Cattaraugus, Allegany Counties COAD Seeks Committee Members
Flooding from Hurricane Agnes in 1972 raised the Genesee River to historic levels, destroying a portion of Jones Memorial Hospital. Photo courtesy of Dick Neal and the Allegany County Historical Society, and The Wellsville Sun.
Representatives from emergency services, government agencies, and community organizations in Allegany and Cattaraugus counties met January 21 to establish a Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) group for the region.
The United Way of Cattaraugus & Allegany Counties (UWCAC) hosted the online meeting to begin forming the COAD committees’ structure. Representatives in attendance were invited to join committees based on their strengths and interests.
Committees seeking members include:
Executive Committee
Steering Committees:
Community/Public Health
Civilian Corps Program
Children/Childcare for Responders
Donations Management
Volunteer Management
Long Term Recovery Group
Emergency Assistance
Mass Care
Emotional/Spiritual Care
Funding Committee
Next steps will include convening the committees and ensuring the necessary community members are aware of the COAD and invited to participate.
From there, committees will begin a membership capacity matrix, assessing what the community already has and what it needs for disaster preparedness, response, and recovery.
COADs are county or regional coalitions that coordinate nonprofit efforts in times of emergency. They work in partnership with county emergency management offices and are chartered by New York VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster). Currently, 46 counties across New York have active COADs.
“The strength of our COAD will come from the diversity and commitment of the people involved,” said Susan McAuley, UWCAC executive director. “Every organization, business, and resident brings a unique perspective and set of skills that can make a difference when disaster strikes. The more voices we have at the table, the better prepared we’ll be to respond and recover together.”
For more information on the COAD and to join a committee, visit www.uwcac.org/coad
