LOWER LAKE >> In order to create a more efficient collaboration of all volunteer organizations dedicated to help solve the unmet needs of the Rocky, Jerusalem and Valley fire survivors on their long road to recovery from their devastating losses, a Long Term Recovery Group (LTRG) held its first meeting Friday morning,Oct. 16 at Lower Lake’s United Methodists Church.
Mitchell Miller, the Volunteer Agencies Liaison (VAL) from Governor Jerry Brown’s office in Sacramento and John Chavez,the VAL representative from the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) along with Richard Birk of Habitat for Humanity, explained that after governmental agencies have done all they can for disaster survivors,there will still be many people such as renters and those that are under-insured who could still be struggling to recover financially.
“A safety net must be created to keep survivors from falling through the cracks,” said Chavez. “The sooner organized you are,the better. Work on preparedness for rain,flooding and mudslides that could come this winter just as you’re beginning to rebuild.”
Miller cited that communities that recover the best from catastrophic events are ones that have cohesive volunteer networks driven by local citizens with an emotional attachment and investment to where they live. Funding through private nonprofit groups, churches and other organizations will continue to come into the county. The organizers explained that a rational system of disbursement of aid and information should be developed.
“Hey, this is a local thing,” declared Birk, “The LTRG board is local — we set policies. The community has the last word.”
A nucleus of five board members will quickly be appointed and a non-profit status will be established so the collaborative efforts of this fledgling group can begin. During this first meeting a survey was taken of all the volunteer agencies capabilities, capacities and commitment. Agencies such as AmeriCorps, a Mennonite group from back east and Middletown Bible Church, have volunteer labor to help rebuild homes.
Other various faith based groups such as the Salvation Army, St.Vincent de Paul, Catholic Charities, United Christian Parish,C learlake Lutheran and the United Methodists all pledged to collaborate in a unified effort to rebuild those Lake County communities that have been devastated.
According to FEMA, these groups must work to collectively determine what the county needs at each step of recovery over the next few years.
“At every disaster tehre comes a point where the local community rallies together in a more formal way,” observed FEMA external affairs specialist Steven Solomon.
North Coast Opportunities and other non-profit agencies also were in attendance.
