National Voluntary Organizations Active
in Disaster (NVOAD) is a partnership in disaster response. The
organization was founded in the simple belief that the time to prepare
for the next disaster is now. The primary purpose of NVOAD
is to [1] respond to the
information needs of it's members and [2] to inform the public of the
cooperative efforts of disaster response organizations in the U.S.
Purpose of NVOAD -
NVOAD coordinates planning efforts by many voluntary organizations
responding to disaster. Member organizations provide more effective and
less duplication in service by getting together before disasters strike.
Once disasters occur, NVOAD or an affiliated state VOAD encourages
members and other voluntary agencies to convene on site. This
cooperative effort has proven to be the most effective way for a wide
variety of volunteers and organizations to work together in a crisis.
History of NVOAD -
After Hurricane Camille in 1969, organizations that had been involved in
providing resources and services to victims and communities affected by
disaster shared their mutual concern about the frequent duplication of
services. Beginning in 1970, representatives from these voluntary
organizations began to meet together on a regular basis. The purpose of
those early meetings was for participants to share their respective
activities, concerns and frustrations in order to minimize duplication
of effort and manage disaster activities more efficiently.
REACT is proud to be one of the 31
national member organizations supporting NVOAD in it's
efforts.
