About the Citizen Action Team Database

Our approach

We aim to enter command & control information for regions in advance of a disaster, and immediately following, so relief groups can hit the ground running and survivors can immediately locate services and supplies in their region.

This command & control information might be as simple as the name and cell phone for groups that are prepared to be first responders in a region. Or, if a region's disaster community chooses, it can mean a list of disaster response units and/or facilities that are on "standby" for disaster response activity.

There are many disaster response "command and control" systems in use by VOADs and EMA organizations. We hope to complement what these established systems offer, and to offer unaffiliated groups a way to track their own needs and resources.

This online, public tool aims to serve both survivors of personal tragedy (fire, flood, poverty, etc.) and groups of people affected by, or responding to, disasters. It aims to help case managers find resources for their clients, and to help people working and surviving in a disaster zone. It is intended to include urban areas as well as areas that may not be served by the larger cities.

Who it serves

This online, public tool aims to serve four groups in the disaster zone:

Using the site

Anyone can use this site. You do not need a password to access and sort information on facilities, resources, and needs. To see currently known facilities, open Facilities. We work hard to find locations that are open and to update their needs information; generally, it is pretty accurate.

If we are missing a location that could be a resource to disaster survivors, please let us know. To post entries yourself you need "write" access, which comes with an account: sign up for an account. (Remember, you don't need to log in to browse the existing data. You can start right away.)

If you do register, you can enter yourself as a facility, record your needs or what you have to give, and use Need matches or Availability matches on your facility page. The system then lists who has what you need and who needs what you have.

This tool was developed to help survivors and relief workers in the Katrina-impacted regions. Since then its use has expanded to many regions of the US and abroad. For more about our mission, see the rest of this page or visit ccc.haghy.com.

How to use the database

For beginner instructions, see the beginner guide and scroll down to the instructions, or read our help page.

For local folks

Open Facilities, then filter by state and/or county to find resources in your area, or use the facility map. If you know of resources we don't list, please log in and enter them. If you notice incorrect information, please contact us.

Looking for a particular service, such as showers, financial assistance, or medical assistance? Go to Categories and select Services for locations where individuals can go for various types of assistance. There is also a category for prepared Meals.

For donors

Open Availability/Needs for an overview of recently registered needs, or browse Categories/Items to find facilities that need an item you can donate. Click a facility's name to see its details, then contact them directly, or contact us to help arrange your donation.

Donors may also sign up and enter themselves as a Donor facility. Once you enter what you have to give (your "availabilities"), the system lists places that need it.

• Call first. Always confirm a location still needs what you want to send. We try to keep things updated, but the situation often changes daily.
• Tell us about major donations. Contact us so we can help make sure the location is ready to receive it. Our volunteers regularly help with large shipments, such as semi-trailers, and know the logistical issues.

For relief workers

If you are working with, or know about, a shelter or other relief facility or resource:

• If a database entry already exists for your shelter or facility, write to us so we can give you read/write access. With an account you can create and update new facilities, but you can update an existing entry only after you let us know you're working with that facility.
• If no entry exists for your shelter or facility, please enter one! If you have any questions about entering data or using the database, don't hesitate to call.

Please help!

We need people to help enter data and to give us updated information.

• If you're on the ground in a disaster zone, or in a region prone to disasters, and see something people would like to know about, tell us or enter it.
• If you run a hotline or manage facilities, we'd like this site to serve you and your users. We can update your information daily, or you can.
• If you're a volunteer who would like to help find sites and enter useful data, start right away, or contact us for guidance.
• If you manage a VOAD or a charity/relief group, please contact us so we can take direction from you and help you respond to and recover from disasters in your area.

Stay in touch

If you have any questions or comments, please contact us! We enjoy feedback and are working to make the site as easy to use and as useful as possible. I hope we have served you well.

Terra Friedrichs
Database Coordinator
(978) 266 2778