Disaster Leadership Team

Christine Files, Board President In September 2011, the most destructive wildfire in Texas history and one of the topmost destructive wildfires in US history struck Bastrop County, Texas destroying almost 1700 homes, 38 businesses, 34,000 acres and resulted in the loss of 2 lives. Chris answered the call to help her community recover and has served as the President of the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team ever since. Since 2011, Bastrop County has endured 6 additional disasters with 4 floods, another wildfire, as well as Hurricane Harvey. All total her team has rebuilt 143 homes and repaired 72. Jeff Koller, Board Vice President As the Regional Operations Coordinator for Mennonite Disaster Service (MDS), Jeff has seen more than his fair share of disasters. MDS, a long-term recovery volunteer organization, assists those affected by natural disaster by rebuilding homes in their communities. Jeff’s first experience with disaster took place in his home state of Kansas in 1973 with others to follow. Then in 1990, Jeff found himself coordinating hundreds of volunteers daily following a major tornado in Hesston, KS. In his role with MDS, Jeff responds to and investigates disasters to determine the role MDS will fill in response and recovery. Nina Andaloro, Executive Director After Nina’s community of Jamestown, CO experienced a devastating flood, she focused her energy on identifying potential volunteer groups to assist residents to build back their lives. She successfully recruited Mennonite Disaster Services, Flatirons Habitat for Humanity and worked with various county, state and federal agencies to help repair and rebuild destroyed homes. Her previous work as a non-profit Grant Writer helped in raising funds and while volunteers contributed over $1.5M in volunteer hours and in-kind donations. Carlene Anders, Board Secretary Carlene started fighting fire with the Department of Natural Resources in 1984 and then moved on to forest fires with the US Forest Service.  She was one of two women who were the first to smoke jump in the State of Washington at NCNB (North Cascades Smokejumper Base). She has been a volunteer firefighter for both the Methow and Pateros Fire Halls for a total of 12 years. When Okanogan County experienced a major wildfire, Carlene jumped into action to help her community. She is the Executive Director of the Okanogan Long-Term Recovery Organization and continues to help her community rebuild. Janice Butler, Board Treasurer In September 2011 Janice Butler lost her home and much of her community during the most destructive wildfire in Texas history. The Bastrop County Complex Fires destroyed almost 1700 homes, 38 businesses, 34,000 acres and resulted in the loss of 2 lives. What it didn’t destroy were the spirits of those affected. Despite her losses, Janice stepped up to assist in her community’s recovery by serving as treasurer of the Bastrop County Long Term Recovery Team. She subsequently became the organization’s executive director and was instrumental in writing grants, organizing fundraisers and assisting with volunteers that led to the successful rebuild of 133 homes. Since then she has shared her knowledge with several other disaster recovery teams in Texas. Robin Clegg, Board Member Robin Clegg has disaster experience which spans several events including one of the largest in California history – the Cedar Fire (2003) where she assisted to coordinate the one-stop shop for long-term recovery efforts. As part of the San Diego County 2003 Wildfire Recovery, Robin served as Chair and convened funding efforts for uninsured and underinsured disaster survivors through the Unmet Needs Committee process. She provided oversight of construction managers for the non-profit rebuilds to get residents back home. Then when a firestorm struck San Diego County in 2007 and the San Diego Regional Community Recovery Team needed a Chair, Robin stepped forward and along with the committee, provided fiscal sponsorship for five of the seven fire recovery centers, facilitated case management among social service agencies, and served as adviser for the seven fire recovery centers. Robin served as Chair of the unmet needs committee where in addition to convening funding efforts; she also coordinated collaborative building efforts with Mennonite Disaster Services. Stephanie Brady, Board Member Stephanie is the Executive Director of the Community Clinic in Joplin, Missouri, a nonprofit organization that serves the uninsured residents of southwest Missouri.  Stephanie served as the Vice-Chairperson for the Joplin Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC), the Chairperson for the LTRC Unmet Needs Committee, was a member of the Joplin Citizen’s Advisory Recovery Team, was a founding board member for Circles Joplin and is a board member for the Community Housing Resource Board. Stephanie also provides grant writing and board development training for nonprofit organizations throughout the state while also providing emergency preparedness and disaster training nationwide. Sue Marticek Sue joined the Ocean County Long-Term Recovery Group in December 2013.  Since that time she has been instrumental in building a solid community-based recovery network grounded in a true spirit of collaboration and problem-solving. This collaborative system guided by her leadership, vision, and passion has assisted thousands of Hurricane Sandy survivors to navigate their recovery. To date the OCLTRG has facilitated 6 million dollars in direct funding to survivors, has assisted homeowners in the Sandy NFIP Claims Review which has resulted in additional payments of 5 million dollars and provided over 250 community workshops that have provided much needed knowledge, guidance and clarity on how to navigate the many complexities of the recovery process. Dr. Renee White Renee has many ‘lessons learned’ to share with communities who are recovering from natural disaster, garnered from her experience as the Chairperson of the Joplin Area Long Term Recovery Committee (LTRC) and the Chair of the Spiritual/Emotional Committee following the Joplin tornado in May 2011. For the past 30 years, Renee has been a professional social worker in various fields including child welfare, medical, death and dying, substance abuse, domestic violence, and mental health including a grant-funded, school-based mental health program post-disaster.

OneStar Foundation

Damian Morales, Disaster Services Manager Damian serves as Chair of the Central Texas Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD), Secretary of Texas VOAD, Secretary of the National VOAD Volunteer Management Committee, and Vice Chair of the National Association of State Emergency Donations and Volunteer Coordinators. Damian holds a Bachelor of Arts from Vassar College and Master of Public Health in Health Policy and Management with a concentration in Emergency Preparedness from New York Medical College.

Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Sally Ray, Director Hurricane Harvey Fund Sally is familiar with the long-term effects a disaster like Harvey can have on a community after working with disaster response and recovery organizations throughout Oklahoma. While with the Oklahoma City Community Foundation, Sally helped organizations address the significant mental health needs of children and families following the Moore tornado and other devastating storms. Her efforts on behalf of survivors made her keenly aware of how much longer it takes communities to recover from disasters. Through her prior work as the Regional Chief Development Officer for the American Red Cross of Central and Western Oklahoma, she developed a deep awareness of those who struggle to return to “normal” or a “new normal” after a disaster.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster

Carol Flores, Texas Disaster Case Management Program Grant Director Carol has worn several different hats (and t-shirts!) since Tropical Storm Allison first introduced her to the disaster response world in 2001. Currently, she works for National VOAD coordinating the partners engaged with the FEMA-funded disaster case management program for Harvey. In this role, Carol oversees the implementation of the FEMA-funded DCMP engaging five NVOAD members and seven local affiliates or partners to provide nearly 350 case managers in support of Harvey recovery across Texas.