Adventist Community Services.: Disaster Response

"Serve the poor and hurting in Christ's name"

What is ACS Disaster Response?
ACS Disaster Response is a voluntary service provided by Adventist Community Services to assist individuals, families and communities victimized by natural disasters and unforeseen tragedies.

Who comprises the ACS Disaster Response Network?
The ACS Disaster Response operation comprises volunteers who form local disaster response teams that are organized by state disaster response coordinators. State disaster response coordinators and teams assist regional disaster response coordinators to respond to multi-state calamities. The national disaster response coordinator manages the national program.

Who are ACS Disaster Response Partners?
ACS Disaster Response operates under a Memorandum of Understanding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross and many state emergency management agencies. It is also a founding member of the inter-agency compact called National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and the affiliated state VOADs.

Services Provided

The following services are provided to disaster survivors, their families and communities in cooperation with ACS Disaster Response partners:

•	Emergency distribution of relief supplies - a service that provides goods necessary for victims' survival such as drinking water, groceries, clothing and more.
•	Warehouse operations - a service where volunteers sort, package and store donated goods for distribution.
•	Donations coordination center - locations where donors can ascertain the real needs of disaster victims and donate goods.
•	Community collection centers - locations where community members can volunteer for disaster response.
•	Crisis response counselors - emotional and spiritual care providers who provide disaster victims, their relatives and neighbors opportunities to ask questions, chat informally or request prayer.