DERA recently conducted the following major emergency response and relief operations in addition to sponsoring numerous long-term preparedness and educational programs.  DERA members are actively supporting long-term recovery efforts while preparing for future emergency response needs.

We would welcome you as an active or sustaining member, and urgently need your support. 

Everyone working for DERA is an unpaid volunteer.  We depend on initiative, teamwork and resourcefulness of our members to develop and manage all our programs. 

Summary of Recent DERA Disaster Operations

Current activities can be seen at the DERA Online Operations Center

DERA members deployed on a great variety of response and relief missions in Louisiana, Mississippi, Florida, Alabama, and Texas, as well as in Arkansas, Colorado, Tennessee, Utah, Georgia, North Carolina and other states where large numbers of evacuees found temporary housing.DERA provided financial assistance to Mexican volunteer rescue teams following devastating damage from Hurricane Wilma on the Yucatan peninsula. 

• DERA, along with our partner WCARS, operated an emergency communications vehicle in support of disaster operations in several states.  The vehicle, now in the mountains of North Carolina, continues to provide support for communications emergencies including severe winter storms.
• DERA communications equipment, including satellite ground stations, portable satellite telephones, portable HF stations and VHF/UHF tactical radios were deployed to key response areas ahead of these hurricanes and provided critically needed service. 
• DERA logistics teams and emergency management specialists assisted other relief organizations with logistics, mission coordination and other special needs.
• DERA continues to operate a clearinghouse to match offers of assistance with those in need for long-term recovery.
• DERA members provided round-the-clock communications support and technical assistance to recovery teams in Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama and will continue to provide assistance as needed.  
• DERA members are leading long-term recovery projects and will remain committed to this mission for the long term.
• DERA is providing education and materials to families on ways they can restore vital paper documents and photographs that have been damaged.

EARTHQUAKE: INDIA - KASHMIR - PAKISTAN 2005: The October 2005 earthquake has resulted in tens of thousands of deaths and loss of homes and livelihoods for about a million people.  Our lead partner for response is NIAR, with teams active throughout the region.  DERA will also support shipment of food by our member organization Feed the Children.

TSUNAMI 2004:  Critical recovery efforts are continuing, nearly a year after the disaster. The December 2004 earthquake and tsunami tragedy is one of the most notable natural disasters in modern history.  Deaths have been confirmed in at least eight countries while a dozen other countries are now experiencing severe economic impact.  Citizens from over 75 countries have been reported as missing, and the death toll is now estimated to exceed well over 150,000, with millions more at immediate risk from disease and complications from injury.  The Tsunami left at least 5,000,000 people homeless and in  need of immediate shelter.

• At the time of the disaster, DERA members were on the Andaman and Nicobar Islands (near the earthquake's epicenter in Indonesia) working on an amateur radio communications project which DERA was co-funding with NIAR/India.  The highly trained team of unpaid volunteers was well equipped with radios, food, medical supplies and support supplies. 
• Although many of their supplies were lost or damaged, team members escaped with minor injuries and immediately began assisting the rescue and relief effort by providing local and long range radio communications and conducting preliminary damage assessment.  
• For several days, these team members provided the only communications with the outside world from remote areas of the islands.  Because Car Nicobar Island remained isolated even after several days, the government of India asked the team to further divide its assets and send two team members with HF radio equipment by helicopter to that island.  

• Team members plan to remain on the islands providing critical, life-saving communications as long as needed.  DERA will continue to fund the operation.

• DERA is also working through our members in affected countries and in support of our partnership organizations to provide medical assistance, emergency communications, and recovery planning.

HAITI 2004:   Hurricanes in 2004 caused extensive devastation on the island of Haiti, resulting in a humanitarian crisis of extreme proportions. Emergency medical care, rescue of trapped victims and mass care for homeless victims were top priorities.  Unfortunately, the storms had also destroyed much of the island's communications infrastructure, making the task of incident management and resource prioritization nearly impossible. 

• DERA quickly coordinated requirements with medical assistance teams and humanitarian aid groups already in Haiti, developed a contingency communications support plan, purchased radio equipment, and dispatched technical teams to Haiti in the immediate aftermath of Hurricane Ivan. 
• DERA continues to work in partnership with medical support teams and other relief organizations on several long-term recovery and restoration projects in Haiti, and plans to send additional technical support teams as needed. 
• DERA is hosting a workshop in Orlando, Florida in February 2005, to identify urgent unmet needs in Haiti and facilitate a coordinated effort among the many organizations committed to assisting in the Haitian recovery.

FLORIDA and OTHER U.S. STATES 2004:  The 2004 hurricane season was an exceptionally difficult one for many states in addition to Florida.  At times, local resources were overwhelmed despite a very high level of preparedness. DERA responded to numerous requests for assistance and is continuing to support local recovery efforts, public education, and compilation of lessons-learned reports.

• DERA deployed communications support teams with satellite telephone equipment to numerous sites in Florida, and was credited with providing life-saving medical communications in the Pensacola area following Hurricane Ivan.
• In North Carolina, DERA members provided emergency communications support to isolated communities following massive flooding.