PAVOAD coordinates, plans and prepares in advance of disasters to fill critical voids that can develop in both response to and recovery from devastating events. Membership in PAVOAD provides your organization with tools to collaborate with other VOAD members. Membership changes the way you are able to serve communities in need, because PAVOAD works closely with government authorities to provide the right resources to the most needed locations in the least amount of time. When an incident happens, PAVOAD and/or its regional groups convene appropriate partners to identify and fulfill both emergency and long-term needs. These often include food, shelter, clothing, and rebuilding supplies. Below are some other benefits of membership in PAVOAD:
- Access to Resources, Training, and Other Learning Opportunities
PAVOAD offer members a wide array of resources and educational opportunities for organizations, and volunteers. PAVOAD provides a weekly UPDATE to members and partners.
2. Committees/Task Forces
Members and Partners gather around topical issues and programmatic activities to improve the delivery of services throughout the disaster cycle, and to further create a climate for cooperation.
3. Incident Response and Recovery Coordination
In support of our members’ work to respond to a disaster or help a community recover, we help coordinate and facilitate communication and actions among member organizations, local and state emergency management agencies and other organizations.
4. Peer to Peer Networking
PAVOAD offers members numerous opportunities to share and discuss best practices and partner on common issues with COADs and regional VOADs.
There are three types of membership in PAVOAD. There are
a. Full Member organizations that have Pennsylvania statewide or multi-county capacity to respond to disasters.
b. Associate Member organizations that have a capacity or interest in responding to disasters on a regional or local level. Some of these organizations can be called Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COADs).
c. Partner organizations can be governmental agencies with a statewide disaster management, public health focus and/or emergency support function or role, as well as for-profit corporations, foundations, educational and research institutions, associations and other non-governmental organizations with disaster preparedness, resilience, response or recovery interests.
All PAVOAD organizations have a disaster response program with a policy for commitment and/or distribution of resources and services without discrimination on the basis of gender, race, color, creed, national origin, age, marital or civil union status, disability, gender identity or sexual orientation.
Complete the form to inquire about becoming a member