Tuesday, July 1. 2008
Deployment Questions and Answers
Q. How long do deployments last?
A. Generally, a full day. And usually on a Sunday. When we are in a long term disaster clean up, we have longer deployments.
Q. What if I get tired and need to stop?
A. Your participation is totally voluntary. We only ask that you do the best you can, and no more. You will not be expected to work beyond your comfort level or capabilities.
Q. How will I know if there is a deployment scheduled?
A. Contact the NECHAMA Information Line for updated deployment activity - 763-732-0610 ext. 3. Watch your email mail for announcements. Check the web site at www.nechama.org. Click the link on Home page under Deployments
Q. How do I get to the deployment area?
A. Most of the time we ask our volunteers to find their own transportation, yet on certain special days, there will be one or more NECHAMA or private vehicles departing from a central staging point. Generally, the meeting point is the Minneapolis Jewish Community Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park.
Q. Who will give me instruction?
A. The Operations Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, or senior NECHAMA volunteers will provide you with all necessary information at the staging point and/or during and throughout the field work.
Q. What if someone needs to urgently reach me when I’m out on a deployment?
A. NECHAMA has cell phones and field radios that can reach into areas even when phone lines are down. Contact numbers will be issued at time of deployment.
Q. Can I drive my own vehicle to a deployment?
A. Yes. You are free to move at your own schedule.
Q. Are their any costs involved to participating with NECHAMA?
A. No.
Q. What if I can’t or don’t want to operate a chain saw or pressure washer? Are there other things I can do?
A. Yes. Much of the clean-up work amounts to the equivalent of heavy housework.
Q. If I register as a volunteer, am I obligated to go on all deployments?
A. No. Your participation is strictly voluntary. As much time as you put in is based on your availability and willingness to help others in need.
Q. What is the primary mission of NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster?
A. Cleanup following natural disasters such as storms, tornadoes and floods
Q. What does “NECHAMA” mean?
A. “NECHAMA” is a Hebrew word that means 'comfort'.
Q. How old is the NECHAMA organization?
A. Started in 1993 when founder Steve Lear drove to Des Moines to help out after a flood. He continued to respond to regional disasters and kept taking more and more people with him each time he went. Today we have a database of about 1200 people we inform about Nechama volunteer activities.
Q. Is NECHAMA a national organization?
A. No. NECHAMA is based in the Twin Cities, but its long range plan is to expand to other areas of the country. Since Hurricane Katrina, NECHAMA has worked extensivly in the Gulf Coast area; and also in Upstate New York.
Q. What is the monetary charge to its clients for NECHAMA’s disaster response services?
A. Nothing. NECHAMA is a volunteer organization that provides its services free of charge.
Q. Does NECHAMA provide services only to the Jewish community?
A. No. NECHAMA provides help to all persons in need of cleanup following a natural disaster.
Q. Do you have to be Jewish to volunteer with and work for NECHAMA?
A. No. NECHAMA has a large number of non-Jewish volunteers. We also work along side other 'faith based' volunteer agencies such as the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services/Lutheran Disaster Response, Catholic Charities, Church World Service, United Methodists, American Baptist Convention, and others.
Q. Do you have to be a NECHAMA volunteer to use it’s equipment and tools?
A. No. NECHAMA makes it’s equipment available to other volunteer agencies, groups of local volunteers and to private property owners.
Q. What do I need to bring on a deployment?
A. Work clothing that will get dirty. We reccomend long pants, work shirts, boots or sturdy shoes. We also reccomend that you may want to bring a change of clothing for the return trip home.
Q. How can NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster be contacted to get help?
A. NECHAMA can be contacted directly by calling 763-732-0610.
Q. What kind of disasters does NECHAMA respond to?:
A. Floods, Tornadoes, Sand bagging, Windstorms, and other natural disasters.
Q. Where does NECHAMA get its funding?:
A. Private and public foundations, grants, donations. If you are interested in making an on-line donation, go to our home page and click on "Donate to NECHAMA"
Q. Does NECHAMA operate only in the Twin Cities?
A. No. NECHAMA is based in the Twin Cities, but responds to disasters throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the eastern Dakotas. We also respond to large national events as determined by our Board of Directors.
Q. How old do you have to be to be a volunteer worker with NECHAMA?
A. You must be at least 13 years of age. Those 13 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Anyone 18 or above can be a volunteer on their own.
Q. Am I covered by NECHAMA’s insurance if I participate in a deployment?
A. Generally not. We encourage anyone participating with NECHAMA to carry their own medical, personal injury, and general liability coverage. Additionally, all volunteers must sign a waiver of release of liability prior to working.
Q. What happens if I get injured while volunteering?
A.We will always make our best effort to create a safe working environment for everyone. However, you will be asked to sign a waiver of liability if you participate on a NECHAMA deployment. NECHAMA cannot, and does not accept responsibility for any workers or volunteer’s safety. NECHAMA managers may at their discretion,ask volunteers not to participate, or to leave an area if in the manager’s opinion it is considered dangerous.
A. Generally, a full day. And usually on a Sunday. When we are in a long term disaster clean up, we have longer deployments.
