MISSION AND PURPOSE

• The purpose and mission of the Utah Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (UTVOAD) is to bring together voluntary organizations active in disaster and thereby foster an effective, congruent response in times of disaster.  Utah VOAD  seeks to ensure the availability of needed services and to encourage the uniform, impartial provision of these disaster response services. UTVOAD shares knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle—preparation,  response, and recovery—especially to help disaster survivors and their communities. 

• Members of UTVOAD form a coalition of nonprofit and faith-based organizations and government organizations and some non-profits that respond to disasters as part of their overall mission. Together UTVOAD fosters more effective service through the four  C’s—communication, coordination, cooperation, and collaboration—by providing convening mechanisms and outreach for all people and organizations involved in disasters.

• UTVOAD is a statewide umbrella organization comprised of existing voluntary agencies that may be active in any part of the disaster cycle (Prepare, Mitigate, Respond, Recover).  Each member agency retains its own organizational identity and its legal and other independence.