IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

• The Katrina Disaster is undoubtedly the most significant natural disaster in a generation.

• The mission of the International Association of Fire Chiefs (designated 501 c 3 by the Internal Revenue Service)  is to provide leadership to career and volunteer chiefs, chief fire officers and managers of emergency service organizations throughout the international community through vision, information, education, services and representation to enhance their professionalism and capabilities. 

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

• The International Association of Fire Chiefs (IAFC) was heavily involved in response efforts to the hurricane Katrina disaster.

• Fire department losses suffered as a result of the hurricane are losses that the IAFC anticipates will ultimately be covered by both insurance companies and by the federal government. 

• The IAFC saw a more immediate need that may not be covered by federal dollars and that was the personal losses of IAFC members in the total devastation area.

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

• IAFC identified 206 members in the area that FEMA designated as “total devastation.”

• These became the universe of potential recipients.

• The Internal Revenue Service defines the approach that an exempt organization must take in providing disaster relief funding.  The organization must create an equitable and transparent process for distributing donor funds to a large or indefinite class of beneficiaries in response to a demonstrated need.

• The IAFC selection criteria required that recipients be IAFC members who work within the fire service and are located within the total devastation area. 

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

IAFC Relief Fund Process

• Create a IAFC Relief Committee (IAFC Treasurer, Southeastern Division Director, and Southwestern Division Director) to review grant requests

• Disseminate assistance information to IAFC Division secretary, president, IAFC Board representative, and IAFC members.

• Search for active IAFC members as of August 31, 2005 who are in the fire service whose address falls in a zip code of the total devastation .

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

IAFC Relief Fund Documentation

• Complete description of the assistance

• Purpose for which the aid was given

• Objective criteria for disbursing assistance

• Recipient selection process

• Name, address, and amount distributed to each recipient

• Relationship between the receipting and officers, directors, or key employees or substantial contributors to the charitable organization.

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

$61,000 raised to aid IAFC members

• Contributing Sponsors

Anheuser-Busch

Energizer

IAFC EMS Section

Cape Elizabeth (Maine) Fire Department

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

• IAFC staff members sent more than 600 emails, 250 letters and made close to 400 phones calls to locate IAFC members living in what FEMA designated as Katrina Total Devastation areas. Chief Jim Harmes sought out members during a visit to the devastation area.

• It took the combined ingenuity and talents of seven staff members with the support of Division secretaries and presidents to connect with more than 148 IAFC members. Fifty-eight members still have not responded to this outreach.

• IAFC Relief Committee dispatched funding to 58 members ($58,000), while 64 percent of those contacted declined assistance.

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

Alabama

• 29 IAFC members in total devastation area

• 1 requested support

Mississippi

• 51 IAFC members in total devastation area

• 27 requested support

Louisiana

• 126 IAFC members in total devastation area

• 30 requested support

ALL IAFC MEMBERS WHO REQEUSTED SUPPORT RECEIVED IT.

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

Sample comments from IAFC Members

• I really appreciate your concern and interest in my well being.  You are actually the first to ask me about myself.  I am doing fine is my first inkling to respond to that question. Deputy Chief G.

• WOW!!!!  This is great. I have asked FEMA for assistance, but to no avail.  The only things I get from FEMA are applications to apply for low interest loans. Chief T.

• Thanks. I could use some help. I cannot live in my home due to water damage causing mold and bacteria born diseases. My roof is severely damaged and the deductible on his house is over $3,000. My family is staying with family in a nearby town. My wife lost her job because the business went under...literally…so I’m not sure how we will meet these challenges. Assistant Chief B.

• The lower level of my home was washed away but the main living area is okay. A group from NC was in to help several fire fighters strip away the water-damaged portions of their homes so they can now dry out and rebuild. While I’d be interested in getting support from the IAFC please support those who sustained more damage first. I’d love your support but I know others are worse off than I. Chief H.

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

Sample comments from IAFC Members

• Oh my goodness!!  It seems unbelievable that I finally get some help.  You have no idea how much better it makes me feel as a fire supervisor to get some personal aid from fellow fire chiefs. Thanks so much to you all at the IAFC for the financial help.  God only knows how much I really appreciate it.  It gives me some emotional relief as well as some financial relief. Chief R.

• Thank you for asking. I am living in my office as the roof is off of my apartment. I was able to salvage some things before Rita hit. Continue to pray for us. Chief P.

• Thank you so much for your call. I was living with my folks but when their home was destroyed, FEMA gave them a check and they moved out of the area. I’d like to stay to support my community but I have no place to live. For now I’m living at the fire station. Assistant Chief B.

• Biloxi took a big hit and there is much damage but you do not have to look far to our west to see that we are “Blessed” compared with the damage to other areas. We are okay.  We bent but did not break. As far as assistance…we will gladly take any help we can get, both for our department and our people.  Deputy Chief J.

 

IAFC Katrina Relief Efforts

• Staff will not stop this effort until all IAFC Members in the total devastation area are accounted for.

• No membership dues have been used in this effort.