Functions in Disaster

Service Area

Our Members are active in disaster short-term recovery in some or all of the thirteen counties of the Houston-Galveston Area Council (HGAC) – Austin, Brazoria, Chambers, Colorado, Fort Bend, Galveston, Harris, Liberty, Matagorda, Montgomery, Walker, Waller, and Wharton.

  • Capabilities. Every TGCRVOAD Member has one or more capabilities to provide resources and services to victims of natural and man-made disasters.
    • Focus. The TGCRVOAD facilitates Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration among our Member and Partner organizations. Our members are active in the Short-term recovery phase as well as preparedness, mitigation, and intermediate and long-term recovery.
      • Standard Tasks and Processes. TGCRVOAD works with its Members to define standard tasks and processes to coordinate and deliver resources and services efficiently to individuals, families, and communities.
      • Activation – RFA. Local jurisdictions can handle most emergencies or disasters without requesting outside help. In cases where local resources are exhausted or inadequate, TGCRVOAD Members can be asked for assistance through a Request for Assistance (RFA). To avoid overwhelming the Emergency Manager/Office of Emergency Management (EM/OEM), it is important that TGCRVOAD and its Members refrain from initiating response or short-term recovery operations until we are asked to deploy.
      • Activation – Other. The TGCRVOAD may also deploy in anticipation of receiving an RFA resulting from a significant event, such as a major hurricane or when one or more members ask its assistance with cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration

Objectives

When asked for assistance the primary objectives of the TGCRVOAD are to:

  • Mobilize as quickly as possible,
    • Affectively address as many of the  needs defined in the Request for Assistance as possible,
    • Reduce any duplication of efforts,
    • Draft a Course of Action so that members can better coordinate assistance for the communities impacted
    • Solicit community involvement in recovery planning,
    • Identify unmet needs not explicitly identified in the original RFA
    • Gather and disseminate information quickly and with credibility,
    • Focusing on the most vulnerable individuals, families, and communities, and
    • Accomplish a smooth handoff to the LTRCs to minimize the economic disruption and the time between the disaster and recovery.