Grantee:

Emergency Preparedness Grants Program

Current Grant:

11 grants totaling $331,130 (2006)

Project:

Enhance emergency preparedness planning impacting vulnerable populations

Impact:

In a state prone to hurricanes and floods, North Carolina’s nonprofits and social service agencies are frequently called upon to support their communities in the wake of disaster. Each emergency provides lessons learned and an opportunity to enhance our response for the next storm season.

The importance of emergency preparedness was highlighted in 2005 when the world watched in horror as Hurricane Katrina wreaked havoc on New Orleans and its Gulf Coast neighbors. Images of flooded neighborhoods, desperate escapes and upturned lives were glimpses into Hurricane Katrina’s true impact. As the days and weeks passed, it became painfully clear that those who most needed help before, during and after the storm were not getting it. How could so many be stranded and left behind? Why weren’t we more prepared? These questions continue to be raised, years after Katrina, in the face of new storms and emergencies.

In an effort to support our nonprofit partners and turn lessons learned from Katrina into productive and innovative preparedness efforts in our state, we created the Emergency Preparedness Grant Program in 2006. This one-time initiative provided funding to nonprofit organizations and government entities seeking to improve emergency preparedness plans and activities specifically impacting our state’s most vulnerable populations - elderly, chronically ill, low-income and non-English speaking populations.

The projects we invested in are unique—ranging from a Red Cross partnership with Univision to reach Hispanic residents, to a mapping system and registry to assist residents of group homes—but many of the lessons learned in the process of implementing these programs were held in common. In the fall of 2007, BCBSNC Foundation hosted a convening of grantees to provide a forum for them to discuss their shared success and goals for the future and to document their learning.

The report In Case of Emergency arose out of that convening and summarizes the participating group’s experiences and lessons learned. Our hope is that it will be a resource for emergency responders, nonprofit organizations, grantmakers and communities across the state. It showcases our state’s diverse preparedness needs as well as the distinctive approaches underway to ensure the safety of all North Carolinians in times of disaster.

View the complete list of Emergency Preparedness Grantees.