Minutes: June 21, 2011
August 23, 2011 Leave a comment
VOAD Meeting Minutes – June 21, 2011 (first day of summer!)
Salvation Army Headquarters, Bee Road
Secretary, Pamela Terekhova
Present:
Chip Grefski, President, SCCPSSPD
Sharyn Baggett, Vice President, ARC
Pamela Terekhova, Secretary, ARC
Mark Baggett, Chatham Savannah Authority for the Homeless
Millie Douglas, ARC
Shane Faux, USCG
Kelly Foster, CEMA
Wanda Hunter, Salvation Army
Linda James, Salvation Army
Bucky Johnson, YMCA of Coastal Georgia
Lynette Jones, Salvation Army
Trudy Jones, United Way 2-11
Greg Reilly, USCG
Robert Rollin, YMCA of Coastal Georgia
Cedric Scott, Savannah Fire and Emergency Services
John Wright, ARC
Chip Grefski, President, greeted everyone and called the meeting to order. John Wright made a motion to accept the minutes without correction; Trudy Jones seconded; motion passed unanimously.
Chip asked everyone to introduce themselves.
John reminded all present that it was hurricane season and the ARC was very busy. Chip congratulated Kelly Foster, CEMA, for an excellent hurricane conference. He advised that critical workforce shelters were being finalized – W. Chatham Complex/Middle and Elementary Schools will be used for assets storage.
Greg Reilly, introduced Shane Faux who will be the future VOAD representative for the USCG. The USCG will be publishing an area contingency plan for oil spills on their website. The only time an alternate method may arise is when a private company responds since they can hire a coordinator to handle volunteers. Otherwise, USCG prefers to use VOAD contact list. Last year ConocoPhillips held a CG exercise and Mark Baggett was the liaison. CG planned operations using VOAD logistics.
Cedric Scott informed the attendees that Savannah Fire opened Station 11 (replacement) for Mohawk Station at Mohawk and Apache. They have a new Haz Mat (Hazardous Materials) vehicle with advance computer and photography capabilities which was purchased by grant funds from the port security and is housed at Station 6 (Liberty). They are working closely with the Coast Guard.
Greg advised the group that the program Cedric is referring to is a FEMA grant program headed by Jonathan Smith – contact readiness/port recovery – he will send link to Pam. Modest proposals are under $10,000. The USCG makes recommendations as to whom they believe should get the grants. VOAD could come up with project and ask for grant. For example, VOAD could have a panel on community disaster education –(need to be a wise use of grant money).
Linda James reported that the Salvation Army had a National Hurricane Awareness Tour – 500 students attended (but none in Chatham Co.) and it was a success. Mark was VOAD representative and said it was a valuable exercise. SA had additional staff attend an EOC workshop– they are emphasizing cross training.
Sharyn reported that ARC sent volunteers to Alabama and North Georgia to work the tornados. ARC and other non-profits were overwhelmed there with a tidal wave of unsolicited donations and volunteers who just showed up to help. Critical resources were being redirected from the important work of response and relief to managing what became a crush of unneeded donated items.
A good project for VOAD would be to educate the public on how to donate or volunteer when disasters strike. Sharyn gave Pam the brochure: “When Disaster Strikes…How to Donate or Volunteer Successfully – from FEMA – to scan and send to members. She also provided a list of National VOAD members which listed the roles each agency provided in the different phases of the Emergency Management Cycle – which organizations handle mitigation/preparation (before disaster)/response and recovery.
VOAD needs an organization that funnels the volunteers.
Trudy said that she and Shirley Sessions have a Call Center 24-hr a day that rolls over to Atlanta – they are the managers of volunteers. She indicated that they have job descriptions on their website-Hands on Savannah for volunteers. They don’t know what their role is in VOAD and would like to work with Sharyn to find out.
Special volunteers are needed when people come back after disasters (re-entry).
Linda stated that CEMA is one point of entry
Mark Baggett said that a warehouse exists in Savannah that has 1,000 cases of bottled water on hand – he and Linda have the keys. Also, GA Regional Hospital has medications and paper trail (work with Gateway). Everyone should have 5 days of medication on hand. Atlanta has a data base of the homeless.
Greg announced that the USCG will have an oil spill exercise on July 21st – please check their website.
Chip thanked the Salvation Army for the lunch and reminded everyone that the next meeting is August 2nd.
