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Introductory Report
Greetings,
Some of you know
me and others have some or little knowledge as to my role.
I serve Washington
Association of Churches(WAC) as their Manager of Disaster Response and
Recovery. I also serve as a Disaster Response and Recovery
Liaison (DRRL) here in Washington State for the Church World
Service-Emergency Response Program(CWS-erp. I represent both WAC
and CWS-erp at the Washington Voluntary Organizations Active in
Disaster(WAVOAD) table.
Washington DEM has
requested WAVOAD's assistance in working with it and ARC in helping to
identify potential housing resources for persons/families should they
arrive here in Western Washington. At a meeting of WAVOAD
yesterday I agreed to help coordinate the faith communities response
to this request. In accepting this assignment I have decided to use
a communications plan that worked fairly well in respond to the 2001
Earthquake here in Western Washington. During that response and
recovery event I put together a Team of Leaders who were already in
a leadership role. That team primarily included Directors of
County wide Interfaith programs in Western Washington.
By receiving this
message I am asking that you agree to be a Team member as we gather
our respective resources in response to the challenge that is before
us. In the process of several phone calls yesterday it became evident
that we are not all on the same page and there has been some
duplication of effort.
So I begin this
message with the assumption that you support this collective effort.
Let me identify
each person and their area of responsibility:
Therese O'Brien -
President -WAVOAD
John Boonstra - Executive Minister- Washington Association of Churches
Janet Pope - Director -Snohomish County Interfaith
David Alger - Executive Director -Associated Ministries of Pierce
County
Laurie Clansey -Associate Director - Associated Ministries of Pierce
County
"Sandy" Brown -Director- Seattle Council of Churches
Kelly Miller - World Concern
Jim Schmick - World Vision
Chuck Goodwin - Redmond City Chaplain and Redmond COAD Pat Hamman -
Redmond City Chaplain and Redmond COAD
Lynn Magnuson - Regional Director for CWS-CROP
Our method of
communications will primarily be via e-mail and I anticipate that due
tot our respective busy schedules that conference calls will also be
beneficial. It is my assumption that you agree and I will move
in the direction to set up one for tomorrow- Thursday Sept. 8. I will
post a message with necessary details.
I received a phone
call late Tuesday (Sept. 6) evening that it is still uncertain as to
exactly when the first plane load will arrive at McChord Air Force
Base. Whatever delay we(members of the faith community) need to
continue to focus on finding and identify potential housing.
I first want to
address the issue of calls that you are receiving from persons who
wish to VOLUNTEER. At the WAVOAD meeting yesterday it was
agreed that we all ask these interested and potential volunteers to
register their interest by going to
www.fema.gov At that site there will be a list of
relief/response/recovery organizations that FEMA has identified as
there partners. The majority of these organizations are members of
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster. A potential
volunteer should then register with an organization of their choice.
All volunteers need to be affiliated with an organization to receive
an assignment. For example if a volunteer is seeking an
assignment with the American Red Cross either locally or nationally
they would register with ARC.
The second issue
that I want to address is DONATED GOODS
The collection of
donated goods is not being encouraged. At the WAVOAD meeting
yesterday we were informed that arrangements are being made to enhance
respect and dignity to our Katrina "friends" by issuing new clothing
and essential necessary items.
The third issue
that I want to address is HOUSING.
Each of you are
asked to assist in identifying potential housing within your area of
responsibility. At the WAVOAD meeting yesterday members supported the
position of not placing Katrina "guests" in individual homes.
There are numerous problems that are associated with this approach and
those that have been previous involved in the replacement of persons
strongly discourage this approach.
Therefore we are
being asked to identify churches and facilities where 30 to 150
"friends" could be housed. The length of stay may be 3 or four
weeks to months. Through your contacts within your respective area
please identify what is available. There may initially be some
duplication as I have been informed the respective County ARC Chapters
have been making efforts in this direction.
Here is the
information that is being requested:
1. Provide a
description of the church or facility
2. Address
3. Who will serve as point of contact (POC) for this resource
-including their name, phone: office
and home and cell #s,
4. How many "guests" could be housed at this resource
5. Number of bath rooms
6. Does the resource have the capacity to provide for showers?
7. Does the resource have a kitchen available for cooking?
8. Are laundry facilities available?
9. Can this resource provide a secure and safe environment?
10. What recreational resources are available?
11. How long will this resource be available?
12. Is this resource ADA(American Disability Act) Compliant?
13. Is mass transit accessible from this resource?
14. Are there costs associated with the use of this resource?
15. Does the church or facility have volunteers to assist in the
daily care of "friends" at their resource?
When you share
this message in part or whole with your respective constituency ask
them to compile the information request in e-mail format and e-mail to
your office. Next you are requested to forward that information to:
neilmolenaar@aol.com In turn I will
compile information into a data base which in turn will be forwarded
to Washington DEM and ARC who have the ultimate and final say as to
where Katrina "friends" will be placed and housed. ARC will
officially make contact with a church or facility that is selected and
before "friends" are placed a contract of agreement will be prepared
between ARC and the respective church or facility.
Again please note
that Washington DEM has received no official word as to when Katrina
"friends" will arrive. When they do they will arrive at McChord
and then will be taken to facilities available at Ft.Lewis for initial
processing and it is anticipated that could take 3 or 4 days.
After all is in place Katrina "friends" will be assigned to their new
housing arrangement.
I am sure that in
the hours before us that what I have shared in this message will
experience additional upgrades and refinements. So let us begin
seeking the Lords blessings on our collective efforts!!
Please feel free
to share feedback, comments, and suggestions. Please accept my
sincere thanks for your cooperation.
Best regards!!
Neil Molenaar
e-mail-
neilmolenaar@aol
cell # 360-710-7248
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