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Kentucky Emergency Management
JIM GARRETT RECOGNIZED AS VOLUNTEER PROGRAM COORDINATOR
FRANKFORT, Ky. (June 10, 2011) - Kentucky Emergency Management is pleased to announce the selection of Jim Garrett, KYEM Volunteer Program Coordinator, as one of sixteen groups and individuals from across the Commonwealth honored for their volunteer contributions at a ceremony held June 2nd at the Governor's Mansion in Frankfort.
First Lady Jane Beshear and Cabinet for Health and Family Services Deputy Secretary Eric Friedlander presented the 2010 Governor's Awards for Outstanding Volunteer Service at the ceremony. The Kentucky Commission on Community Volunteerism and Service (KCCVS) coordinates the annual awards program.
Garrett was chosen as the 2010 KCCVS Volunteer Program Coordinator recipient
award: As the KYEM Volunteer Program Coordinator, Garrett has made a profound impact on the capacity of Kentucky communities to prepare for, respond to and recover from catastrophic disasters. Garrett has developed a nationwide reputation as one of the country's most effective coordinators of volunteer activities, such as establishing the National Donations Management
System for the Commonwealth.
John Heltzel, director of KYEM said, "Jim never asks any volunteer to perform services he is not willing to do himself. He is a tremendous example of selfless service, whether in his paid position or his private life. We are indeed fortunate to have him as a valuable member of our team."
Within the last three years, Kentucky has experienced nine presidential disaster declarations. Orchestrating and organizing the efforts of volunteer groups from across the nation, Garrett ensured comfort and relief to thousands of Kentuckians. In 2010, he organized 650 volunteers who assisted with the long-term recovery efforts in Jefferson County from the 2009 flood.
Volunteers served a total of 58,000 hours - cleaning, removing debris and rehabilitating 1,297 homes. He also organized volunteer efforts for two presidentially-declared disasters which affected 89 counties in the Commonwealth. His efforts included oversight of volunteer disaster relief organizations, local recovery committees and private sector partners.
Garrett is one of only three full-time volunteer coordinators in the nation and because of his tireless efforts, new Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters (VOADs) have been established in Warren, Daviess, Jefferson and Madison counties to enable those communities to better respond to immediate recovery needs created by local emergencies and disaster events. Garrett also assisted with the creation of a Disaster Response Team and ministry at the Southeast Christian Church in Louisville. Additionally, he coordinated the establishment of Long-Term Recovery Committees (LTRCs) in Owsley, Breathitt and Pike counties to assist disaster survivors with unmet needs which linger for extended periods of time after a disaster. He also assisted the United Methodist Disaster Case Management to train case managers to work with community LTRCs.
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