Perennial disasters and the efforts of NJVOAD organizations have made the NJ disaster human services community unusually cohesive. We now have three disaster-wide networks binding us together: NJVOAD, NJ Interfaith Disaster Recovery Partnership, and the NJ 2-1-1 Partnership.

For more information about the National Voluntary Organizations Against Disaster please click here.

Approximate Number of Clean Up Jobs
Completed by Volunteer Agencies during
the April Floods 2007

County	Jobs
Bergen (County)	12
Burlington(County)	4
Essex (County)	4
Mercer (County)	2
Middlesex (County)	8
Morris (County)	6
Passaic (County)	9
Somerset (County)	51
Union (County)	1
Ocean (County)	1
Undetermined (County)	19
Total	120

The week beginning Sunday, April 15, New Jersey experienced a major flood event in 12 disaster declared counties. We would like to take this time to thank Southern Baptist Convention, Mennonite Disaster Services, Tzu-Chi Foundation, United Sikhs and the Christian Reform World Relief Committee for their flexibility and willingness to clean up flood damaged homes, in conjunction with county coordinators as well as the Salvation Army, United Way, Catholic Charities and Volunteer Centers.

The continuous leadership efforts of Ken Curtin, Brenda Beavers, Rowena Madden and the NJ VOAD along with the executive leadership of Laura Marx and local 211 coordinators. Thanks to the FEMA Public Information Office, Community Relations Team and local organizations who promoted the service, monitered needs, and solicited additional agency support to do community outreach throughout the weeks. They exemplified what volunteerism and support for their community is all about.

In the past month, Tzu Chi, the Southern Baptist Convention, first responders and local volunteers responded to more than 100 requests from flood victims with dozens of calls coming within a 24-hour period.

211 and cleanup coordinators quickly established, interacted on the telephone with disaster victims requesting cleanup services, with specialized voluntary organizations and with local volunteers who wanted to join the effort.

The Salvation Army provided group accommodations for requested volunteer agencies along with the coordination of efforts from Lisa Galonardo of United Way and provided resources for volunteers to assist flood victims in cleanup. Thank you to the following organizations that helped out during the storm: Brenda Beavers and members of the Salvation Army, Mike Strickland, Wes Kent, and the Red Cross.

Sincerely, Cathy McCann, President
Greg Wu, VISTA/Clean-up Coordinator
and the entire NJVOAD Membership