Adventist community Services Disaster Response is a program, under the umbrella of Adventist Community Services, which expands the role of ACS during the time of disaster in the local, state and national arena. The disaster response program provides a pathway through which the local church ACS can become involved and play a significant role at each level of government. All disasters occurring within the confines of the Chesapeake Conference, which includes MD, DE and three counties in WV, are the responsibility of the Conference. The execution of this responsibility comes under the direction of the Conference Disaster Response Director and the Conference Disaster Response Coordinators.

The requirements to become involved, even on the local level following a disaster event, have increased as a result of the 9-11tragedy, It is the responsibility of the Conference Disaster Response organization to provide proper training, execute necessary exercises and provide the tools, to prepare volunteers to carry out assigned task, when called into service. Our response generally takes the form of operating collection centers, distribution centers and multi-agency warehouses. The Conference Disaster Response Director will oversee the setting-up of these operations, arranging for their continued management and the closing out of the operation at the proper time.

Adventist Community Services Disaster Response is known nationally to be one of the premier organizations involved in Donation Management. This is not by happenstance; it is through an outstanding training program and much networking throughout the Disaster Response World.  Adventist Disaster Response operates under Memorandums of Understanding with the Federal Emergency Management Agency, the American Red Cross and many state emergency management agencies. It is also a founding member of the inter-agency compact called National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD) and the affiliated state VOAD’s.

Chesapeake ACS Disaster Response’s success depends on many well trained and committed volunteers in every area of the Conference. Jesus calls each one of us to service. Matt.22: 36-40, Matt. 25: 31-46. ACS DR is here to help prepare you for service in the 21 century.