Conference Call Minutes September 10, 2008

[ktho...@uccfla.org]

FLORIDA VOAD CONFERENCE CALL
September 10, 2008

PRESENT:
Rev. Mr. Marcus Hepburn, Catholic Charities/FLVAOD
Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson, Florida Conference United Church of
Christ/FLVOAD
Tara Duval-Good, FIND/FLVOAD
Marilyn Swanson, Florida Conference United Methodist Church/FLVOAD
Griselle Hernandez, Florida Conference United Methodist Church/CREW
Alix Stayton, Operation HOPE
Cindy Huddleston, Florida Legal Services
Tim Dinan, Catholic Charities Central Florida
Diane Vacca, Agency for Workforce Innovation
Garvil Wike, The Salvation Army
Ellen Wallace, VIND
Maryann Luther, VIND
Laurie Harding, VIND
Estela Roberts, VIND
Mary O’Geary, Tampa Bay American Red Cross
Kathy Broyard, Florida Presbyterian Disaster Assistance Network
Renee Mergott, CREW
Deb Alich, NVOAD
Hugh Jacobs, Florida State Corporation for National and Community
Service
Danielle Kearney, Lutheran Services of Florida
Dave Tuttle, Jacksonville VOAD

Marcus welcomes all to the call. Marcus said we will end the daily
call for FLVOAD calls on Friday. Ike will be affecting Texas, so
there is no need for the daily calls for Florida.

ESF-15
No report.

FEMA
No FEMA rep.

Marcus was in Lee County. County Commissioners are sending inspectors
in to the units to check for life and safety issues. Marcus inspected
Salvador, the park was flooded but most of the units were not. At
Manor Christian, the units were newer trailers put in within recent
years. Some of the units were flooded, but the major issues were code
violations with additions to the units. Teams will be sent in to look
at each unit. If a unit is not red-tagged, then people will be
allowed back in to the unit. Families who are U.S. citizens or have a
child who is a citizen will be eligible for FEMA assistance. There is
a meeting at 2:00 p.m. at the Lee County Human Services Building.

Kathy Broyard said there were flood warnings for Bonita Springs, Fort
Myers and Cape Coral this morning.

American Red Cross – Mary O’Geary said the American Red Cross is
continuing to close cases and putting together a plan for how the long-
term recovery is going to start.

Garvil Wike said they moved 3 feeding units to TX and they are doing
clean up in the area. Let Garvel know

Deb Alich with NVOAD said the national office is there for FL and are
in awe for all the FLVOAD is doing.

Dave Tuttle said they are still doing assessments and closing out
cases.

Danielle Kearney is coordinating volunteer teams.

Marilyn Swanson coordinating teams and needs to know where teams are
needed.

Marcus said there is a pilot on credentialing and there will be an
email regarding the details for the meeting. This will address
credentialing for the three county area of Osceola, Orange and
Seminole Counties.

Cindy Huddleston needs the assistance report from FEMA.

Diane Vacca said there is a re-definition of unemployed. This is a
person who was unemployed for six of the previous thirteen weeks.
This applies to all counties. This would open up eligibility for NEG
grant. The declared counties are eligible for NEG funding.

Next conference call is Thursday September 11, 2008 at 11:00 a.m.
Call in number 800-320-4330 - Pin 897612#

Meeting adjourned at 11:25 a.m.

Respectfully submitted,

Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson
Florida VOAD Secretary

Rev. Karen Georgia Thompson
Minister for Disaster Response and Recovery
Florida Conference United Church of Christ
6001 NW 8th Ave
Miami, FL 33127
305-758-4845 (office)
786-374-5542 (cell)
ktho...@uccfla.org