#worldcarescenter

[lisaorloff]

You can only go halfway into the darkest forest then you are coming out the other side

[theresiliencygroup-blog]

The last of the gifts and awards for the day. I am presenting Managing Community Volunteers in Disasters, CRC Press to the Tsunami Early Warning Center and Museum. I m told that this is the first time a formal disaster volunteer management training has been offer in Sri Lanka for all types of volunteers and agencies.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

The Added Benefits of Faith-Based and Corporate Partnerships Post-Sandy

World Cares Center (WCC) has long partnered with faith-based organizations during times of disaster.  Because of their strong connections to the communities they serve, faith-based organizations offer help that is homegrown, personal, and highly effective.  They are a wonderful example of neighbors helping neighbors.  Through our long-term partnership with the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), we have secured locations for our Volunteer Centers and Tool Libraries to support muck outs in the Rockaways and Staten Island.  It is one of many faith-based partnerships we have developed post-Sandy.

  Just as dynamic and helpful are the corporate partnerships we coordinate.  In the months since Hurricane Sandy hit, corporations have continued to look for meaningful ways to mobilize their employees to give back to their community.  Getting employees together for a unified community volunteer project allows them to work on team building while interacting with coworkers and members of their company’s larger community.  It’s corporate giving at its best! WCC provides comprehensive training for corporate volunteers in group trainings that are tailored to their needs.  Once trained, these teams are ready to work together to help homeowners get back in their homes.

  A stellar example of this is a group of corporate volunteers from Cardinal Health who have conducted muck outs and mold suppression on homes in the Rockaways.  Starting in December 2012, the group has provided ongoing volunteer cleanup services.  They continue to work together and have made a difference to grateful homeowners eagerly wanting to get back into their homes.    

  These types of volunteer efforts remind us that anyone can give, that everyone should give, and that much can be accomplished when we work together through volunteering.  Want to get involved as a volunteer with your company or faith group?  Visit our website and fill out a volunteer application at:  http://bit.ly/SIYmA3.  WCC will train you, coordinate your efforts, and make sure you are used effectively to help a homeowner in need.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

Governor Cuomo Unveils New Homeowner Grants for Post-Sandy Repairs

Governor Cuomo recently announced the New York State Disaster Homeownership Repair and Rebuilding Fund to supplement FEMA housing assistance grants.  Through the Disaster Homeownership Repair and Rebuilding Fund, homeowners can qualify to receive an extra $10,000.  The grants do not have to be repaid.  Residents who live in the five boroughs of New York City or the counties of Westchester, Rockland, Nassau, and Suffolk qualify.  Other qualifications include:

  ·      You have to rebuild or invest in major repairs to your primary residence due to damage from Hurricane Sandy

·      You already qualify for a FEMA housing assistance grant

·      Your FEMA grant must not cover the full cost of the damages to your home

·      This additional funding must not duplicate assistance you already receive from government agencies or your personal insurance.

  For more information or to apply for this fund, call: (855) NYS-SANDY – 855-697-7263. 

  This fund does not cover repairs for pre-existing conditions or damages not directly caused by Hurricane Sandy, replacement of personal property, moving and storage, business or work-related losses, or debris removal and sanitation services.  Homeowners needing help with debris removal and mold remediation should continue to rely on World Cares Center’s services, currently ongoing in The Rockaways and Staten Island. For more information on how World Cares Center can help you clean up your home to make it safe for rebuilding, visit our website: www.worldcares.org.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

World Cares Center’s Lisa Orloff Talks Long Term Recovery and Volunteerism Post-Sandy with NY1

As the long term recovery phase kicks in, homeowners across the Tri-State are experiencing the ongoing struggles associated with post-Sandy clean up and rebuilding.  World Cares Center is hunkering down for the long term volunteerism that will go on in areas like the Rockaways and Staten Island.  Inevitably, questions come up:  How do we recruit and maintain volunteerism to help homeowners do the tough work ahead?  How do we prepare everyday citizens for future disasters yet to come?  Lisa Orloff, Founder and Executive Director of World Cares Center sat down with Kristen Shaughnessy of NY1 to discuss how communities build resiliency to handle long term rebuilding and what volunteerism really means in an uncertain future.  View the video here: http://bit.ly/XOg4q7. 

Lisa’s message in a nutshell:

·       Everyone has a role in disaster response and when communities get involved in their own rebuilding, they become more resilient and better able to handle crisis in the future

·       Citizen volunteers need to be integrated effectively to make a dent in disaster response needs

·       Training is crucial, and available through organizations such as World Cares Center.  Go to our website for online training briefings and volunteer opportunities: www.worldcares.org.

·       World Cares Center can help emergency managers and local leaders better integrate spontaneous volunteers to make their relief efforts most effective.

