Creating a community inter-agency disaster organization (CIDO)
Abstract
A Community Inter-Agency Disaster Organization (CIDO) is a local organization composed of public, private, and not-for-profit agency representatives. Its purpose is to enhance a community's ability to mitigate, prepare, respond, and recover from disasters of various kinds. The AmeriCorps–St. Louis Emergency Response Team is a member of the CIDO developed by the Missouri Disaster Recovery Partnership. This effective practice is based on information shared by AmeriCorps–St. Louis at the 2002 Southwest Cluster AmeriCorps Program Directors Conference in Albuquerque, New Mexico.Issue
The ability of organizations to coordinate their relief efforts is critical when disaster strikes a community. With proper preparation and emergency response procedures in place the extent of casualties and damage can be greatly diminished.Action
A Community Inter-Agency Disaster Organization (CIDO) includes any agency that has a role to play in any phase of emergency management. The CIDO is a collaborative working group of public, private, and not-for-profit agency representatives in which all the participants are equal partners united by the common goal of emergency response and disaster relief. CIDOs strengthen area-wide disaster coordination by sharing programs, policies, information, joint planning and training.
Every CIDO must determine how best to carry out its community's aspirations and priorities while meeting the needs of its citizens. However, as a starting point, CIDOs may wish to adopt the following suggested concepts:
Principles
- A CIDO should provide a forum for information sharing, communication, cooperation, and collaboration between agencies involved in emergency management.
- A CIDO should be a resource to citizens of the local community during all four phases of emergency management: mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery.
- A CIDO should support and be a resource to community emergency management in all four phases of emergency management.
- Goal 1: An inter-agency group is in existence and has assumed responsibility for coordinating inter-agency activities related to emergency management.
- Goal 2: The CIDO or sub-group is prepared to begin functioning as an unmet needs committee immediately following a disaster.
- Goal 3: A plan exists, involving all appropriate agencies, to respond to and utilize volunteers in the event of a disaster.
- Goal 4: A plan exists for managing the receipt and distribution of in-kind donations of supplies and materials in the event of a disaster.
- Goal 5: CIDO members have an awareness of emergency management issues and have received appropriate training.
- Donations management
- Facility acquisition for warehousing and distribution
- Managing emergent volunteers
- Receiving and distributing goods
- Sharing resources
- Coordination of human services
- Multi-agency resource center
- Sharing information on disaster survivors
- Release of confidentiality forms
- Reducing duplication of effort
- Regular meetings and communication
- Recognize volunteers
- Support community morale
- Document processes for future reference
- Maintain interagency and community relationships
- Encourage community preparedness
- Continue to provide media with recovery updates and volunteer opportunities
- Provides up-to-date emergency information
- Serves as an interagency communication link
- Source for coordinating unaffiliated volunteers with unmet needs
- Recognition of volunteers
- Updates of continuing volunteer opportunities
- State Emergency Management Agency
- Donation coordination
- Developing volunteers
- Community Emergency Response Teams
- Homeland security
- Disaster recovery operations
- American Red Cross
- Damage assessment
- Logistics
- Shelter operations
- Mass care
- Family services
Context
The AmeriCorps–St. Louis Emergency Response Team is a member of the CIDO developed by the Missouri Disaster Recovery Partnership.
The mission of the Emergency Response Team (ERT) is to serve as a group of skilled, organized, trained, and equipped emergency responders that assist other voluntary and governmental emergency managers in meeting urgent needs. The ERT is intended to be a multi-functional rapid deployment group capable of assisting with urban and wilderness search and rescue, disaster preparedness, response and recovery, wildland fire suppression, and logistical support for emergency operations. When ERT is not involved in disaster response or preparedness activities, the ERT assists the Missouri Departments of Conservation and Natural Resources, the U.S. Forest Service, and National Park Service with trail maintenance, habitat restoration, and other natural resource projects.
Members of AmeriCorps—St. Louis serve throughout the city of St. Louis addressing critical needs in the areas of education and public safety. Members can serve in St. Louis Public Schools, on the Emergency Response Team, or on a Conflict Resolution Team for community mediation.
The Community Inter-Agency Disaster Organization Guidance Manual was written by the Missouri Disaster Recovery Partnership, an association of public and private agencies appointed by the Governor. The manual is based in part on the experience of local unmet needs committees throughout Missouri that responded to the 1993 Midwest floods, and as an adaptation of a guidance manual sanctioned by National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD).
Citation
Missouri Disaster Recovery Partnership. "State of Missouri Community Inter-agency Disaster Organization (CIDO) Guidance Manual." August 1, 1998.Outcome
The Missouri CIDO enhances the ability of communities to mitigate, prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, thus ensuring that human needs inherent in a disaster situation are evaluated and addressed. It uses community disaster education, hazard analysis, training exercises, community leadership classes, local emergency management plans, and the expertise of its members to bring holistic disaster awareness to its community.Posted On
April 8, 2002For More Information
Related Practices
Related sites
Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (NVOAD)