Q. What if I get tired and need to stop?
A. Your participation is totally voluntary. We only ask that you do the best you can, and no more. You will not be expected to work beyond your comfort level or capabilities.
Q. How will I know if there is a deployment scheduled?
A. Contact the NECHAMA Information Line for updated deployment activity - 763-732-0610 ext. 3. Watch your email mail for announcements. Check the web site at www.nechama.org. Click the link on Home page under Deployments
Q. How do I get to the deployment area?
A. Most of the time we ask our volunteers to find their own transportation, yet on certain special days, there will be one or more NECHAMA or private vehicles departing from a central staging point. Generally, the meeting point is the Minneapolis Jewish Community Center, 4330 S. Cedar Lake Road, St. Louis Park.
Q. Who will give me instruction?
A. The Operations Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, or senior NECHAMA volunteers will provide you with all necessary information at the staging point and/or during and throughout the field work.
Q. What if someone needs to urgently reach me when I’m out on a deployment?
A. NECHAMA has cell phones and field radios that can reach into areas even when phone lines are down. Contact numbers will be issued at time of deployment.
Q. Can I drive my own vehicle to a deployment?
A. Yes. You are free to move at your own schedule.
Q. Are their any costs involved to participating with NECHAMA?
A. No.
Q. What if I can’t or don’t want to operate a chain saw or pressure washer? Are there other things I can do?
A. Yes. Much of the clean-up work amounts to the equivalent of heavy housework.
Q. If I register as a volunteer, am I obligated to go on all deployments?
A. No. Your participation is strictly voluntary. As much time as you put in is based on your availability and willingness to help others in need.
Q. What is the primary mission of NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster?
A. Cleanup following natural disasters such as storms, tornadoes and floods
Q. What does “NECHAMA” mean?
A. “NECHAMA” is a Hebrew word that means 'comfort'.
Q. How old is the NECHAMA organization?
A. Started in 1993 when founder Steve Lear drove to Des Moines to help out after a flood. He continued to respond to regional disasters and kept taking more and more people with him each time he went. Today we have a database of about 1200 people we inform about Nechama volunteer activities.
Q. Is NECHAMA a national organization?
A. No. NECHAMA is based in the Twin Cities, but its long range plan is to expand to other areas of the country. Since Hurricane Katrina, NECHAMA has worked extensivly in the Gulf Coast area; and also in Upstate New York.
Q. What is the monetary charge to its clients for NECHAMA’s disaster response services?
A. Nothing. NECHAMA is a volunteer organization that provides its services free of charge.
Q. Does NECHAMA provide services only to the Jewish community?
A. No. NECHAMA provides help to all persons in need of cleanup following a natural disaster.
Q. Do you have to be Jewish to volunteer with and work for NECHAMA?
A. No. NECHAMA has a large number of non-Jewish volunteers. We also work along side other 'faith based' volunteer agencies such as the Salvation Army, Lutheran Social Services/Lutheran Disaster Response, Catholic Charities, Church World Service, United Methodists, American Baptist Convention, and others.
Q. Do you have to be a NECHAMA volunteer to use it’s equipment and tools?
A. No. NECHAMA makes it’s equipment available to other volunteer agencies, groups of local volunteers and to private property owners.
Q. What do I need to bring on a deployment?
A. Work clothing that will get dirty. We reccomend long pants, work shirts, boots or sturdy shoes. We also reccomend that you may want to bring a change of clothing for the return trip home.
Q. How can NECHAMA – Jewish Response to Disaster be contacted to get help?
A. NECHAMA can be contacted directly by calling 763-732-0610.
Q. What kind of disasters does NECHAMA respond to?:
A. Floods, Tornadoes, Sand bagging, Windstorms, and other natural disasters.
Q. Where does NECHAMA get its funding?:
A. Private and public foundations, grants, donations. If you are interested in making an on-line donation, go to our home page and click on "Donate to NECHAMA"
Q. Does NECHAMA operate only in the Twin Cities?
A. No. NECHAMA is based in the Twin Cities, but responds to disasters throughout Minnesota, Wisconsin, Iowa, and the eastern Dakotas. We also respond to large national events as determined by our Board of Directors.
Q. How old do you have to be to be a volunteer worker with NECHAMA?
A. You must be at least 13 years of age. Those 13 to 17 must be accompanied by a parent or guardian. Anyone 18 or above can be a volunteer on their own.
Q. Am I covered by NECHAMA’s insurance if I participate in a deployment?
A. Generally not. We encourage anyone participating with NECHAMA to carry their own medical, personal injury, and general liability coverage. Additionally, all volunteers must sign a waiver of release of liability prior to working.
Q. What happens if I get injured while volunteering?
A.We will always make our best effort to create a safe working environment for everyone. However, you will be asked to sign a waiver of liability if you participate on a NECHAMA deployment. NECHAMA cannot, and does not accept responsibility for any workers or volunteer’s safety. NECHAMA managers may at their discretion,ask volunteers not to participate, or to leave an area if in the manager’s opinion it is considered dangerous.
Posted by Seth Gardner
in Deployments
