Hancock County COAD

FEMA Releases New Training for Community-Based Organizations Attention all Community-Based Organizations (CBOs)! In support of National Preparedness Month, FEMA recently released a new preparedness training to help you better prepare for disasters. Organizations Preparing for Emergency Needs (OPEN) is designed for CBOs, including small businesses and nonprofits that support their local communities. Please consider taking this new and engaging course and watch this video to learn more. You can also join FEMA on Thursday, September 17, 2020, at 1:00 p.m. ET to discuss the new OPEN training, and how it will help CBOs prepare for incidents and continue providing services after a disaster. To register, click here. According to the American Red Cross, 94 percent of small business owners believe a disaster could affect their business within the next two years. Disasters provide CBOs with unique challenges. For example, what happens when childcare centers and food banks are unable to reopen after a disaster occurs? With this valuable training, CBOs are empowered to prepare for disasters and continue to provide vital community services during times of need. OPEN training will help you: -Learn 10 actions you can take to keep your organization operating in the event of a disaster; -Create a path forward to develop a disaster response plan; -Ensure the safety of workers and individuals; and -Stay strong in the face of all emergencies, including a pandemic. FEMA’s 2018-2022 Strategic Plan commits to training CBOs and non-profits to help them continue providing services after a disaster. These entities include, but are not limited to, faith-based organizations, food banks, childcare centers, shelters, and small businesses. They serve to strengthen their communities and provide help in “blue-sky” days and during emergencies, when need for their services may surge. FEMA realizes that when CBOs are unable to operate during a disaster or emergency, the people who rely on them are left at risk. This can cause those affected by a disaster to be even more deeply impacted. OPEN allows CBOs to prepare for emergencies and continue serving their communities.

The OPEN training offers individual and group learning. It includes a web-based, self-guided training as well as an instructor kit available for download. These tools guide participants on how to identify risks, locate resources, and take preparedness actions. With the COVID-19 pandemic still impacting our communities, the training includes information that will help organizations navigate this and future pandemics. The training teaches 10 preparedness actions that can improve an organization’s resilience. Are you the owner of a small business? Do you operate a volunteer organization or nonprofit that provides essential services to your community? Do you have a plan in place to continue working should a disaster affect your operations? How will your supply chain be affected by a disaster? Ensure you remain “OPEN” for business even after an emergency occurs.For more information on OPEN and to take the training, please visit www.ready.gov/open-training.

Annual Meeting
Thursday, September 24, 3:30 PM
EOC 640 South Franklin Rd, Greenfield

[We will practice health guidelines that are in place at the time. We will also have virtual capability for those who wish to participate from home or office. You will need to contact me if you want to take advantage of this virtual connection and I will forward the instructions.]

Agenda:
Financial report
Status report
    Warming Center update
     Salesforce / Communications
Board election
Consideration of by-law change
Other business from the floor

If you are interested in running for a position on the Board or one of the Officer positions, please let me know.  Please pass the word around the community.

At least since the beginning of the Hancock County COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disaster) there have been those cautioning organizations and individuals to prepare for a host of threats. And in reality those voices were present long before the COAD was formed. Those of us making those pleas were often looked at like wacko’s, conspiracy theorists.

One of the list of threats was PANDEMIC. Why, then, were our organizations so ill-prepared for what we are going through? I just listened to a radio commentator discussing the impact of not doing college football this fall. All involved appear to be making it up as they go along. Why are they not just carrying out a pre-arranged plan? What about your family and organizations where you have a position of leadership?

I hear folks in Iowa saying “We had no warning that the derecho storm was coming. We didn’t have time to get supplied up and ready for long term loss of power. I don’t want to pile on to those who are suffering but I am sure there have been voices for years telling them to ALWAYS BE PREPARED for sever weather (and other threats).

Let’s use this mess to learn a lesson. There are other threats on the list that demand preparation, What about earthquakes? Yes they can happen in the Midwest. What about electromagnetic interference with communications? How would you do if your cell phone and credit cards were worthless pieces of plastic?

Don’t get caught unprepared again. We have resources available.

Hancock County COAD

https://hancockcoad.org