In the face of future disasters, volunteers, local leaders, and emergency managers need to work together to rebuild from within local communities to ensure that those communities remain strong and adapt when uncertain crisis comes their way.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

Sandy Homeowners Must Prepare for Old Man Winter

We recently received some good advice about the importance of winterizing homes, from the New York Mortgage Coalition (NYMC), a nonprofit organization devoted to helping renters prepare for homeownership.  As the cold weather takes hold, it’s crucial that homeowners safeguard against frozen pipes by draining them of water.  This is one part of a process known as winterizing.  Homeowners need to winterize their homes by shutting off the heat, disconnecting the radiators and draining out any water, running plumbing fixtures dry to remove water in the lines, and putting anti-freeze in all the sinks, tubs, and toilet traps.  Here’s a step-by-step guide on winterizing: http://bit.ly/YgGsZc. 

As World Cares Center continues its work to muck out homes, prep work for the winter months becomes an important additional concern for homeowners not currently living in their homes since Sandy.  Draining pipes is a job best handled by a qualified plumber, ideally someone familiar with your plumbing system.  It involves a three-step process:

·         Shutting down the main water supply line

·         Draining all of the water from the heating and plumbing systems, and

·         Draining all excess water from the boiler and hot water units.

For a good video on this process, go to: http://bit.ly/UzaVMs. 

Following these steps to winterize your home, including plumbing work to shut down and clear pipes of water, will ensure that you are prepared for cold weather in the months to come.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

Top 10 Tips for Homeowners Post-Sandy. Mold Remediation is the Foundation for Rebuilding

Last night, in cooperation with Assemblyman Matthew Titone, we sponsored a World Cares Center (WCC) Muck out & Mold Remediation Training for Homeowners in Staten Island at St. Margaret Mary Church.  The training was led by our Staten Island Programs Manager, Michelle Bascome and our Leading and Managing Programs Manager, Marina Diaz.  They were joined by Michael Corbett, Compliance Assistance Specialist at the Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA).  We conducted this training because of our firm belief that education, preparation, and collaboration are critical components to rebuilding.  We focused on three topics during the training:

  ·         Facts about mold, safety, and sanitizing during a muck out

·         The importance of communication during a muck out

·         The physical and emotional strength needed to conduct an effective muck out

  Since Sandy, WCC has focused on the acute need for safe muck outs of homes to reduce the spread of mold.  Muck outs are a crucial first step in the rebuilding process. Before any rebuilding or refurbishing can take place, the home needs to be structurally stable, free of mold, and completely dry.  Given recent reports of homeowners putting themselves at risk by returning to their homes before undertaking a complete muck out, we recognize the need to provide training in this area.  For information on future trainings and muck outs in Staten Island, contact our Staten Island Programs Manager, Michelle Bascome at: [email protected].

  Since Sandy, we have deployed volunteer teams, with trained team leaders, to muck out over 600 homes in the Rockaways.  Homeowners who take on the task of mucking out their homes on their own, or with makeshift volunteer crews, should proceed carefully.  We’ve put together some handy tips for ensuring that your muck out is done properly.  Moving too quickly through the process won’t get you into your home any sooner.  Given the very nature of flooding and water damage, time is needed.  Here are our top 10 tips for conducting a muck out and stopping mold growth:

  1)      Understand the conditions under which mold thrives so you know why a step-by-step muck out process is critical. 

Mold thrives in warm temperatures (+60◦F), in water (+60% moisture), and with a food source (carbon-based materials like wood). 

  2)      Monitor your health for symptoms associated with mold exposure and make sure you take safety precautions to prevent exposure as much as possible.

Mold spores can cause the following known health effects and symptoms (allergic reactions, respiratory effects like asthma, irritant effects like skin rashes, opportunistic infections, and reproductive effects).

  3)      “Clean, Kill, and Coat” - The mold remediation process should include these steps to ensure your home is inhabitable and ready for rebuilding.

Clean out your home of unsalvageable items that are breeding mold, kill mold spores by disinfecting and sanitizing surfaces, and coat surfaces with a mold remediation solution.

  4)       Get the proper personnel and volunteers so the project is safe and on schedule.

Ideally, you want a licensed contractor, a trusted volunteer with professional experience in construction and electrical work, and a team of volunteers that are trained.  Find online training for volunteers at our website: http://bit.ly/X4GouS.

  5)      Personal safety equipment is essential for a successful muck out.

You can’t move forward with a muck out without the following essential equipment:  hardhat, goggles, N95-level respirator, work gloves, rubber boots, and heavy-duty rubber gloves.  A disposable “Tyvek” type coverall is ideal to protect your clothes.

  6)      Prepare for the unexpected by being rested and emotionally ready to undertake a muck out.

