If a local disaster is Federally declared, FEMA may have assistance available for you. Visit FEMA's Assistance website for more information.
During an actual community crisis or disaster, the Office of Emergency Management would partner with several community organizations that are ready to combine manpower and resources to quickly identify victims and meet their basic needs. All of the local disaster relief agencies listed below are a part of the Nashville Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters (VOAD). These agencies are just a small piece of who will be available to provide community sheltering, emergency feeding, distribution of donations, crisis counseling, disaster legal aid and coordination of limited financial relief, when available.
The Office of Emergency Management has Memorandums of Understanding with the agencies listed below, and they are all noted partners in the City's Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. However, when we activate the Nashville VOAD for a disaster, many more amazing agencies come to your aid. If you are part of a disaster relief agency and am interested in becoming a member of the Nashville VOAD, please visit their Nashville VOAD website to apply, so you can be a part of the coordinated relief effort.
Community members, survivors and disaster relief agencies can reach out to the Nashville VOAD at any time for assistance.
Here are just a few of the Nashville disaster relief partners that are ready to respond when a disaster strikes.
Donations management is a very large task during or after a disaster. The Community Resource Center is who we rely on for donations management. They receive, store, inventory and redistribute donations in an efficient manner. The Community Resource Center is also an active partner in the Nashville Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters, and supports agencies and individual families as needed. If you are interested in donating to, or receiving goods assistance, please reach out to the Community Resource Center via the Nashville Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters website.
The American Red Cross has a long history of providing assistance to disaster victims around the world, and is the lead community agency responsible for sheltering and mass care services in Nashville. The Nashville Chapter American Red Cross will help identify and provide damage and needs assessment for disaster victims, and ensure that they have food, clothing, water, medications and other basic essentials.
The Salvation Army has a long-standing history of ministering to children and families in Nashville, and could provide fixed and mobile feeding sites, clothing, bedding, lodging and other emergency aid to victims, if a disaster strikes. Also, the agency could provide case work and financial counseling services to families.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Middle Tennessee fights hunger by providing food, services and education to 46 Middle and West Tennessee counties, including the Nashville Davidson County area. During a community crisis in Nashville, Second Harvest would help in the coordination of basic food items to areas that need it. The organization was formed to provide a central distribution center for companies, groups and individuals who want to help provide food to people in Middle Tennessee who are hungry. Second Harvest is part of a nationwide network of more than 200 food banks and food rescue programs throughout the United States. In Middle Tennessee, the agency distributes food to more than 500 non-profit partner agencies.
The Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee is one of our primary charitable repository for cash, and would maintain ultimate authority and control over the Metro Disaster Response Fund, a program designed to meet the needs of our community during disaster. The agency would convene the Metro Disaster Response Fund Advisory Committee to evaluate requests for cash assistance and make distributions from the fund to tax-exempt, nonprofit organizations assisting with efforts to rebuild the lives of individuals and families affected by a local disaster - both immediately and long-term. The committee is comprised of a designated representative from the Mayor's Office, The Office of Emergency Management, Interdenominational Ministerial Fellowship, United Way of Metropolitan Nashville, Nashville Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster, business community, and representatives with the Community Foundation of Middle Tennessee.
The United Way Crisis Center/2-1-1 has been a critical partner in Nashville's emergency and crisis response efforts for more than 35 years, and is one of our primary charitable repository for cash, and would share authority and control of the Metro Disaster Response Fund with the Community Foundation of Middle TN. When a disaster strikes, Nashville will rely on the Crisis Center and its recently created 211 division to connect disaster victims to the services they need. Whether it is food, shelter, counseling, or other social service needs, 211 is specifically designed to connect people with more than 2,800 health and human services agencies. All 211 calls are answered by nationally certified information and referral specialists who are fluent in several different languages. The caller is provided with phone numbers, programs and services, location, hours of operation and other information relevant to what the caller needs.
Often, during a community crisis, people are eager to volunteer their time and energy to help communities recover. During a disaster, the Office of Emergency Management would rely on Hands on Nashville to connect volunteers with people and agencies that need help. Hands on Nashville links volunteers with available volunteer opportunities and helps coordinate large-scale volunteer disaster relief efforts.