National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Name	National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Founded	1970s
Location	United States
Focus	Disaster relief, emergency management, humanitarian aid

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is a coalition of humanitarian non-governmental organizations, charitable organizations, and faith-based groups formed to coordinate disaster response and recovery across the United States. The coalition brings together members with expertise in sheltering, feeding, medical care, mental health, logistics, and long-term recovery after events such as the Hurricane Katrina, Hurricane Sandy, and the COVID-19 pandemic. It engages with federal entities like the Federal Emergency Management Agency and intergovernmental networks such as the American Red Cross to streamline community-based assistance during crises.

Overview

The coalition functions as a coordinating forum for large-scale voluntary action, linking national actors such as Catholic Charities USA, The Salvation Army, American Baptist Home Mission Societies, and Lutheran Services in America with regional affiliates including Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) chapters and local partners like Feeding America food banks. It emphasizes principles of coordination, communication, capacity-building, and preparedness, aligning with standards promoted by entities like the National Incident Management System and protocols used by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The organization provides training, publishes guidance that complements publications by the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and collaborates with policy actors such as the United States Congress and White House officials during national incidents.

History

Origins trace to grassroots responses in the 1970s and 1980s when groups such as United Methodist Committee on Relief and Church World Service coordinated after disasters like the 1972 Hurricane Agnes and the 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake. Formalization occurred as faith-based and secular nonprofits sought a unified voice to interact with federal responders including the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the Department of Health and Human Services. The coalition evolved through responses to major events such as the 1994 Northridge earthquake, September 11 attacks, and Hurricane Katrina (2005), which prompted structural changes mirroring reforms in Homeland Security and influenced by reports from commissions like the 9/11 Commission and recommendations from the Institute of Medicine. Partnerships expanded into public health emergencies exemplified during the H1N1 pandemic and the COVID-19 pandemic.

Membership and Structure

Membership includes national and international NGOs like World Vision, Habitat for Humanity, and Mercy Corps, as well as denominational networks such as Roman Catholic agencies and American Jewish Joint Distribution Committee. The coalition’s governance comprises a board of directors with representatives from major humanitarian organizations and liaison roles for agencies like FEMA and the Department of Homeland Security. Regional VOAD chapters operate in states and territories, interfacing with county-level entities including Office of Emergency Management offices and tribal organizations such as representatives from the Navajo Nation. Committees focus on sectors aligned with international clusters like Health Cluster and Shelter Cluster models adopted by the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs.

Roles and Activities

Primary activities encompass disaster preparedness workshops with partners like the American Red Cross, mass care coordination alongside Feeding America, donations management in concert with Goodwill Industries International, and volunteer management integrating systems similar to Volunteer Florida and Corporation for National and Community Service. The coalition provides training addressing behavioral health modeled after Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration guidelines, logistical support akin to Logistics Cluster concepts, and best practices informed by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention public health guidance. During incidents it helps operationalize community recovery frameworks used by state governors, supports long-term rebuilding in collaboration with Federal Emergency Management Agency grant programs, and engages in advocacy before bodies like the United States Congress and Office of Management and Budget to secure policy and funding.

Coordination and Partnerships

Coordination mechanisms include formal liaisons with Federal Emergency Management Agency, integration with Emergency Support Function architectures, and cooperative arrangements with the American Red Cross and national faith-based umbrellas. The coalition partners with philanthropic institutions such as the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and Robert Wood Johnson Foundation for resilience initiatives, works with academic centers like the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health and Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health for research, and aligns with international actors including the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies and United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. Memoranda of understanding connect it to state VOADs, county emergency managers, tribal authorities, and healthcare systems including Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services networks for coordinated medical surge response.

Funding and Resources

Funding derives from membership dues, philanthropic grants from entities like the Ford Foundation and Kresge Foundation, federal grants managed by Federal Emergency Management Agency and Department of Health and Human Services, and private donations channelled through partners such as United Way Worldwide. The coalition leverages in-kind donations coordinated with corporate partners like Walmart and logistics support from carriers modeled on partnerships with FedEx and United Parcel Service. Resource mobilization includes volunteer management systems paralleling AmeriCorps frameworks and training curricula developed with academic partners including Tulane University School of Public Health.

Criticisms and Challenges

Critiques focus on uneven resource distribution after events like Hurricane Katrina (2005) and disparities highlighted during the COVID-19 pandemic, with scholars from institutions such as University of California, Berkeley and Columbia University analyzing gaps in equity and access. Challenges include integrating diverse member capacities, coordination difficulties with federal and state authorities exemplified in debates with FEMA leadership, transparency concerns raised by watchdogs like Government Accountability Office, and sustaining funding amid competing priorities in the aftermath of disasters such as Superstorm Sandy. The coalition continues to address issues of scalability, cultural competence when working with tribal nations like the Cherokee Nation, and data interoperability with systems used by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and state health departments.

Category:Disaster relief organizations based in the United States