Welcome to the Texas Gulf Coast Regional VOAD

The Texas Gulf Coast Region (TGCR) Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) is a local incarnation of the Texas State VOAD (www.txvoad.org) and the National VOAD (www.nvoad.org). The TGCR VOAD consist of non profits that have a role in long term recovery in the Greater Houston Area. Some of our member also have a substantial role during the response phase. 

Current Needs of Our Members

Since January 10 Project LIFT has been on the ground responding to the needs of the victims of flooding in and around the Third Ward area. Today they did a needs assessment to make a request to other agencies to support their efforts. This is a list of their current needs:

As of today, we are current with the locations and addresses of all evacuated residents from the flooded Royal Palms Apartments.  Here is what is needed

  1. Assistance with case management to assist with the long term unmet needs and plans to complete recovery – 62 units have varying degrees of damage and have been evacuated. 
  2. Furniture - Unless we can get furniture donations, or funds we will have to ask the community.  At least one agency has indicated they may have some vouchers to spare.  The main need is bedding, kitchen and living room on a case by case determination.
  3. Clothing donations (We have arranged for one of the units at Royal Palms to be set up as a clothing donations center.
  4. Volunteers (donations management – so that the big black bags do not become a second disaster
  5. Communications Committee to keep residents scattered across the city informed as to the status of their apartments,  

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Officers for 2012-2014

Chair:           Jenifer Posten , Interfaith Ministries
 Chair-Elect: Andrea Gillis. Neighborhood Centers Inc
Secretary:     Lunetta Sims, Gateway to Care
Treasurer:    Linda Walker, Adventist Community Services

Standing Committee Chairs

Membership:            Linda Hudson, Harris County Community Services   

Communications:    Tony Lamberth, The HELP Foundation                          

Education and Training: Denise Walker, Lone Star College System 

Mardie Menke, HCOHSEM           

Government Liaison:           Jennifer Posten, Interfaith Ministries for Greater Houston

The officers and standing committee chairs comprise the new Executive Committee. This committee will be responsible for planning events, programs and business agendas for the next two years, beginning with the January meeting. They will be open to ideas and suggestions from all members and friends.

Important Events

Coalition for the Homeless of Houston/Harris County

Houston has the largest homeless population in Texas and the 8th largest in the United States, with more than 40,000 people experiencing homelessness annually. Results of the 2011 Homeless Census and Needs Assessment indicate that over 13,500 people are homeless in our community at any point in time. In addition, school reports show that over 11,000 students attending schools in Harris County were homeless during the 2010-11 school year. Your generous gift of time, talent and treasure in support the 2012 Homeless Census and Needs Assessment will help the Coalition and over 200 of its agency and stakeholder partners assess the changing face of homelessness in our community and the unique needs of homeless youth, families and individuals.  

Upcoming Training

February 22-23, 2012

MGT – 315: Enhanced Threat and Risk Management

Lone Star College Cyfair

CERT Team Training is being scheduled at the following locations:

  • North Houston Area CERT training will be held at the Northeast Community Center, located at 9720 Spaulding St., Building #4, Houston, TX 77016. Classes will be held on Mondays from 6:00 - 9:00 pm, beginning March 12 and ending April 30, 2012. The training is free and open to the public. To register or for further information, please contact Michael Robertson at Michael.Robertson@houstontx.gov.
  • Katy-West I-10 VFD will be offering CERT training at the West I-10 VFD, Station 1, 22125 Kingsland, Katy, TX 77450 near the corner of Kingsland and Mason. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:30pm to 9:30pm, starting April 11, 2012 and ending May 23, 2012. To register contact Mardie Menke at mmenke@westi-10fd.org or call 713-755-2319.
  • La Porte CERT Team training will be held at City of La Porte OEM, 3001 North 23rd Street, La Porte, TX 77571. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., beginning January 19, 2012 and ending March 8, 2012. To register contact Kristin Gauthier at 281-470-0011 or GauthierK@laportetx.gov.
  • Cy Fair Area CERT training will be held at the Cy Fair Fire Dept , Station 11, 18134 West Road, Cypress, TX, 77433. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting February 28, 2012 and ending April 17, 2012. To register contact Terry Pope-Mobley at tpopemobley@yahoo.com.
  • Brays Oaks CERT training will be held at the HPD Gessner Substation, located at 8605 Westplace Dr., Houston, TX 77071. Classes will be held on Saturdays 9:00 am – 12:00 pm, beginning January 14 and ending March 10, 2012 (no class Feb 11). The training is free and open to the public. To register or for further information, please contact Bob Goodmark at braysoakscert@att.net or Marni Rosen at Marni.Rosen@houstontx.gov or 832-393-0920.
  • Denver Harbor Area Spanish CERT training will be held at the Denver Harbor Multi-Service Center, located at 6402 Market St., Houston, TX 77020. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:00 – 9:00 pm, beginning March 6 and ending April 24, 2012. The training is free and open to the public. To register or for further information, please contact Andres Ortiz at 713-672-2931 or gunnyortiz@comcast.net.
  • Baytown/Chambers County CERT training will be held at Baytown Office of Emergency Management, 205 E. Wye Dr., Baytown, TX 77521. Classes will be held on Tuesdays from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., beginning January 24, 2012 and ending March 20, 2012. The training is open to the community and surrounding areas. To register or for further information, please contact Amy Haire, amy.haire@baytown.org or 281-420-6556.
  • In-CERT schedules classes regularly at the S.H.A.P.E. Community Center located at 3815 Live Oak, Houston, Texas 77004. For information regarding classes at this location, contact Shandenia Gay, sgay@in-cert.com, cell - 713.294.7331 or Khallid Greene, morpheous@gmail.com, cell - 832.245.7642.
  • Spring-Klein-Ponderosa Area CERT training will be held at the Ponderosa Fire Department Station 61 located at 17061 Rolling Creek Dr. Houston, TX 77090. Classes will be held on Wednesday evenings from 6:00 p.m. - 9:00 p.m., beginning January 25, 2012 and ending March 14, 2012. To register contact David Corbin at david.corbin@oem.hctx.net or 832-851-3600.
  • Lone Star College - Kingwood Campus CERT training will be held at the Lone Star College Kingwood Campus, 20000 Kingwood Dr., Kingwood, TX 77339. Classes will be held on Thursday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting February 23, 2012 and ending April 12, 2012 in the Class Room Building A, Room 225. To register contact David Corbin at david.corbin@oem.hctx.net or 832-851-3600.
  • Lone Star College - University Park CERT training will be held at the Lone Star College University Park Campus, 20515 SH 249, Houston, TX 77070. Classes will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting February 13, 2012 and ending April 2, 2012. To register contact David Corbin at david.corbin@oem.hctx.net or 832-851-3600.
  • Lone Star College - North Harris Campus CERT training will be held at the Lone Star College North Harris Campus, 2700 W.W. Thorne Dr., Houston, TX 77073. Classes will be held on Monday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting February 20, 2012 and ending April 9, 2012 in the Private Dining Room. To register contact Misty Gunn at misty.gunn@oem.hctx.net or 281-924-8858.
  • Humble CERT Team training will be held at Cezaux Center, 100 N. Houston Ave., Humble, TX, 77396. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 - 9:30 p.m., February 21, 2012 and ending April 10, 2012. The training is open to the community and surrounding areas. To register contact Carole Chambers at 281-446-4928 or cchambers@humblepolice.com.
  • Tomball CERT Team training will be held at Tomball Fire Department, 1200 Rudel, Tomball, Texas 77375. Classes will be held on Tuesday evenings from 6:30 p.m. - 9:30 p.m., starting February 28, 2012 and ending April 17, 2012. To register contact Lisa Griffin at lgriffin@ci.tomball.tx.us or 281-351-7101 or Barbara Tague at 4tague@sbcglobal.net.