1. Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) Overview
Friday, November 08, 2019
Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) Overview
Presented By: Kate Johnston
Prepared for the Bastrop County COAD
OneStar Foundation

2. Current Disaster Landscape
Between May October 2018, the State of Texas has received 8 Major Disaster Declarations. During this same timeframe, our nation has also been impacted by numerous catastrophic disasters.  As a result, volunteer and donor fatigue have become our new normal. 

3. Why COAD?
To help mitigate against post-disaster resource constraints, communities are encouraged to take an asset-based approach to resilience that builds upon local resources.

4. Community Assets People
Residents' skills, experiences, capacities, passions, and willingness can contribute to community strengthening.
Stories carry the memory of a community and can describe the potential of a community based on previous times as remembered by those who live there.
Associations in the community primarily run by volunteers, such as athletic clubs, faith-based groups, and others can contribute.
Economy
Economic assets include what residents produce and consume in the community, in both formal and informal ways.
Ex: local businesses, major employers, primary economic sectors (e.g., agriculture), and/or commercial centers. 

5. Community Assets Built Environment
Buildings, transportation, and facilities can contribute to community strengthening.
Ex: public spaces in the community such as schools, libraries, community centers.
Natural Environment
Environmental assets and natural resources are important to community identity and quality of life and support the economy through agriculture, tourism and recreation, and a variety of other ecosystem services, such as clean air and water. 

6. COAD Mission
To build and strengthen the capacity of local communities to prepare for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate against, the impact of disaster through the identification and engagement of community assets prior to an event.
Communication – develop channels for sharing information.
Coordination – efficiently utilize local resources without duplication of effort or benefit.
Cooperation – work together to overcome local challenges.
Collaboration – identify common goals and create shared solutions.

7. COAD/VOAD Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD)
More localized focus, such as a community or County.
Private sector partners and governmental agencies may hold membership, have voting privileges, and/or serve in leadership.
Linked by purpose and function to a VOAD.
Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
Typically cover a larger jurisdiction, such as a region or State.
Membership is typically restricted to voluntary organizations, as are voting privileges and the ability to hold office.

8. COAD Membership
COAD membership is comprised of local organizations from the nonprofit, public, private, governmental, faith-based, and/or community-based sectors.
All COAD members & partners are treated with parity, irrespective of sector or resources.

9. Examples of COAD Activities
Preparedness:
Volunteer Reception Center
Asset Mapping
Donations Management
Resource Gap Analysis
Long-Term Recovery:
Community Disaster Planning
Develop/Support LTRG
Training and Exercises
Human Services Support
Response:
Referrals
Feeding
Mitigation/Prevention:
Sheltering
Public Education
Short-Term Recovery:
Hazard & Vulnerability Assessment
Multi-Agency Resource Center

10. Examples of COAD Resources
Preparedness
Short-Term Recovery
Chamber of Commerce – Business continuity planning
Voluntary & faith-based organizations – mucking & gutting
School District – preparedness education
Thrift Store & Goodwill – management of unsolicited in-kind donations
OEM – host training for COAD
Long-Term Recovery
Response
Licensed contractors - repair, rebuild, construction management
Volunteer Center - volunteer recruitment & coordination
Social service agencies - disaster case management
Social service agencies - support human services
Small businesses – in-kind & financial donations
Restaurants & supermarkets - support feeding operations

11. Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs)
MOU - nonbinding agreement between two or more parties outlining the terms and details of an understanding, including each parties' requirements and responsibilities. 
It is beneficial for a COAD to develop MOUs with local organizations that can can offer resources and/or services, as these agreements help to effectively and efficiently streamline the provision of resources without duplication of effort and/or benefit. MOUs should be developed prior to an event.
Example: An MOU for pet boarding would outline the responsibilities between both the boarding facility and the COAD, including: type of animals, number of animals, food and water capacity, length of stay, quarantine areas, veterinarian availability, etc.