Assistance

SE4A sponsors a Disaster Relief Initiative implemented to assist AAA's within the eight states who have experienced a disaster.

The purpose of the Disaster Relief Initiative is:

1. To respond to the needs of the Area Agencies on Aging before, during and after natural or manmade disasters
2. Develop a communication system that will provide information from the affected areas to other AAA's within SE4A
3. Develop a Disaster Escrow Fund that can be accessed by SE4A member

For the purpose of the SE4A Disaster Action Plan, a Disaster is defined as any natural or manmade situation that is declared by the Governor of the State or the President as a Disaster. (Examples: Flood, hurricane, tornado, ice storm, etc.)

AAA's may use the Disaster Communication System to:

• Notify other AAA's of their status
• Request Resource Information
• Request Volunteer Assistance
• Request In Kind Contributions

When contacting the SE4A Secretary to have information distributed through the Disaster Communication System, the AAA Disaster Contact Person must provide the SE4A Secretary with the name of a contact person, email phone number, address, etc. and details of the type of assistance needed. This way AAA's responding to the request for assistance can contact directly the AAA in need.

SE4A will budget $1000 annually to the Disaster Escrow Fund (The SE4A Board could vote to not make this allocation if there is more than $5000 in the Fund or the Budget cannot accommodate the allocation)

The escrow fund will also serve as an emergency account that will allow the association to accept donations, grants and other monetary gifts on behalf of the AAA(s) whose planning area has been affected by a disaster.

Each disaster will be dealt with independently, based on the circumstances.

Any eligible AAA based on the Eligibility Criteria may receive up to $2000 (depending on availability of funds in the Disaster Escrow Fund) and any other designated funds. All donations, grants and other monetary gifts made to the Disaster Escrow Fund on behalf of a specific AAA will be allocated to the designated AAA.

The SE4A Board of Directors will address requests exceeding $2000. The Executive Committee will be empowered to act between scheduled Board meetings in urgent situations. The Executive Committee is empowered to authorize additional funds not to exceed $5,000 (depending on available of funds in the Disaster Escrow Fund). Such actions will be reviewed and ratified at the next full Board meeting.

The Budget and Finance Committee will be responsible for the maintenance of the Disaster Escrow Fund and the dissemination of information to the membership about the existence of the SE4A Disaster Action Plan and Procedures for access.

The SE4A Board will make all decisions related to the implementation of these procedures.

Eligibility Criteria:

• Any AAA within the member states of the Southeastern Association of Area Agencies on Aging will be eligible for funds and assistance from the association (Membership in SE4A is not required to receive assistance from the Disaster Escrow Fund)
• The AAA must be declared a disaster by the Governor of the State of the President of the United States.
• The Disaster Assistance Request Form must be completed and submitted to the chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee of SE4A.

Procedures for Requesting Disaster Assistance:

• The Area Agency on Aging will complete the SE4A Disaster Assistance Request Form to request funds.
• The completed form may be sent to any of the local state SE4A Board members to be submitted to the state's member of the Budget and Finance Committee.
• The local state member of the Budget and Finance Committee is responsible for the review and verification of the request by the AAA(s).
• The local state member of the Budget and Finance Committee is responsible forwarding the request to the Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee.
• The Chairman of the Budget and Finance Committee may approve up to $2000 if the requesting AAA meets the eligibility criteria and completes the process.
• Amounts requested exceeding $2,000 must be submitted to the SE4A President. The SE4A President will review the request and notify the board members of the request. If notification to all board members is not feasible, the President will enact the Executive Committee to make a decision on the request. Such actions will be reviewed and ratified at the next full Board meeting.
• The Treasurer is authorized to process payment once the appropriate steps are complete.
• The Treasurer will notify the local state member of the Budget and Finance Committee and the applying AAA of the approved or disapproved request that was received by their state AAA(s).
• The SE4A Board will make all decisions related to the implementation of these procedures.

DISASTER Preparing and Coping 2008 (PowerPoint)

Disaster Emergency and Disaster (Powerpoint)

Disaster Emergency and Disaster (PDF)

Emergency and Disaster Preparedness for the Elderly and Disabled (PowerPoint)

Disaster Assistance Request Form

Disaster Assistance Brochure