WHAT IS A COAD
A Community Organization Active in Disaster (COAD) is a coalition comprised of representatives from public, private, civic, faith-based and not-for-profit agencies; whose mission is to enhance our community’s ability to mitigate, prevent, prepare for and recover from future disasters and community emergencies. The goal of a COAD is to strengthen area-wide disaster coordination by promoting advocacy and planning to reduce the impact of disasters, including facilitating communication, coordination, collaboration and cooperation.
COLE COUNTY COAD
The Cole County COAD has been formed to ensure the Cole County community has a volunteer coalition organized and prepared to immediately respond to future disasters. Membership is open to any individual or organization interested in any aspect of social services.
COLE COUNTY COAD MISSION STATEMENT
To develop and enhance partnerships including facilitating communication, cooperation, coordination and collaboration among public and private community stakeholders during all phases of a crisis or disaster.
COLE COUNTY COAD VISION STATEMENT
A resilient community with the capability to recover from disaster where every individual feels safe, supported and empowered.
ABOUT THE COLE COUNTY COAD
When the EF3 tornado tore through Cole and Miller Counties in May 2019, there was no formalized volunteer coalition. With the guidance of FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and SEMA (State Emergency Management Agency) and Missouri VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster); the Cole and Miller County Long Term Recovery Committee (CMC-LTRC) was formed as a volunteer coalition comprised of public, private, faith based and health and human service agencies. The CMC-LTRC provided coordinated management of the long-term recovery to residents and provided additional long-term assistance to individuals affected by the disaster who did not have adequate personal resources for basic needs as a result of the disaster.
In July 2023 the CMC-LTRC closed the last open case from the tornado of 2019. Now the role of the CMC-LTRC is to lead the formation of a COAD in order to be prepared to respond to and help our community in the case of a future disaster or community emergency.
The Cole County COAD is being formed to ensure the Cole County community has a volunteer coalition organized and prepared to immediately respond to future disasters. Membership is open to any individual or organization interested in any aspect of social services.
The Cole and Miller County LTRC is proud to include among its members:
- Catholic Charities of Central and Northern Missouri
- City of Eldon
- City of Jefferson
- Cole County Emergency Management
- First Christian Church of Eldon
- Lincoln University
- Lincoln University Cooperative Extension
- MU Extension Service
- Rape and Abuse Crisis Service
- Red Cross
- River City Habitat for Humanity
- Salvation Army
- Samaritan Center
- United Way of Central Missouri
JOIN THE COLE COUNTY COAD
To sign-up to be a member of the Cole County COAD please print and sign the CERTIFICATION OF COMMITMENT TO THE CODE OF ETHICS AND CONDUCT form and return it to the United Way office (205 Alameda Drive, Jefferson City, MO 65109) or e-mail it to Ann.Bax@unitedwaycemo.org.
RSVP FOR THE NEXT MEETING OF THE COLE COUNTY COAD
Please plan to attend the next meeting scheduled for November 7, 2024 to provide input on the draft Cole County COAD Strategic Plan to be presented at the meeting. Please RSVP by completing the form below.
Morning Session: 8:30 AM – 10:00 at Missouri Soybean Association, 734 S Country Club Drive, Jefferson City
Evening Session: 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM at Pawley Theater, MLK Hall, Lincoln University Campus, 812 East Dunklin Street, Jefferson City
