By Todd South
Staff Writer
The Anniston Star

Emergency aid groups started a process Friday to better coordinate county resources in times of disaster.

Becky Booker, president of the Alabama Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, explained how a county-level VOAD would act as a clearinghouse to coordinate volunteers in a crisis.

First Booker had to define VOAD's purpose.

The group works together with county Emergency Management Agencies and plans the best routes to allocate skilled and unskilled volunteers for disaster recovery.

"You don't want everyone running around with chainsaws," Booker said.

VOAD takes cues from county EMAs on their needs and coordinates all the available resources, assigning groups to help on private property, which most city and county agencies cannot.

The organization would delegate certain groups for specific functions — one group as a secondary food provider, another to help tarp roofs, another group to check on volunteers themselves to ensure they don't get injured or dehydrated.

Representatives from groups such as United Way, Department of Human Resources, the Salvation Army, Community Emergency Response Team and others heard about the benefits of VOAD from Booker.

A few audience members were skeptical that the myriad volunteer agencies in different communities would agree to one central control.

"The problem I see with VOAD here is getting towns and cities to agree," said Johnny Warren, president and owner of Anniston EMS. "It's going to be a major hurdle."

Others agreed that territoriality might be a problem in the county, but said group leaders could ease the path.

Curtis Simpson, executive director of United Way of East Alabama, said regardless of political differences, "people will pull together."

Debbie Blevins, planner with Calhoun County EMA, said the first step is forming an executive committee for a Calhoun County VOAD that will start with a May meeting, not yet scheduled.

The county VOAD pays a $50 annual fee to the state VOAD, and member groups usually pay a $25 annual fee to their county VOAD.

Streamlining the volunteer response process helps reduce fraud and duplication of services, and opens doors to a network of donation resources in times of need, Booker said.

Ultimately, the work better coordinates the good intentions of many and helps put the right people in the right place with the right direction, she said.

"It's all about helping your neighbor and being there for them."