COAD focuses on disaster prep

ONEIDA, N.Y. >> AgroupofMadison County nonprofit organizations, government agencies and community members has teamed up to help form a C.O.A.D., or “CommunityOrganizationsActive InDisaster.”

The COAD’s role is to work toward preparedness in times of disaster. Several organizations throughout the county collaborate and will help coordinate emergency human services that will make the community safer, stronger, andmore prepared to respond to and recover from disasters. The COAD provides opportunities for people, through the organizations that have a unique interest in helping support people in need by participating in a range of measures to make their families, homes and communities safer fromdisasters of all kinds.

The COAD for Madison County was born out of the Madison County Non-Profit Consortium, founded by YMCA CEO Hank Leo, (who also chairs the COAD) in 2010, and in collaboration with the New York State Division of Homeland Security and Emergency Services, New York State Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster and other local organizations. Participating agencies include: ARISE, Cazenovia College, Church on the Rock, Colgate University, Community Action Partnership, Hospice & Palliative Care, Madison Cortland ARC, Madison CountyOffice for the Aging, Madison County Literacy Coalition, Madison County Youth Bureau, Oneida City Schools, Oneida Public Library, Salvation Army, American Red Cross, Oneida YMCA, City of Oneida Parks & Recreation, Karing Kitchen, Catholic Charities, regional United Ways, and the list is still growing. The goal is to work with local emergencymanagers to create short and longtermrecovery plans in the event of a disaster.

The COADmeets by-monthly at the Gorman Foundation Community Center on the first Thursday at 1 p.m.