CAS CONNECT 2013

17 After the first responders arrive at a disaster site, offi- cials determine whether the disaster is beyond the scope of their agencies. If more help is needed, they call the Oklahoma Medical Reserve Corps. The program is administered by the Oklahoma Department of Health and coordinated by Debra Wagner, who over- sees and supports 34 volunteer coordinators and more than 5,200 volunteers in the state. Wagner, who is certified in volunteer administration, is working toward a master’s degree in fire and emergency management administration at OSU. “I started with the Medical Reserve Corps as a clerical volunteer handling logistics in a post-disaster simula- tion in July 2005 at the Cox Convention Center in Oklahoma City. “The drill opened my eyes to wanting a career that would give me the opportunity to be in the middle of things and make a difference, “ she says. When disaster strikes, state and local agencies and relief organizations contact the Medical Reserve Corps for backup. The organization brings in additional volunteers — such as medical and mental health professionals, as well as non-medical volunteers. Wagner’s animal response and triage plan started out as a class project at OSU. It was put into action following the May tornadoes — veterinar- ians and vet techs were the first teams Wagner dispatched to the affected areas. The Medical Reserve Corps doesn’t typically respond within the first operational period of a disaster, but the animal needs were immediate. The health and well- being of everyone in a family, including animals, is among the many responsibilities Wagner addresses. Rebuilding homes and lives doesn’t occur overnight. Often, organizations unite to create long-term plans to help the people who are affected by disasters. That’s where John Ricketts comes in. Ricketts is the manager of disaster services for Feed The Children, overseeing the orga- nization’s plan to help those in need following a disaster. He is working on his master’s in fire and emergency manage- ment administration. One aspect of the Oklahoma City native’s job is his involvement with the Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster alliance, made up of organizations and governmental agencies on local, state and national levels that collaborate to help disaster survivors and their communities. Ricketts was named the organization’s chair-elect in January, a role he will assume in 2015. As Feed The Children’s national representative to the alliance, he’s one of the first people to know about recovery efforts. Ricketts was involved with the relief efforts follow- ing the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, flooding in Nashville, Tenn., the 2011 tornadoes in Joplin, Mo., and in Alabama, as well as 2012’s Hurricane Sandy. For the disaster in Moore, Ricketts was called to the State Emergency Operations Center at the Capitol. There, Ricketts and representatives from the Red Cross, Salvation Army and other nonprofits teamed up to begin helping people. “Several organizations were coming together to make sure that activities don’t over- lap and that we help as many people as we can in the fastest way possible,” Ricketts says. Shortly after first aid supplies and services were provided to the residents of Moore, Ricketts and his teams began distributing supplies and food to the disaster survi- vors as they began rebuilding their lives. Ricketts and his teams worked at several distribution points, including the Lowe’s home improvement store in Moore and nearby Platt College. About 30 volunteers from Ricketts’ group handed out boxes with laundry deter- gent, cleaning supplies and hygiene products to more than 250 people. Since then, Ricketts and Feed The Children have provided aid to more than 50 organizations with 1.6 million pounds of in-kind dona- tions through 184 shipments, he says. Ricketts says he is in it for the long haul. “Going back to normal isn’t going to be easy for the citi- zens of Moore, but we’re going to be there for them as long as they need our help.” John Ricket ts and Debra Wagner at the Feed The Chi ldren warehouse i n Ok l ahoma Ci t y Stage 2 — Backup comes in Stage 3 — Long-term recovery efforts