North Carolina Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

(NCVOAD)

Minutes of January 17, 2012 Quarterly Meeting

  1. Welcome
    The meeting was called to order by president George Strunk at 1:12 p.m.
  2. Introductions
    Individuals in attendance introduced themselves. See the sing-in sheets for attendees.
  3. Minutes of previous meeting
    Dianne Waddell corrected the minutes to state that President Obama has nominated Wendy Spencer to the position of CEO of CNCS. Mike Patterson moved approval of the minutes as amended. Motion carried.
  4. Treasurer’s report
    John Taggart reported
    Balance on 10/18/2011 $9135.41
    Expense-Domain name renewal ( 69.03)
    Balance on 1/17/2012 9066.38
  5. FEMA Update
    Ken Skalitzky gave the FEMA update. Hurricane Irene (DR-4019) operations continue. They are concentrating on people in Temporary Housing Units (THUs). North Carolina is part of a FEMA Phase II pilot program which includes all survivors receiving more than $6000 in FEMA assistance. The program has arranged $1 million in SBA loans and $3 million in FEMA grants beyond what would otherwise have been distributed.
    There are 180 occupied THUs. (These have gone to fewer than 180 families; some families have more than one unit.) These units must be vacated by March 31, prior to flood season.
    The National Disaster Recovery Framework (similar to the National Disaster Response Framework we previously reviewed) has been published (130 pages) and is available on the internet. There will be a workshop in Memphis on March 8 to review it. All are invited to attend. The framework defines a Federal Recovery Coordinator and six Recovery Support Functions. (There isn’t a specific support function for volunteers; their roles are distributed across the six functions.)
    Ken will be participating in Donations Management exercises from now until July.
  6. NCEMA Update
    Emily Young welcomed us to the new Emergency Operations Center. They are working the current disasters from the new building to check it out.
    Emily announced that Deborah Miller is retiring effective Friday, January 20. Her interim replacement is Carole Ingram.
    SBA and state declarations have been issued for the recent tornados. An SBA declaration is required in order to get a grant.
  7. NCVOAD Update
    George Strunk commended Deborah for her work. NCEM was activated within an hour after the tornados struck. The Red Cross, Salvation Army, NC Baptist Men, and Samaritan’s Purse were activated.
    The Irene recovery efforts continue. NCEM is participating in the Phase II Outreach with FEMA and are currently transferring cases to the LTROs. Joan Parente will speak further on the Phase II effort.
  8. Updates from Membership
    Cliff Harvell, North Carolina Conference-United Methodist Church, reported that four operations are underway: Manteo-Dare County+ Outer Banks, Swan Quarter, Aurora, and Vandermere+Pamlico County LTRO. Volunteer housing and a volunteer coordinator have been placed in each of these locations. Case managers have been hired for Swan Quarter and Aurora. Lots of projects are underway. A Needs Assessment was conducted in Beaufort County in partnership with the CRWRC. 3400 families were contacted, resulting in 200 open cases. CRWRC will establish a long-term recovery camp. In keeping with their standard mode of operation, 18-20 workers will be present for three week terms. The team leaders will arrive early or stay late, the overlap serving to provide continuity. A second camp may be established in Beaufort. The Friends and Harvest Connection are assisting this effort and Harvest Connection is hosting the operation. LTROs have been formed in Beaufort, Pamlico, and Dare counties. Case Management training will be given in mid-February.
    Mike Patterson, Salvation Army, reported that the Salvation Army response has been distributed to13 of its local agencies which continue to be active. Information is available at http://www.salvationarmycarolinas.org .Ross Patterson (no relation) has been engaged to assist Mike in disaster response. An additional information source is http://www.salarmy.org/eds . At the NCIDR meeting preceding this one Mike addressed challenges to the LTROs. NCIDR has received a $50,000 donation from Lutheran Services for the Aging.
    Faye Stone, Governor’s Office, reported that a survey and needs assessment will be distributed to all NC VOAD organizations. The goal is to volunteer needs and required support; e.g., housing and feeding. The survey will also collect opportunities for service. Donations to the NC Disaster Relief Fund were very disappointing. All funds were distributed to NCVOAD members that are actively engaged. April 16 tornado funds have also been distributed. Sometimes the Governor’s Hotline is activated in bilingual operation, but not as it is in disaster. Faye has now moved to the new NC EOC.
    Ross Patterson, Salvation Army, had no report.
    Tim Haas, Samaritan’s Purse, reported that Samaritan’s Purse was active in response to last week’s tornados in Burke County. 43 homeowners were helped with chain sawyers, skid-steer loaders, and raking. 41 jobs were completed by 350 volunteers working for four days. Assistance was also given to renters, primarily in helping to gather belongings. Samaritan’s Purse partnered with the Billy Graham Rapid Response Team which provides counseling. Samaritan’s Purse was active in Craven and Pamlico Counties for six weeks in response to Hurricane Irene. They were active in Wake, Bertie, and Cumberland Counties for three weeks in response to the April 16 tornados. They committed to build nine houses in Bertie County. Two have been completed; the remaining seven are underway. Samaritan’s Purse also worked in Rutland, VT and Binghamton, NY Hurricane Irene recovery.
    Keith Harris, American Red Cross, reported that the Red Cross has money for recovery from the April 16 tornados and can issue grants. The Red Cross is currently supporting LTROs and helping to form them. Keith is expecting to have funds available for Hurricane Irene recovery.
    Tracie Brown, American Red Cross, reported that they are active in Burke County providing financial assistance. Case management is underway.
