All Hands Volunteers (VOLUNTEER OPS/COORDINATION) - 2012 HURRICANE SANDY

In conjunction with the New Jersey Voluntary Organizations
Active in Disaster (VOAD) and partner agencies, All Hands
Volunteers and its Recovery Coordination Center (RCC)
division will be providing coordination for the statewide
volunteer cleanup in New Jersey after Hurricane Sandy.

“It’s a coalition where all volunteer organizations come
together,” explained Katherine Clements, who is heading up
the All Hands coordination. “It’s not just physical cleanup,
but sheltering, feeding, financial assistance, etc. Everyone
in the country wants to help, so there are a lot of
organizations that are ready to respond. They’re all
coming in, wanting to do the best job possible.”
That’s where All Hands’ RCC comes in.

“We want to make sure resources are used wisely,” said
Katherine. “We’ll identify where the need is greatest and
send organizations there. It’s helpful for everyone to know
where everyone else is, so that they don’t tangle up in one
place and have an area underserved. As individual requests
for volunteers come through a hotline, we will connect them
with help.”

Currently, the response emphasis is on assuring that people’s
basic needs are being met but soon the relief coordination will begin.
“I’ve heard from probably 15 organizations that have said, ‘We’re
ready, willing and bringing tools to New Jersey—where do you
want us to go?’” said Katherine. “We’re just waiting until we
get the clearance to begin. Because power is down and the
infrastructure is so weak at the moment, the emphasis is on
accessing information. We’re trying to determine the scene
on the ground, what kind of work will need to be done and
the severity of damage.

“Early next week, things should begin to clear,” she said.
“Fuel will start coming in, power will start coming back on,
and we’ll have a better idea of who is planning to show up.
We want to keep everyone safe and not burden the local
resources, so it’s a process.

“Our ultimate goal is to empower these volunteer agencies with
information and connectivity to where they can best be used,”
said Katherine. “The trickle effect of helping people is in
the thousands.”