Official VOAD for Santa Clara County

What We Do

CADRE participates in several different types of activities. Read below to learn more details about VOAD, Workshops, Planning, Exercises, Conferences and Agency Emergency Planning Support.

Activity: VOAD

What is the Activity?

CADRE is the official Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster (VOAD) for Santa Clara County under Northern California’s State VOAD. VOAD supports County disaster response by coordinating nonprofits that come to assist the community.

Who conducts the activity?

Nonprofits voluntarily participate in CADRE coordination of disaster response. CADRE Board members, and staff, determine the direction of the group.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

CADRE VOAD activates upon request of local government or nonprofits in Santa Clara County after disasters strike.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

Providing a coordinated nonprofit relief response to disaster eases the burden on local government. CADRE provides a one-stop-shop for nonprofit disaster relief services by facilitating conversations and problem solving.

What percentage of our total time is allocated to the activity?

When a disaster strikes, the majority of our efforts switch to disaster recovery. This could be a few days, weeks, months or years.

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.

Activity: Workshops

What is the Activity?

CADRE conducts workshops on a variety of topics related to agency emergency planning and preparedness including, VOAD Activation, CBO/Government Coordination, Active Shooter, continuity of operations and disaster recovery as well as presentations on current emergencies impacting the community.

Who conducts the activity?

Activities are primarily prepared and lead by staff and consultants with participation and support of CADRE Board members.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

All activities are conducted within Santa Clara County. Activities are conducted at least six times per year.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

Improving the knowledge, skills and abilities of local nonprofits and local government – and developing pre-disaster relationships and dialogue – further CADRE’s purpose of easing the local government burden of having to coordinate hundreds of nonprofit agencies during disaster response and recovery. Our training strengthens the ability of local nonprofits to respond to disaster in a coordinated manner.

What percentage of our total time is allocated to the activity?

Depending on our grant agreements, this activity is allocated between 40 and 50% of total time.

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.

Activity: Planning

What is the Activity?

CADRE convenes different stakeholders to identify planning gaps and prepares plans and operational guidance documents to be used during future disaster response. CADRE planning includes function-based disaster recovery groups such as Food, Mass Care, Case Management, Emotional/Spiritual Care, Access and Functional Needs, Donations, Immigrant Relations, Legal, Homeless/Housing and Animals. Community nonprofits participate in the appropriate groups to strengthen planning and recovery efforts.

Who conducts the activity?

Activities are primarily prepared and lead by staff with participation and support of CADRE Board members.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

All activities are conducted within Santa Clara County. Planning meetings are held monthly.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

Improving the skills and abilities of local nonprofits and local government – and developing pre-disaster relationships and dialogue – further CADRE’s purpose of easing the local government burden of having to coordinate hundreds of nonprofit agencies during disaster response and recovery. Our planning strengthens and documents how local nonprofits respond to disaster in a coordinated manner.

What percentage of our total time is allocated to the activity?

Depending on our grant agreements, this activity is allocated approximately 30% of total time.

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.

Activity: Exercises

What is the Activity?

CADRE participates in Emergency Operations Center and field exercises conducted by local government and develops exercises to test nonprofit response.

Who conducts the activity?

Activities are primarily prepared and lead by staff with participation and support of CADRE Board members. CADRE Board members and partners also participate in EOC and field exercises developed by private business and local government.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

All activities are conducted within Santa Clara County. Activities are conducted at least once per year.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

Improving the skills and abilities of local nonprofits and local government – and developing pre-disaster relationships and dialogue – further CADRE’s purpose of easing the local government burden. Our exercises strengthen and validate planning and identify gaps used to improve disaster response and recovery performance and CADRE coordination.

What percentage of our total time is allocated to the activity?

Depending on grant agreements, this activity is allocated between 10 and 20% of total time.

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.

Activity: Conferences

What is the Activity?

CADRE convenes nonprofit disaster-related conferences open to people from all over the bay area and offers a broad range of topics that help local government and nonprofits build relationships and develop a greater understanding of the requirements and coordination needed for disaster response and recovery.

Who conducts the activity?

Developed by the Director of Training, our CADRE Board members, local nonprofits, local and State government will conduct the activities.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

Conferences will be held within Santa Clara County and the frequency will depend on funding.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

Much like our workshops, conferences provide a greater amount of time to discuss issues, learn about new topics and best practices and strengthen relationships.

What percentage of your total time is allocated to the activity?

Each year, the CADRE Board will determine time allocated for each activity. Estimate is 15% of time to plan conference.

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.

Activity: Agency Emergency Planning Support

What is the Activity?

CADRE works with individual nonprofits to guide them in developing a plan for their agency disaster response.

Who conducts the activity?

Activities are conducted by the Board, committee members and staff.

When/Where is the activity conducted?

Activities are conducted within Santa Clara County at the requesting agency’s location.

How does the activity further CADRE's exempt purposes?

When local nonprofits have strong emergency plans, it helps to ensure that they will be in a position to stay safe and support the greater community by functioning within the VOAD. This furthers our exempt purpose of easing the burden on local government and providing a single point of contact to coordinate recovery support.

What percentage of our total time is allocated to the activity?

Each year, the CADRE Board will determine time allocated for each activity. Agency Emergency Planning would be part of the current percentage allocated to Planning. Approximately 5%

How is the activity funded?

Santa Clara County funds some CADRE training through Homeland Security Emergency Management Performance Grants, Bay Area Urban Area Security Initiatives, grants from private organizations and donations from organizations and individuals.