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Harold,
As Presidents and Service chairs for your Club I'm emailing to call attention to both immediate needs AND as preparation for the coming storm season. You're no-doubt aware that the first big storm of the season is approaching the TX coast. Beryl made history as the earliest Cat 5 hurricane in recorded history and bodes for a busy hurricane season to come!
This will very likely create opportunities for us all to provide the Rotarian Service Above Self as storms impact district 5890 and neighboring areas. An Action Plan put together by Disaster Aid USA and Wayne Beaumier contains steps we can take to ensure we maximize our collective resources to do the most good.
As Beryl approaches we're on "alert", but more storms will likely arise later this season. Many of you are already in a What's App group (created today 7/6) and have seen the latest notifications from Disaster Aid USA board member Patrick Leslie. Wayne and Patrick are our experts in the field and will help us navigate our collective response.
The point of this communication is to propose implementation of two items from the DAUSA plan:
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Encourage every Rotary Club in District 5890 to appoint a Point Person, Club Contact to address the disaster assistance and relief issues.
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Identify Club Rotarians and/or volunteers that would be interested in being trained in domestic and international disaster assistance and relief operations.
If you have a point person who is willing to be the point person in your Club please let me know and we'll create a list for use throughout the year. We'd also like to proactively identify those in your Club who are willing to be the "boots on the ground" Response Teams to employ, as available, when needs arise.
Systems are in place to identify LOCAL needs and share those opportunities with prepared Clubs. DAUSA has supply trailers stationed in Cypress, Conroe, New Braunfels, Harlingen and Corpus Christi, ready to help facilitate those who can work. Tools aren't required (gloves VERY helpful), but chain saws and cargo trailers would be especially helpful. Do you know anyone with these resources?
What to do:
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Recruit a Point Person for your Club (or take on this role yourself)
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Poll your Club to find those who are willing to take part in tree-removal, clean-up and/or muck & gut operations. Create a list of people and resources for your Point Person.
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Be ready to sound the alert to your Club & Response Team as needs arise. We'll let you know when specific needs arise near you.
It's been said, regarding this kind of effort, that "no one cares until it affects them personally". I pray that our district doesn't fit this description and prepares adequately for the need that seems very likely to arise. Thank you for being People of Action and preparing your Clubs for the opportunity.
Questions? Input? Call, text or email.
Mark McVey
832-407-6181 | RotaryMcVey@gmail.com
District 5890 Disaster Response Chair
President | Rotary Club of Greater Houston Veterans & Patriots
Loan Originator | Hancock Mortgage
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Good afternoon. I wanted to share this email from Mark McVey with all of you. Mark is the District 5890 Disaster Response Chair. His email describes the 5890 action network/plan and the need to identify a point person (I volunteered) and find others who are willing and able to to be trained to work on domestic and international crises, should the need arise. 
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