Abstract-Developing COADs – MO, IN, IL
Authors: Conne Burnham (MO), Steve Cain (IN), Rick Atterberry (IL)
The University of Missouri (MU) Extension program was awarded an EDEN NIFA Special Needs grant in conjunction with extension partners from the University of Illinois (U of I) and Purdue University. This presentation will provide the background and results of that grant.
The primary goal of the multi-state project was to test the validity of the State of Missouri Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) Guidance Manual, 2nd Edition. The U of I and Purdue utilized this opportunity to examine the functionality of this manual in their respective states.
For the past twenty years, the Midwest has been inundated with disasters. As a result, emergency management and other governmental and non-governmental organizations have recognized a need to coordinate support services that are offered to disaster survivors. As a result, the Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) model was developed. The Extension programs within MU, U of I, and Purdue currently assist local communities in emergency management activities and view this as a vital part of their extension mission. This has led to the need for a guidance document to assist communities in the development of COADs.
Missouri State Emergency Management Agency (SEMA) developed such a manual in 2002 to assist local communities in the development of COADs, but with major changes in emergency management regarding community collaboration since the release of the first edition of the manual there was a need to reevaluate the organization and structure of a COAD, and this led to the revision of the COAD guidance manual, released in January, 2014. This revised guidance manual represents an evolution in conceptual doctrine regarding the provision of emergency human services relating to disasters at the community level. As a result of this conceptual change, FEMA Region V Voluntary Agency Liaison (VAL) decided to put the results of this project on the agenda for the North Central State VOADs to consider for further development of COADs in the Midwest.
The project delivery:
- Disseminate credible, science-based information to state and local VOAD members and state Extension Service personnel on how to use the manual, to support citizens living in storm, tornado and flood-impacted areas that struggle with additional human needs of individuals, families, communities, agriculture, business and industry and,
- Deliver a proof of concept for use of the manual by developing a Tabletop exercise (delivered electronically) to test the efficacy and veracity of the document and its potential uses.
The presentation will include discussions by state and regional faculty members that will stress the importance of having COADs established before a disaster, and through their disaster experiences will showcase the differences in COAD development from state to state and rural to urban. They will also present the case that guidance manual, either this manual being showcased, or something similar is necessary for communities as they establish and build their COADs.
Although this manual was developed for use in Missouri, it is applicable to all communities, states, and extension programs within the land and sea grant system
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