LEESVILLE, La.
–
Representatives from the
Federal Emergency
Management Agency (FEMA)
Voluntary Agency (VOLAG),
local voluntary agencies
and government officials
from around Vernon
Parish recently came
together to discuss
hurricane season
preparations.
CenLa Voluntary
Organizations Active in
Disaster (VOAD) hosted
the Hurricane Awareness
Breakfast, which was
also sponsored by the
city of Leesville, the
Vernon Parish Sheriff's
Office and the Vernon
Parish Police Jury.
Officials discussed
changes made since
hurricanes Katrina and
Rita, including new
regulations regarding
sheltering, evacuations
and procedural
improvements. Other
topics included
supplies, logistics and
funding.
FEMA Voluntary Agency
Liaison (VAL) Eva
Williams discussed
FEMA’s role in working
with nonprofit volunteer
organizations, state and
local governments and
emergency responders in
a disaster. Williams
explained how a VAL
serves as a liaison
between FEMA and
voluntary agencies in
community organizations
involved in disaster
response and recovery.
The American Red Cross,
the Food Bank, United
Way, Louisiana Baptist
Disaster Relief
Ministries and the
Salvation Army also
talked about their roles
and responsibilities
during a disaster.
The breakfast served as
both an educational
session as well as a
chance for community and
government leaders to
network with non-profit
disaster service
organizations. The goal
was to forge working
relationships now before
a disaster threatens the
area.
“The breakfast was a
good thing to have
because it brought
government and community
leaders together to
collaborate on the
effort of preparedness,”
said Williams. “I thank
our host VOAD and all
those who sponsored this
event for having the
foresight to make this
happen.”
Aside from the attending
the breakfast, officials
have been busy preparing
for this year’s
hurricane season, from
updating evacuation maps
to improving
communication between
shelters and law
enforcement.
FEMA coordinates the
federal government’s
role in preparing for,
preventing, mitigating
the effects of,
responding to, and
recovering from all
domestic disasters,
whether natural or
man-made, including acts
of terror.
