COAD Response Network

The COAD Response Network ("COAD RN") is a network of nonprofit organizations, faith based institutions, and private businesses that may have a part to play in the response or recovery of a major emergency or disaster. This article serves to explain how the COAD RN functions for both member organizations and disaster Logistics professionals who may request their services.

The COAD RN is shaped and managed under the following principles:

1. Our country's history with disaster response demonstrates clearly that nonprofit organizations, faith based institutions, and businesses often have a role responding to, or helping communities recover from, major emergencies and disasters. It is best practice for government emergency management organizations to form those relationships prior to an emergency event instead of standing up those relationships in the immediate aftermath of a disaster. This is the main purpose of establishing the COAD RN: for Portland regional disaster responders to be aware of what organizations may be available to assist, and to use established relationships to interface with those organizations.
2. The participation of a COAD RN member is never compulsory. Logistics may request the help and/or material resources of COAD RN members, but members are encouraged to accept or decline the request in consideration of what is in the best interests of their organization and the communities they serve.
3. Status as a COAD RN member should not imply to Logistics personnel that the member is prepared to contribute material resources, or can purchase needed material resources without the assistance of government. Logistics should be prepared to work with Finance to draw up contracts as needed if a member's response capability is contingent on resources the member does not possess.
4. Each COAD RN member's profile will include two key documents: a Concept of Operations ("CONOPS") which describes how an activated EOC should contact the organization; and a Capability Statement, which describes the way(s) in which the organization may be able to assist in response and/or recovery operations. These documents should be written to comply with EMAP standards 4.6 and 4.9, and essentially serve as nonbinding Memorandums of Understanding (MOUs).
5. As COAD RN members participate voluntarily, their prospective response/recovery responsibilities are classified under the Volunteer Support Function (VSF) system.