    John Foister, Food Bank of Central and Eastern NC, reported that 508,219 lbs of food were distributed in the wake of the April 16 tornados. Distribution began on the day of the event (which was a Saturday). 919,422 lbs of food were distributed in the wake of Hurricane Irene by the Food Bank and its 67 partner agencies. Food Bank has received USDA TEFAP (The Emergency Food Assistance Program) food. 150,000 lbs of food was bundled and made available at Christmas.
    Jackie Bolden, UMC Disaster Center-western NC, reported that teams are being formed to help in eastern NC, and in Burke and Rutherford Counties. The major problem is older mobile homes which cannot be repaired. There is a major need for replacements. Four training sessions are scheduled between now and February 4.
    John Taggart, Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, reported that last March a partnership of LDS, NC School of Science and Mathematics, Wal-Mart, and Chick-Fil-A set a World Record for largest food donation within 24 hours. 660,000 lbs were gathered. They have responded to the April 16 tornados and Hurricane Irene. There was significant Raleigh involvement in mobile home repair and skirting, primarily in the Stony Brook Mobile Home Park, partnering with the NC Baptist Men. They have worked in Cary, Apex, and Holly Springs with UMC teams.
    Wade Chestnut, Episcopal Diocese of North Carolina, had no report.
    Harold Swinson, Harvest Connection, reported on recovery from the April 16 tornados and Hurricane Irene. 27 homes have been completed, 22 counties have been worked, 300 clients have been served with clothes and food, 5000 kits have been sent from regions from Joplin, MO to Manteo, NC. 10 active cases in Tyrell county will be served. Harvest Connection is receiving requests from Onslow, Bladen, and Sampson counties and is forming LTROs in those counties. They are working in the lowland areas in partnership with Cliff Harvell and the UMC. There is a need for mattresses for the volunteer bunkhouse. (Another meeting participant (Tracie Brown?) spoke up and offered mattresses.) Harvest Connection has 7-8 pallets of water and 150-200 bags of ice they would like to give away. Harold spoke about the new FEMA program. It involves a FEMA re-inspection of damaged properties after the roofs have been tarped. FEMA inspectors have been removing the tarps and not applying new ones, leading to water incursion. Harold stressed that a tarp should not be re-used.
    Bob Kennel, Disciples of Christ, reported that their recovery is going church by church in Pamlico, Craven, Carteret, and Beaufort counties. They have been in contact with the families in THUs. Bob has authority to speak for Disciples of Christ to the Governor, regarding the THU vacancy deadline.
    Terence Leathers, Community Anchors, remarked that he and his board chairman were glad to be present to visit. They have worked primarily in Johnston County, with some work in Wake. They have completed an MOU with Clayton to form and operate a CERT chapter. They are working to provide smoke detectors, to help with traffic operations, and to provide aid to Haiti. When the current group completes CERT training, 40 people will have been trained. They are partnering with Hope for Haiti.
  9. New business
    Election of Directors: George Strunk delivered the report of the Nominating Committee. Nominated were Wade Chestnut (Episcopal Diocese), John Foister (Food Bank of CENC), and John Taggart (LDS). Larry Marks moved to accept the report of the Nominating Committee. Motion carried. There were no nominations from the floor. Nominations were closed and the new directors were elected by acclaim.
  10. Next Meeting
    The next meeting will be held April 17, 2012. Location is TBD.
    Joan Parente delivered a presentation on the FEMA pilot Phase II program.
    Cliff Harvel took the floor to address the FEMA requirement to vacate the THUs by March 31. He declared it unreasonable. Reminder visits from FEMA representatives every two weeks is causing stress for the clients, especially in instances where no apparent progress to provide alternate housing has been made. This is excessive pressure on the clients—pressure to accept a mobile home which will decline in value rather than wait for a stick-built house which will appreciate in value. Don ___ (chief of the IA unit) defended the FEMA date but Cliff was still concerned. Don suggested that it might be possible to stretch the date in instances where the replacement home is in progress. The rules have already been bent to place the people in housing in the flood plain.
    Untarping of tarped houses for FEMA re-inspection was also brought up again. The roof should immediately be re-tarped with a new tarp.
    Ken Skalitzky stated that more money and support are needed. He suggested that presenting a resolution to the governor might be in order.
    Gaylon Moss, North Carolina Baptist Convention, arrived and reported that the NC Baptist Men are working in Burke County and from Pamlico County to the Outer Banks.
    George Strunk asked about recommendations on how to build safe rooms.
    Mike Patterson asked Warren Moore about Animal Assistance to Survivors. Warren responded that Companion Animal Equipment Trailer Systems (CAMETS) were available, thanks to the post-Katrina pet act. The CAMETS units house animals when their owners are in shelters. 10 CAMETS units have been purchased with donated funds; 15 have been purchased with DHS funds; and 10 units have been purchased with state funds.
    Larry Marks stated that recovery agencies would benefit by purchasing supplies at prices of the GSA schedule. He gave an example in which mobile home skirting which costs $1200 at a retail building materials chain could be purchased for $600 at a firm which makes the GSA prices available to recovery agencies. Vendors are not obligated to offer these prices to LTROs but it would be worthwhile to solicit this commitment from as many sources as possible, starting with those which already honor the GSA schedule to government agencies and later extending to vendors who don’t offer the schedule but would be good sources. Tracie Brown of the American Red Cross agreed to help carry out this effort.
  11. Adjournment
    The meeting was adjourned at 2:56 p.m.
  12. Tour of new Emergency Operations Center (EOC)
    Warren Moore led participants on a tour of the EOC.

Respectfully submitted,

Larry Marks