Disaster Response (DR) is an important part of SDIA’s mission and remains our primary service opportunity. As the volunteerism component of our Get Off The Couch® programming, these missions EMPOWER our Sheep Dogs to continue serving their communities and country in times of need.
What is a Disaster Response Mission?
A Disaster Response Mission (DRM) encompasses our response to any natural or human-caused devastation that leaves communities in need. Our teams provide essential services, including:
• Evacuation assistance
• Clean-up operations
• Tree and debris removal
• Muck out operations
• Tarping structures
• Roof and window protection
• Food and water distribution
• Sandbagging operations
• Other critical community support tasks
Our Response Protocol
When disaster strikes, our National Office carefully evaluates the situation against established criteria to determine if and when to deploy Disaster Response Teams (DRTs). Upon deciding to deploy, we:
• Post immediate updates on social media channels
• Send “Disaster Response Deployment Alert” emails to Members and Volunteers
• Organize teams according to SDIA Disaster Response SOP and Checklists
• Deploy teams to affected areas
Our service never stops
While larger, national disasters make up most of these missions, SDIA encourages our members to help with local community “disasters”, such as conducting minor home repairs for disabled veterans, making a park safe for children, cleaning national cemetery headstones & grounds, working in a soup kitchen, or coaching a youth sports team. All are disasters to those who are affected and are opportunities to serve and give back.
Helping is healing
“You hurt for all the people affected, but you leave knowing you made a huge impact in their lives. What we do to help physically, also helps them mentally and emotionally, and that is the true reward of going on a DRM. And by helping them recover and heal, we are also helping ourselves in ways we might never have known.” ~DRM Participant