Effective June 30, 2008, HSC closed its Disaster Preparedness and Response Program due to the loss of government funding.  As of June 30, 2009, HSC reopened the program to investigate fully resurrecting the program.

The HSC Human Services Disaster Preparedness and Response (DP&R) program was the Human Services sector’s focal point to prepare together for helping people recover from major disaster.  Working in cooperation with federal, State, and City agencies, as well as other local and regional bodies, HSC coordinated the preparedness activities of NYC human services organizations for responding to large-scale disasters that require human service organizations to work in concert.

With the leadership of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Committee, chaired by Msgr. Kevin Sullivan, Executive Director, Catholic Charities of the Archdiocese of New York, HSC accomplished a great deal over the past two and a half years. The Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Recovery Plan of the Not-for-Profit Human Services Sector in New York City developed by HSC is the most comprehensive experience-based plan of its kind.  The sector’s voice was represented in multiple collaborations with government agencies, including the development of a Disaster Assistance Service Center Plan.  A study of the sector’s response on behalf of Katrina evacuees in New York City produced concrete recommendations that improved our planning.  Multi-agency consultation generated recommendations that were incorporated into the national Coordinated Assistance Network software, making that system more responsive to the needs of local agency staff.  A strong program of exercises and drills was begun with two tabletop exercises that tested sector responsiveness. 

For general information on disaster preparedness click here.

Information for HSC member agencies is available in our Members Only section.