Local Group Holds Disaster Tabletop Exercise and Annual Meeting

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

June 10, 2015

For more information, please contact:

Bet Savich, Director, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, City of Bloomington Community and Family Resources Department, 812.349.3472

Local Group Holds Disaster Tabletop Exercise and Annual Meeting

Bloomington, Ind. - Monroe County Community Organizations Active in Disaster (MoCOAD), a local group composed of organizations which would be involved if there were to be a major disaster in the area, held a preparedness exercise during their annual meeting on Monday, June 8 at the Monroe County Emergency Operations Center. The tabletop exercise, based on a major winter storm scenario, was an opportunity for the organizations involved to test their levels of preparedness at three different time periods -- 3 days, 9 days, and 30 days after the winter storm event. Debra Schneck, a preparedness expert and experienced tabletop facilitator, guided the group through the exercise.

In addition to the exercise, MoCOAD held an election of officers. Monica Clemons (Salvation Army), was elected Chairperson, Kathy White (Lowe's) was elected Vice Chairperson, Barry Lessow (United Way of Monroe County) was elected Treasurer and Mike McCann (Christian Emergency Network) was elected as an at-large Officer.

MoCOAD serves as an organizational network composed of representatives from public, private and nonprofit organizations. Member organizations include Monroe County Emergency Management, City of Bloomington Volunteer Network, Salvation Army, Stone Belt, Argus K-9 Rescue, Christian Emergency Network, Van Buren Township Trustee Office, St. Vincent de Paul Society, Lowe's, American Red Cross, Civil Air Patrol, Hoosier Hills Food Bank, Monroe County Humane Association and others.

The group serves Bloomington and the rest of Monroe County through five main avenues: creating a climate for organizational cooperation; improving coordination between public offices and community organizations; publishing and disseminating information to enhance organizations' disaster resiliency; educating organizations on their roles in disaster planning; arranging opportunities for MoCOAD members to meet and attend trainings and encouraging effective disaster relief legislation and policy. In addition to its services for member organizations, MoCOAD also provides emergency response materials for individuals and families at [on the MoCOAD website|monroecountycoad.org].

For more information about MoCOAD, visit monroecountycoad.org or contact Volunteer Network Director Bet Savich at 812.349.3472.

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[[image:24197]|http://www.monroecountycoad.org/]