Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Name	Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Abbreviation	D-VOAD
Formation	1990s
Type	Coalition
Purpose	Disaster relief coordination
Headquarters	Wilmington, Delaware
Region served	Delaware
Membership	Nonprofit, faith-based, civic
Leader title	Chair
Leader name	(various)

Contents

Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Delaware Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a statewide coalition that coordinates nonprofit, faith-based, and civic American Red Cross-affiliated and independent Salvation Army-related relief organizations to respond to emergencies in Delaware. It serves as a forum among groups such as Habitat for Humanity International, Catholic Charities USA, United Way of America, and state agencies including the Delaware Department of Health and Social Services and Federal Emergency Management Agency regional offices. The coalition facilitates resource sharing with institutions like ChristianaCare, Nemours Children's Health System, Wilmington Hospital, and community partners across the New Castle County, Kent County, and Sussex County jurisdictions.

History

D-VOAD traces roots to the national National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster movement that emerged after the 1970s and expanded following events like Hurricane Katrina and the Northeast blackout of 2003. Early collaboration included local chapters of American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Meals on Wheels America, and faith-based groups such as Catholic Charities USA and Jewish Federations of North America during responses to storms and flooding in the Delaware River Basin and coastal incidents affecting Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, Delaware. The coalition formalized procedures influenced by federal guidance from FEMA and state policies shaped by the Delaware Emergency Management Agency and national standards like those of Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and National Hurricane Center. Over time, membership broadened to include organizations such as Team Rubicon, American Baptist Churches USA, Lutheran Services in America, United Methodist Committee on Relief, and local entities like Delaware Volunteer Legal Services.

Membership comprises national organizations with local affiliates—American Red Cross, Salvation Army USA', Feeding America food banks—alongside regional chapters of Habitat for Humanity International, United Way Worldwide, and local nonprofits like Jewish Family Services and Interfaith Community Housing of Delaware. Civic partners include Rotary International clubs, Kiwanis International chapters, and campus organizations at University of Delaware and Delaware State University. Faith-based members span denominations represented by National Council of Churches, Evangelical Lutheran Church in America, Presbyterian Church (USA), and Islamic Society of Delaware. Institutional liaisons include Delaware Department of Education, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, Delaware State Police, City of Wilmington, and county emergency management offices. Leadership rotates among chairs drawn from organizations like United Way of Delaware, ChristianaCare, and local disaster relief nonprofits, following bylaws consistent with the wider VOAD network.

D-VOAD's core roles include coordination of volunteer mobilization with organizations such as Team Rubicon and Direct Relief, sheltering support alongside American Red Cross and Catholic Charities USA, mass care collaboration with Feeding America affiliates and Meals on Wheels America, and recovery services partnered with Habitat for Humanity International and Rebuilding Together. The coalition facilitates logistics with supply partners like Samaritan's Purse and Convoy of Hope, and legal/financial assistance through groups such as Pro Bono Net and Legal Services Corporation affiliates. Public health linkages engage Centers for Disease Control and Prevention guidance, while mental health supports involve National Alliance on Mental Illness and Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration-aligned programs. The group also coordinates donation management drawing on practices from Goodwill Industries International and Salvation Army distribution networks.

D-VOAD maintains formal and informal partnerships with federal and regional bodies including Federal Emergency Management Agency, United States Department of Health and Human Services, Environmental Protection Agency, and the National Weather Service's regional offices. It works with state entities such as the Delaware Emergency Management Agency, Delaware Department of Health and Social Services, and local jurisdictions including Newark, Delaware and Dover, Delaware. Coordination extends to infrastructure and critical care institutions like ChristianaCare, Nemours Children's Health System, and St. Francis Hospital (Wilmington, Delaware). The coalition engages national nongovernmental partners including American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Feeding America, Habitat for Humanity International, Team Rubicon, Samaritan's Purse, and Direct Relief to align mission priorities during incidents like Hurricane Sandy and coastal nor'easters affecting the Delmarva Peninsula. Cross-border coordination has involved neighboring state networks in New Jersey, Maryland, and Pennsylvania.

Training programs draw upon curricula and standards from FEMA's National Incident Management System (NIMS), Incident Command System, Community Emergency Response Team, and courses offered by American Red Cross and National VOAD. Member-led exercises have included mass sheltering drills with Catholic Charities USA and media preparedness sessions tied to Federal Communications Commission advisories. Volunteer credentialing and background checks align with practices from Points of Light and Volunteer Florida-style models adapted for Delaware. Public health preparedness involves coordination with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention initiatives and hospital preparedness programs linked to Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response. Training also covers debris management informed by Army Corps of Engineers guidance and continuity planning aligned with Department of Homeland Security recommendations.

Notable activations include joint responses to Hurricane Sandy impacts in the region involving American Red Cross, Salvation Army, Feeding America networks, and faith-based partners; flood relief efforts during Tropical Storm Henri and regional nor'easters that engaged Habitat for Humanity International and Rebuilding Together volunteers; and pandemic-era mobilization with Centers for Disease Control and Prevention protocols, vaccine drive collaboration with Department of Health and Human Services, and support to hospitals like ChristianaCare during the COVID-19 pandemic. The coalition has participated in multi-state mutual aid with VOAD counterparts in Maryland VOAD and New Jersey Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, and provided long-term recovery coordination following major storms impacting the Delmarva Peninsula and coastal communities such as Rehoboth Beach and Lewes, Delaware.

Category:Disaster relief organizations in the United States Category:Organizations based in Delaware