HABITAT FOR HUMANITY
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND
RESPONSE PLAN
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF
HOOD COUNTY, TEXAS
Approved by the BOD: April 9, 2015
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HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF HOOD COUNTY,
TEXAS
DISASTER PREPAREDNESS AND RESPONSE PLAN
Index
Item
Page
Part I: Disaster Preparedness and Response Policy Statement
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Part II: Disaster Preparedness
5
Part III: Response Plan
8
Part IV: Evaluation
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Appendices:
A: Local Disaster Contact Information
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B: Partner Families - URL
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C: Rapid Assessment Form
13
D: Schematic of Disaster Response and
Stages of disaster Response and Recovery
E: Preparedness Information for Partner Families
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19
Where Preparedness Information Can Be Found
F: Board/Staff Emergency Contact List and Chart
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G: Typical Report – Mission Granbury
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Part I: Disaster Preparedness and Response Policy
Statement
This affiliate will establish and maintain a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan designated
to manage the consequences of natural disasters that may disrupt the organization’s ability to
function normally, and serve our homeowners and families. While no plan is comprehensive,
this document will serve as a strategic guide to the Board and staff in the event of a disaster.
DEFINITIONS:
A disaster (natural or human origin) is a serious disruption of a community’s basic functioning,
resulting in extensive human, material or environmental losses which exceed the community’s
ability to sustain a healthy life without assistance.
Disaster-affected people: All people whose lives or health are made vulnerable by disaster,
whether displaced or in their home area.
Disaster Mitigation: This describes the actions required to lessen the impact of future disasters,.
Most mitigation measures are above and beyond normal building codes. These techniques are an
essential step toward ensuring the stability of a Habitat home during and after a disaster.
Examples of mitigation include choosing house sites outside of high-risk areas and elevating
homes that are located on flood plains.
Disaster Preparedness: This describes the actions necessary to ready families for disasters.
Preparedness training is an additional component of the instruction that HFH gives to each new
homeowner. One example is teaching homeowners how to protect their homes during hurricanes
or cyclone season by boarding up windows. This preparedness may also include providing
homeowners where they can find preparedness information.
Communication: This is essential to the overall efficiency and ability to react to disasters and
must be planned, in so far as possible, before a disaster. To be included are lines of
communication with first responders, with homeowners, with Habitat volunteers, both of the
affiliate and beyond, and other local volunteer groups that will likely be of assistance.
Record Keeping: Since it is necessary and required by HFH to have pictorial records of Habitat
homes before and after a disaster, establishing these will need to be done before a disaster, and
preferably as homes are turned over to homeowners. In addition, plans and procedures must be
in place to store and protect all HFH records from disasters.
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MISSION FOCUS:
Habitat for Humanity (HFH) is a long-term recovery organization. HFH responds to disasters by
building permanent, simple, decent homes. Immediate participation in community relief
meetings after a disaster is essential to help establish a place for Habitat for Humanity in longterm recovery, but it will usually take three months or more after a disaster before Habitat homes
are under construction as part of the long-term recovery. Donors have to be continually educated
after a disaster to not expect immediate relief activity. HFH retains its core principles in doing
disaster response work.
LEADERSHIP AND COMMUNICATION:
Activation of this Preparedness and Response Plan shall be the responsibility of the Board of
Directors (BOD) President and Executive Director, in consultation with the Board of Directors.
Should the Board of Directors President and Executive Director be unable to fulfill these
responsibilities (due to personal evacuation or loss of property, etc.) the Board of Directors
President shall assume leadership. The full communications and leadership plan is outlined later
in this document.
EVALUATION:
An evaluation of the effectiveness of this Preparedness and Response Plan will be conducted
yearly and revisions or improvements will be submitted to the Board of Directors (when, where,
how).
SCOPE OF PLAN:
With sensitivity to our geographical location, this plan is directed only toward those disasters
most likely to affect our affiliate. The affiliate will ensure that all aspects of the Disaster
Preparedness and Response Plan are in compliance with HFHI’s Approved Disaster Response
Policies and Protocols.
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Part II: DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

Preparing Our Partner Families for Disasters
Training Provided: In Homeowner classes covering Disaster Preparedness.
Resources Available: HFHHC and community contacts provided to each family.

Securing Our Affiliate Resources (address the following issues)
Business Recovery Plan
o
o
o
o
o
o
o
o

Insurance
Records storage
Relocation plans
Financial reserves
Procurement issues
Volunteers
Strategic Partnerships
Backup of Construction Plans
Responsibility Matrix for Affiliate Leadership
The following is a list of responsibilities in the event of activation of our affiliate’s plan:
TASK
PRIMARY
SECONDARY
CONTINGENCY
BOD President
Executive Director
BOD Vice President
Treasurer
Accountant
(designee)
Activation and
Leadership of Plan
Securing of HFH
offices
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Backup and safe
records maintenance
IT Manager
Accountant
Treasurer
Pre-disaster photos
of Habitat homes
IT Manager
Family Support
Committee Member
Designee
Communication
with/training of
partner families
Family Support
Chairperson
Family Support
Committee Member
Designee
IT Manger
Designee
Designee
BOD President
Executive Director
Designee
Communications
with HFHI/SSO
within 24 hours
BOD President
Executive Director
Designee
Inspection of any
damaged Habitat
homes and photos
Construction
Chairman
Designee
Designee
Executive Director
BOD Designee
Designee
Treasurer
Accountant
BOD
Security of, and
photos of, current
construction
projects
Communication
with/nurturing of
staff/board (postdisaster)
Partner Cultivation
and Communication
(pre- and postdisaster)
Development of
Post-disaster
Fundraising Plan
(pre- and postdisaster)

Preparing for an Effective Response
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Step 1: Initial Assessment
The BOD President will be responsible for completing the Rapid Assessment Form (see
Appendix C and submitting to HFHI US Support Center by email at
USDisasterResponse@habitat.org or by fax at (229) 410-7909.
Step 2: Partner Family Assistance
The affiliate will support partner families in the post-disaster environment in the
following ways:
See Schematic of Disaster Response in Appendix D
Step 3: Convene Affiliate Staff and Board for Decision Making
The BOD President will be responsible for convening the affiliate staff and board within
24 hours of the disaster. Emergency contact information for all staff and board members
will be distributed in advance or available at the HFHHC Office.
Step 4: Decision-Making
The Board and staff will make a decision as to whether/when to respond to the disaster
based on the following factors/guidelines:
The decision of whether or not to respond will be communicated by/through: As in
Board and Staff emergency contact list and plan in Appendix F.
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Part III: RESPONSE PLAN (suggested steps)
Implementing the Response Plan (if affiliate decides to respond)
1. Coordinator(s) of Plan:
2. