVP at North Coast Opportunities prepared and served food at shelters, sorted and organized donations, and distributed food and water to displaced individuals and families.

• CNCS provided grant augmentation –Volunteers are helping to build tiny homes for temporary housing, providing a hand with various fundraising efforts, assisting in the management of housing needs for other volunteers traveling to Lake County, and assisting with errands for elderly fire victims

Senior Corps RSVP

AmeriCorps VISTA

Authorized in 1964 as part of the War on Poverty; incorporated into the AmeriCorps network of programs in 1993

Designed specifically to fight poverty

People-power grants to organizations

Provides opportunities for individuals, ages 18 years and older, to engage in a year of full-time service with a sponsoring organization to create or expand programs designed to bring individuals and communities out of poverty

AmeriCorps VISTA

Core Principles:

Anti-Poverty Focus

Capacity Building

Community Empowerment

Sustainable Solutions

AmeriCorps VISTA

VISTA Member assignments often focus on the following:

Program Development

Resource Development (grant writing and fundraising)

Volunteer Generation

Outreach and Marketing

Building Partnerships and Collaborations

VISTA Members may not provide direct services to clients or perform the regular work of agency staff.

AmeriCorps VISTA

Project sponsors are not required to provide a financial match.

Sponsors must be able to direct the project, supervise the

members, and provide necessary administrative support to

complete the goals and objectives of the project.

Projects should provide:

• On-Site Orientation and Training

• Material Support-supplies

• Daily Supervision, Community Support

• On-Assignment Transportation reimbursement

• Projects may “cost share” - pay living allowance for member(s)

Application Process

Submit Concept Paper

If Approved For Development Involve Advisory Council or

Engage Community

Complete Full Application

Project Approved by State Director

Attend Supervisor Orientation

Recruit VISTA Members

VISTA Members attend Pre-Service Orientation

VISTA(s) Starts Service With On Site Orientation

How to Get Funding

Contact Your State Office:

http://www.nationalservice.gov/stateoffices

BOOTS ON THE GROUND:

Working with AmeriCorps NCCC

AmeriCorps National Civilian Community Corps

Mission:

To develop leaders and strengthen communities through team based national and community service

NCCC Structure

AmeriCorps NCCC has five regional campuses. These campuses are the hubs from which AmeriCorps NCCC operates and deploys

Members to service projects around the country.

Each campus serves as a headquarters for its multi-state region and can lodge and feed its entire

regional corps, which ranges in size from 160 to 320 members.

Atlantic Region:

CT; DC; DE; MA; MD; ME; NH; NJ; NY; PA; PR; RI; USVI; VT

Southern Region:

AL; FL; GA; KY; LA; MS; NC; SC; TN; VA; WV

North Central Region:

IA; IL; IN; MI; MN; NE; ND; OH; SD; WI

Southwest Region:

AR; AZ; CO; KS; MO; NM; OK; TX

Pacific Region:

AK; CA; HI; ID; MT; NV; OR; UT; WA; WY

Regional Campuses

NCCC Quick Facts

• Fully federally funded and administered residential direct service program

• Team-based and peer-led; teams composed of Corps Members aged 18-24; no upper age restriction for Team Leaders

• 5 residential campuses

• Enrollment typically between 1,000 and 1,200 members annually

NCCC Quick Facts

• Corps Members serve for ten months and Team Leaders for eleven

• Short-term; intensive direct service projects of approximately 6-8 weeks in length

• 70% of NCCC team time is spent off-campus in communities on “spikes”

NCCC Strengths

• Disaster Response

• Flexibility

• Strategic Support

• Force Multiplier

Issue Areas

• Disaster Services (*priority)

• Infrastructure Improvement

• Environmental Stewardship and Conservation

• Energy Conservation

• Urban and Rural Development

Mitigation & Preparedness

Community Surveying

Fuel Reduction

Community Education & Outreach

Warehouse Support

Shelter Surveying

Preparedness Kits

Training

Disaster Exercises & Drills

Response

Shelter Operations & Food Distribution

Volunteer Reception Center Support

Debris Removal

Distribution Center Support

Call Centers

DRC Support

Volunteer & Donations Management

Not First Responders

Early Recovery

Mucking & Gutting

Volunteer Reception Centers

Debris Removal

Needs Assessments

Volunteer & Donations Management

Long Term Recovery

Home Rebuilding

Community Infrastructure

Environmental Restoration

Volunteer Management

Volunteer Housing Support

Community Programming

Youth Programs

Past NCCC Project Sponsors

• Valley & Butte Fires, CA

• United Way Flint, MI

• Pine Ridge Reservation, SD

• Musselshell Valley Community Foundation

• Silver Falls State Park, OR

• Capitol Area CERT, CA

• American Red Cross, TX/WV

• FEMA

How to Get a Team

Submit a project application to the regional campus that covers the organization’s state

The campus will provide assistance in:

- completing the application

- developing a work plan

- preparing for the arrival of the NCCC team

Who can Apply for a Team

• Non-Profits

• Faith-Based Organizations

• Local Municipalities

• County Government

• State Government

• Federal Government

• Indian Tribes

• Schools

Expectations of Project Sponsors

Meaningful Project Work

Daily/Weekly Work Schedule

Site Supervision

Inclement Weather Plans

Housing

Disaster Application Process

Abbreviated application process

First step in inquiring about hosting

NCCC teams is through the Program

Office at each campus or directly

through CNCS/NCCC Headquarters

Teams can be deployed as quickly as

24 hours

Basic expectations must be met

Full year coverage

30th Anniversary National CERT Conference

CaliforniaVolunteers AmeriCorps

and

Disaster Volunteering and Preparedness

Department

September 8, 2016

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NGO Coordination

Mutual Aid

Disaster Response

Monetary

Donations

SUV

Management

Training &

Exercises

Our Disaster

Services

Priorities

Monetary Donations

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Disaster

Monetary

Donations

Strategy

Volunteer Management

Spontaneous Unaffiliated Volunteers

Affiliated Volunteers

California AmeriCorps Disaster Team In collaboration with the American Red Cross, Los Angeles Region, 20 full-time

AmeriCorps members as a deployable resource for CaliforniaVolunteers in time of

major disasters.

On deployments main duties include: support Emergency Operations Center,

Emergency Volunteer Center, and assist in coordinating efforts at Donations

site/warehouse.

In “Blue Skies,” the Disaster Corps would serve at Red Cross sites in same

capacity as CA Safe Corps

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CA Safe Corps AmeriCorps Program

• Train vulnerable populations in Preparedness Education

• Assist clients affected by local and national disasters

• Instruct CPR – FA courses to vulnerable audiences

• Recruit and mentor American Red Cross adult and youth

volunteers

AmeriCorps and the Red Cross

Cities and Areas with Red Cross AmeriCorps:

Los Angeles Sacramento

San Diego Fresno

San Jose Bakersfield

Oakland Humboldt County

Camarillo Santa Ana

How AmeriCorps Responds

No Disaster Response

Federally Declared

Emergency

State Proclaimed Emergency

Local Emergency

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No Disaster Response

• AmeriCorps program chooses not to engage in disaster

response

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Local Emergency

• AmeriCorps members can be requested by the county or

city (to the state level) and deployed to assist with

disaster response upon approval by the State

Commission.

• AmeriCorps members would perform disaster services

temporarily through their existing grant.

• A Cooperative Agreement with CNCS is not required for

this type of response

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Local Request Process

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City or County request

State Commission and Emergency Management

AmeriCorps Program Deployed

State Proclaimed Emergency

• AmeriCorps members can be deployed to assist with the

disaster response through a state level request upon

approval by the State Commission and CNCS Programs

and Grants

• AmeriCorps members would perform disaster services

temporarily through their existing grant

• Travel, lodging or per diem would be reimbursed by the

Commission or state approving the response

• A Cooperative Agreement with CNCS is not required for

this type of response

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State Request Process

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County, State Agency, or American Red Cross

State Commission and Emergency Management

AmeriCorps Program Deployed

Federally Declared Emergency

• AmeriCorps members from a program with a

Cooperative Agreement would be mobilized by CNCS in

response to a state request

• When issued a Federal Mission Assignment, their travel,

lodging, and per diem would be reimbursed through the

mission assignment and CNCS

• A Cooperative Agreement is required for every

AmeriCorps Program mobilized under a Federal Mission

Assignment

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Federal Request Process

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State Commission / CaliforniaVolunteers

Emergency Management

CNCS AmeriCorps Program Deployed

Questions?

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Contacts Suu-Va Tai

Director

Disaster Volunteering

& Preparedness

Department

CaliforniaVolunteers

Suu-va.tai@cv.ca.gov

916-650-6959

Sharron Leaon

Senior Emergency Officer

Disaster Volunteering &

Preparedness

Department

CaliforniaVolunteers

Sharron.leaon@cv.ca.gov

916-212-1523

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Eddie Aguero

AmeriCorps Specialist

AmeriCorps Unit

CaliforniaVolunteers

eddie.aguero@cv.ca.gov

(916) 322-2213

Joseph Edwards

Program Director

CA Safe Corps

American Red Cross

Los Angeles Region

joseph.edwards@redcross.org

(310) 477-1413

Contact Info

Disaster Services Unit

DSU@CNS.GOV

Disaster Service Updates

www.NationalService.gov/DSU

CA State Office

ca@cns.gov

AmeriCorps NCCC Pacific Region

NCCCPacific@cns.gov

Additional Resources

• CNCS Disaster Assets Sheet http://www.nationalservice.gov/documents/main-menu/2014/national-service-assets-times-disaster

• State Commission Guide to Disaster Services http://www.nationalservice.gov/sites/default/files/documents/disasterservices_startupguide.pdf