Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)® Partners Win Innovative Program of the Year Award at 2015 National VOAD Conference

Nonprofit coalition recognized for storm shelter pilot program

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Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)

May 13, 2015, 07:00 ET

TALLAHASSEE, Fla., May 13, 2015 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Last night, the Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH) partners were selected as recipients of the Innovative Program of the Year Award at the 2015 National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) Annual Conference in New Orleans. The award, sponsored by the UPS Foundation, recognized the group for their storm shelter pilot program that provided financial resources, recovery support, and technical counsel regarding FEMA P-320, P-361 guidance and the NSSA/ICC 500 standard. The pilot was developed for families in areas of the country affected by tornado outbreaks, including Moore, Oklahoma.

During the year-long pilot, 206 families in the greater Oklahoma City area and 19 families in the Louisville, MS area received tornado storm shelters. As a partnership with established long-term recovery groups, the program helped develop and refine case management guidelines for determining storm shelter need and selection, as well as funding stream collection and disbursement processes.

"We believe this is the first time a National VOAD committee, member, or partner, along with long-term recovery groups and businesses, has come together to provide physical and emotional security to those impacted by a disaster," said Pastor Michael Stadie, Director of Lutheran Disaster Response. He continued, "Together we are helping individuals and communities build back stronger and better."

"We are honored by this recognition and thankful to the VOAD partners for the opportunity to be a part of this historic initiative," said FLASH Senior Vice President Tim Smail. "We must align accurate, technical, and reliable guidance behind the goodwill associated with programs like this one. This ensures that when shelters are provided, they deliver on the promise of life safety."

A steering committee including FLASH, Lutheran Disaster Response, Lutheran Social Services of the South, Oklahoma Disaster Recovery Project, Rebuilding Together, The Salvation Army, Samaritan's Purse, and World Renew designed and implemented the program.

About FLASH
Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH), a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, is the country's leading consumer advocate for strengthening homes and safeguarding families from natural and manmade disasters. FLASH collaborates with more than 120 innovative and diverse partners that share its vision of making America a more disasterresilient nation including: BASF, Federal Emergency Management Agency, Florida Division of Emergency Management, The Home Depot®, International Code Council, Kohler® Generators, National Weather Service, Portland Cement Association, Simpson Strong-Tie®, State Farm™, and USAA®. In 2008, FLASH® and Disney opened the interactive weather experience StormStruck: A Tale of Two Homes® in Lake Buena Vista, FL. Learn more about FLASH and gain access to its free consumer resources by visiting www.flash.org or calling (877) 221- SAFE (7233). Also, get timely safety tips to ensure that you and your family are protected from natural and manmade disasters by subscribing to the FLASH blog – Protect Your Home in a FLASH.

SOURCE Federal Alliance for Safe Homes (FLASH)