United Way has a long history of mobilizing people and resources to help out during a major disaster. We played a major role in directing local relief efforts to the survivors of Hurricane Katrina. As well, two days after Hurricane Charley hit, United Way partnered with SunTrust to collect $750,000 for disaster relief efforts.
Through our Volunteer Services Department led by Vice President, Betty Tribble, United Way has been active for some years in Hillsborough County with respect to disaster training and working with Emergency Management as part of a community team ready to act in the case of major disaster. In 2006, United Way joined the Disaster Recovery Leadership Network (DRLN) in Pinellas County. Executive Vice President, Mark Holmgren chairs the DRLN.
United Way’s Disaster Services blog has been launched to provide the Tampa Bay community – citizens and health and human services agencies — with a disaster planning, mitigation, and recovery resource. In addition to finding help with getting your family ready for a disaster, human service agencies will find help with business continuity planning as well.
You will also be kept up to date on United Way’s work with its many partners with respect to the following:
1. The development of Volunteer Reception Centers that are primed and ready to go in the case of a major disaster.
2. The development of collaborations throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties that work to mobilize human service organizations, governments, business, and volunteer organizations when a major disaster strikes.
3. Opportunities for human service agencies to participate in disaster training workshops.
4. Information for citizens about how to prepare for, and respond to, a major disaster.
5. Where to go for help if and when a major disaster strikes.
2. The development of collaborations throughout Hillsborough and Pinellas Counties that work to mobilize human service organizations, governments, business, and volunteer organizations when a major disaster strikes.
3. Opportunities for human service agencies to participate in disaster training workshops.
4. Information for citizens about how to prepare for, and respond to, a major disaster.
5. Where to go for help if and when a major disaster strikes.
If you have any ideas about how this blog could better help you and the community, please contact Sheri Taylor at United Way. Her email is staylor@uwtb.org and her phone number is 813-274-0962. If you would like to volunteer for a post-disaster opprtunity, please register with us for opportunties posted HERE.
