The 211 United Way Capital Area Helpline participated in the 2009 Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (TXVOAD) training conference. It was held at the AT&T Conference Center and Hotel in Austin, Texas, June 1st &2nd. The workshops and training programs focused on increasing the level of preparedness, response, and recovery operations in Texas. There were voluntary organizations, civic and community service groups, state agencies, and emergency management officials in attendance. The goal was to improve the coordination and communication between voluntary disaster relief organizations, not only during the 2009 hurricane season, but for other disaster events in Texas.
211 Co-Presented with Mary Mays, Emergency Management Coordinator from the Health and Human Service Commissions‘ (HHSC) Texas Information Referral Network (TIRN) on 211’s role state wide during disaster.
211 also participated in other workshops. Such as, 2008 Hurricane Season Lessons learned presented by Michael Harmon, Field response Administrator Governor’s Division of Emergency Management, and Pandemic Flu: Preparing Your Organization for Potential Impact This Fall presented by Cynthia Morgan PhD, RN, Community Preparedness Section Department of State Health Services, to name a few.
If you would like to see how you can become involved in disaster preparedness please contact Jerry Ronquillo, Community Outreach Coordinator with the 211 Texas United Way Capital Area Helpline at 512-323-5566 x55029.