Volunteer Agency meetings for July 2021

Start Date: 07/02/2021

Description:

July 1st - Mental Health mtg. (virtually - 9:30-10:30 a.m.) started off this month with various organizational updates (from Montana Indep. Living Project, Western Mental Health, Greater Gallating United Way, MSU, HOPE AACR (Mary reported), and SW MT COAD (Mary reported). Second half of the meeting focused on the topic of "Mental Health Provider Flight". Carol Baumann (HOPE AACR) attended this call as well.

July 6th - American Red Cross - (in-person/5:30-7:00 p.m.). Several topics of current concern were discussed. First, focused on ARC Shelters (White Sulphur Springs and Red Lodge) updates for those impacted by the fire season. From there we discussed local fire responses and the "Shelter Simulation" conducted in June. The Shelter Simulation was done virtually and HOPE AACR had some input during that exercise. Additional reports covered the June SW MT COAD, AHAD (All Hazards, All Disciplines), Sweet Grass LEPC Mtg., Partnerships with Sheltering in our area and the Fall Smoke Alarm campaign coming soon.

July 13th - No monthly mtg. for the Mass Care Committee (SW MT COAD)

July 21th - SW MT COAD's general meeting (in-person and virtually/ 1:00-2:30 p.m.) Today's meeting had Gallatin, Madison and Park County Emergency Managers report out about current conditions within each county...the Goose Creek Fire in Madison County, the two fires that joined near the Crazy mountains in Park County, and Gallatin Counties multiple fire starts that were put out quickly (all lightning strike related)! Drought conditions are similar to late August on a more normal year. Each E.M. stressed the need for the general public to remain diligent to their local area conditions as we have 24 large acreage fires, around 400,000 acres burned, over 500 people have been displaced, and the National Guard providing support to several fire areas due to national shortage of wildland fire personnel.

July 26th - SW MT COAD's Communications Committee met from 2-2:45 p.m. virtually. We discussed topics for pre-recorded PSAs (financial donations only, Volunteering Tips, Animal Services, Fund Raising, and Preparation for Evacuation). Additional discussion areas included Facebook page topics for SW MT COAD. My action item to research my Monday, August 2nd - find out what type of supplies the "Small Animal Supply Trailer" (offered by Heart of the Valley Animal Shelter) to be used in a future PSA.

July 26th - Montana VOAD met virtually from 3-3:45 p.m. for program updates started with DES (Helena/state report included situational awareness in working with our Native Amerian partners/reservation requests as well as the level of state concerns overall with drought and current number of fires). From there, Ted Koenig from ARC reported out that congregate sheltering has returned although not alot of Montanans have utilized shelters to date. Additional reports from various organizations/agencies were status updates and resource availabilities such as the Montana Food Bank, Montana Legal Services, county level COADs, and "Just Serve" (a Montana volunteer resource).

Agency: SW MT COAD and committee meetings within COAD and ARC meeting
Teams:

Carol Baumann (MH meeting)


Region: