Dear Klamath and Lake County Community Member,
Multiple local voluntary organizations and the Klamath County Government are in the process of establishing a Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) team.
We would like to invite you to be a part of this enterprise.
What is COAD?
COAD is a networking organiztion that brings together local non-profits, for-profits, and community volunteers. The purpose of COAD is to collectively prepare, respond, and recover from disasters as a whole community. Through COAD, you can:
1. Communicate: Share your understanding and gain understanding from others.
2. Collaborate: Find ways to solve complex problems with other community members.
3. Coordinate: Gain access to shared resources from other community members, and share your resources with them as well.
4. Cooperate: Work shoulder to shoulder with other members of the community to help solve disaster-related needs that affect community members.
Why join COAD?
Our community is vulnerable to many threats and hazards. Through COAD you will learn about these threats and hazards, how our community and individuals can be vulnerable, gain access to vulnerability reduction
opportunities, and opportunities to improve personal and community resilience. Further, COAD is a critcal means by which our community will come together to take care of those with the greatest needs when experiencing during what could be the worst moments of their life.
1. Community Resilience: By joining COAD, you contribute to the resilience of our community in the face of
natural disasters.
2. Meaningful Connections: COAD provides a forum for expanding networks to find like-minded individuals
with a passion for community service. Building these connections can lead to lasting friendships and a
stronger sense of community.
3. Skill Development: Volunteering through COAD offers opportunities for skill development in areas such as
individual and family preparedness, first aid, psychological resilience, wilderness and disaster survival,
program management, organizational leadership, and more.
4. Making a Difference: Your involvement can make a tangible difference in the lives of our neighbors.
Whether providing support during emergencies, assisting with community outreach, or helping vulnerable
populations, your contribution matters.
How to get involved?
COAD will be hosting its inaugural meeting on this year’s Martin Luther King Day of Service (Monday, January 15th, 2023) from 5:00 PM to 6:30 PM at Klamath Community College (KCC) Building 7.
At this meeting, we will discuss the COAD Concept, Klamath County Emergency Management’s Volunteer Recruitment Strategy, and Volunteer Leadership and Culture.
The general meeting will be followed by a COAD Leadership Meeting for more avant-garde conversation from 6:30 to 8.
To register follow this link: https://arcg.is/HC4XK0
If you are unable to attend but still want to get involved, please contact us at michellec@klcas.org or em@klamathcounty.org for more information.
What are the Obligations?
Individual membership will be free. Organizational membership will have nominal annual dues (to be established by the future executive board). Dues will be for program operational costs, and not disaster response or recovery funding. Operational costs will largely be for meeting location reservations, meeting supplies, and guest speaker or trainer costs. If food is provided, it will be potluck style. Attendance is optional, but highly encouraged because we don’t want you to miss out on all the fun.
We hope to see you at the meeting or hear from you soon.
In the Spirit of Klamath,
Klamath County Commissioners Derrick DeGroot, Kelley Minty, David A. Henslee.
Clayton Dumont, Tribal Chairman, Klamath Tribes
Michelle Crane, Exec Director / Coord, K& LTRG
Ian Thigpen, Emergency Manager, Klamath County
Rachelle Escatel, Emergeny Manager, Klamath Tribes
Jonathan Anderson, SMSgt Installation Emergency Manager, Kingsley Field, ANGB
Kathy Foster, Financial Director, KLCAS
Jerry Hall, Volunteer Coordinator, Klamath/Lake American Red Cross
Richard Pfeil, Pastor First Presbyterian
Christine Hess, Executive Director, United Way of Klamath Basin