Loading...On the Monday following Hurricane Irene the local chapter of the American Red Cross called St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in York asking the church to activate their VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters) ministry.
VOADs are to exist in every county. The local York Chapter meets quarterly. The current president happens to be David Robson, Rector of St. Andrew’s.
The Red Cross working with the leadership of the country’s Emergency Management Services explained that they were receiving estimates of about 1,000 homes in the great York City area, and perhaps up to 7,000 home throughout the county were without power. The Red Cross VOAD leadership also informed David that power might remain off until the weekend and would need St. Andrew’s help. Within a few minutes we mobilized St. Andrew’s. On Tuesday evening St. Andrew’s was ready to feed many of those without power to a hot meal. Other agencies assisting in this effort were the County Emergency Management Services, the Red Cross, Lutheran Social Service, who arrived with 100 "survival bags," the United Way and Rabbit Transit, the local bus company who arranged free shuttle buses from various sites to the church.
In the future a debriefing exercise will take place. Through constant reviews and updates VOAD, which includes St. Andrew’s, and about twenty-five other agencies, meets to see how it can more effectively provide for those affected by disasters.
To read more about these efforts, click here.
