News

Mo. Coalition Considers Role in Disaster Assistance

Sue Sterling

12/19/2015

Dec. 19--WARRENSBURG -- Local emergency planners want the Johnson County Cares coalition to serve as the umbrella organization for a countywide Community Organizations Active in Disaster group.

Jeremy VanWey, fire and emergency prevention coordinator with the Warrensburg Fire Department, and Gloria Michalski, Johnson County Emergency Management executive director, said the COAD would help coordinate delivery of services to county residents during a disaster or other emergency.

Michalski said, "It's hard to keep tabs on knowing who is doing what" in the aftermath of a disaster.

The COAD, she said, will let her "know who and what the agencies are and who I can call on for what."

VanWey said the coalition, composed of representatives of many churches, civic and social service agencies, is the ideal group to head up the COAD since the agencies would provide much of the services that would be needed in a disaster.

"The individuals who will need help after a disaster are people you're already serving," he said.

The COAD would include government organizations, nonprofits, faith-based groups and the business community.

Michalski said the group would be used as resource to help provide services that the federal and state emergency agencies do not provide, such as food and shelter, debris removal on private property and more.

VanWey said the community "may have to take care of ourselves" for the first 72 hours after a disaster before assistance arrives from the state and federal government.

He said the agencies also may have to provide long-term assistance to the community after government help leaves.

The COAD would be comprised of local organizations that utilize the "four Cs" -- cooperation, communication, coordination and collaboration -- as guiding principles to help the community respond to and recover from disasters, he said.

Aren Koenig, community preparedness and resiliency project manager with Catholic Charities, Kansas City, said she has been working with organizations across the state to develop COADS "to prepare and position yourselves" for an emergency.

In an undeclared disaster, she said, it falls on local social service organizations and government entities to provide the response.

"The more visibility you have in the community, the more help you can provide," she said., adding, "A lot of grants depend on showing the support of organizations."

The coalition will identify what services are available and where gaps exist and find other groups to fill the holes, she said.

Koenig said she currently is helping emergency management with a community assessment to identify support services.

VanWey said training would be available for the group to help them understand their role in disaster recovery.

Advisory Board member Suzy Latare said she would contact all the board members to get a consensus on the request.

Michalski said she will attend the coalition's Jan. 15 meeting and bring information about resources, grants and processes.