Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster is an affiliate of National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD). National VOAD, an association of organizations that mitigate and alleviate the impact of disasters, provides a forum promoting cooperation, communication, coordination, and collaboration; and fosters more effective delivery of services to communities affected by disaster.
The membership of Louisiana VOAD consists of both locally based organizations and local representatives of national organizations. Our goal is to strengthen the capabilities of organizations working together in Louisiana to respond to communities affected by disaster. Louisiana VOAD member organizations cover a broad range of missions and technical expertise and adhere to the 4 Cs: Cooperation, Communication, Coordination, and Collaboration.
Mission
The mission of Louisiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (LAVOAD) is to enhance the effectiveness of service providers and stakeholders who help communities prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters, with the overall purpose of lessening the impact of disasters on Louisianans.
LAVOAD accomplishes its mission by:
- Serving as a forum for the sharing of knowledge and resources
- Raising awareness among providers & stakeholders about best practices in providing services throughout the disaster cycle
- Advocating for sound public policies that support its mission and purpose
- Sponsoring activities that strengthen local coalitions
- Serving a coordinating role in statewide response and recovery efforts
- Supporting efforts to convene local VOADs/COADs and long-term recovery groups to support community recovery and preparedness efforts