When an emergency strikes Hancock County, medical professionals and the Hancock County Health Department will need lay volunteers to support the response effort. The tasks to be performed might range from registration to walking traffic control. In Hancock County, the Health Department is looking to the volunteers with Hancock County COAD to provide the support that was formerly provided by a Medical Reserve Corps.

Indiana Department of Health has recently provided funds to the Hancock County Health Department to assist in the recruitment, training and administration of lay volunteers, including unaffiliated volunteers who respond from other parts of the state and county. Since Hancock County Health Department partners with Hancock County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) they have extended funding to the COAD to foster that recruitment, training and administration.

Hancock County COAD recently ran an exercise to test their Volunteer Reception Center response at Brandywine Community Church. If you are interested in learning more about how you can be prepared to assist your neighbors during an emergency please contact  Kate Dennis at (317)  477-1125 or Jim Peters at https://hancockcoad.org/contact-us.

Photo caption: Kate Dennis, Hancock County Health Department Public Health Emergency Preparedness Coordinator presents check to Bob Benefiel (l) and Russell Shirley (r), Hancock County COAD Board members.

Is your small business/church/non-profit/club prepared for an emergency?

Why do I need to make a plan (prepare)? What risks/threats do I face? What do I need to do?

Over 80% of small businesses close within 18 months of a disaster. Churches, service clubs and other non-profits need for their donor contributions to go toward the mission not to the cost of rebuilding after a disaster.

Thursday, August 7 you are invited to be a guest at the monthly meeting of COAD/EMA volunteers where these issues will be addressed. The meeting is from 7:00 – 8:30 PM and is held in the EOC at 640 South Franklin in Greenfield (north end of 911Dispatch building).

“The primary mission of the Long-Term Community Recovery and Mitigation Emergency Support Function (ESF #14) is to provide the resources and personnel for the long-term recovery related needs of the county before, during and after emergency or disaster events. ESF #14 coordinates the recovery and hazard mitigation efforts in an affected area and the transition from response to recovery for field operations.” Hancock County CEMP

July meeting of EMA and COAD volunteers will be July 10 at 7:00 PM at the EOC, 640 South Franklin, Greenfield.

Jane Crady, Catholic Charities, Indiana VOAD Chair and National VOAD Long Term Recovery committee member will be presenting on the Long Term Recovery process following an emergency in Hancock County.