There will be surprises during a muck out including the possibility of minor accidents given the presence of hazards such as sharp objects and electrical wiring.  Don’t be surprised if you see critters (wild and domestic animals) unexpectedly hiding in nooks and open spaces.  Expect the unexpected.

  7)      Have all your muck out equipment handy before you start any work.

At the very least, you will need:  a 3-gallon bucket, crow bar, pry bar, box cutter, hammer, garden sprayer, bleach or mold remediation solution, contractor-grade garbage bags, and a first aid kit.

  8)      Shut down to reduce hazards:  gas, water, and electrical shut offs.

Work in a well-ventilated area – open and air out the house for at least 30 minutes prior to work, remove drapes that impede air flow, and utilize fans to improve ventilation.  Make sure the gas is shut off at the main valve, the water is shut off to the main water supply, and that your electrical system is shut off. If you are unsure about how to do these shut offs, consult a trained construction worker or call the gas company or your local fire department.

  9)      Prior to clean up, decide which items you need to discard and identify trained workers for specific clean up tasks.  Remove flooring and walls 12 inches above the flood level.

Remove contaminated debris/items, progressing from smallest to large appliances.  Mattresses and upholstered furniture should be removed as well as carpeting, papers and books, and food items.  Appliances that were under water or housed in moldy rooms should also be disposed of.

  10)  Respect the mold remediation process by following guidelines for adequate drying time.  Wash and sanitize, treat with mold remediation solution, and ventilate and dry the house thoroughly.

Use a pressure washer or spray to wash down and disinfect all floor and wall surfaces beginning at the flood level.  Use mold disinfectant products such as Shockwave or Sporicidin or create your own bleach/water solution.  Depending on the severity of the mold, you may have to coat surfaces with the mold remediation solution up to three times (drying thoroughly in between each coating) to ensure that mold is effectively stopped in its tracks.  Rushing during this part of the process may impede your rebuilding if mold is not sufficiently killed.

  We know homeowners have been devastated since Sandy.  The process of rebuilding requires a team effort, expert help, and patience to work through the stages of a successful muck out.  The reward for following these safety precautions will be progress towards a safe return to your home and peace of mind that you provided a foundation for rebuilding through effective mold remediation.

[worldcarescenter-blog]

Coordinated Volunteer Efforts Build Success: An Open Letter to our Sandy Volunteers

  FACT #1:  Community-based volunteers were critical to Katrina recovery efforts in New Orleans

FACT #2:  Spontaneous, episodic volunteers are a vital component to post-Sandy recovery

FACT #3:  Fact #1 and Fact #2 would not be possible without a coordinated volunteer effort

  When we say coordinated, we mean volunteers who are trained, led by a team leader, and managed throughout a volunteer effort to meet the needs of a specific community.  At World Cares Center, we work hard to ensure that volunteers are organized and knowledgeable, knowing where they should be and what they should be doing at all times. Our organization was formed to ensure this coordination in emergency response.   What we’ve learned over the years, is that during a disaster response, there is a disparity between resources, volunteers and the leadership and organizational expertise to manage those resources effectively.  Emergency responders have grappled with the problems of ineffective management and the lack of integration of spontaneous “episodic” community volunteers for years.  We also know that we can’t help homeowners in the Rockaways and Staten Island if we don’t have your help.  Volunteers -- neighbors helping neighbors -- are the lifeblood of our organization’s work.  With an organized volunteer corps, we can provide homeowners with efficient, safe, and supportive help as they rebuild.

  As we continue with daily muck outs in the Rockaways and Staten Island, we must ensure that volunteers are organized and knowledgeable about their work and feel supported by a team structure.  Our website contains a wealth of information to provide volunteers with training, relief program overviews, and scheduling resources.  This helps us to manage our system of volunteers in an efficient, targeted way.  Our website serves to connect our internal command system to volunteers across the country.  It is why we require all volunteers to fill out an online application (http://bit.ly/SIYmA3) and undergo an online briefing (http://bit.ly/X4GouS) before being assigned to any volunteer effort.  The only way to honor and respect both a volunteer’s effort and a homeowner’s need is to make sure organized relief and assistance are in place.  We have all heard horror stories about volunteers who lack coordination and organizational support.  They end up at the wrong place at the wrong time and don’t have the resources they need to do the job.

  World Cares Center works differently.  We want to make sure we know the number of volunteers we can count on to do work on a home muck out project.  That way, we can make sure we have enough safety equipment, enough tools, and a partnership with a homeowner so the work gets done correctly.  Volunteers should view the “Latest Updates” section of our website for daily information on recovery work initiatives. 

  As the long-term recovery needs of Sandy make themselves known, help us help others by visiting our website regularly to communicate your willingness to volunteer, to get trained, and to stay informed about where and when to go.  By communicating effectively with WCC, we can match your valuable assistance properly with a homeowner or community resident who needs you.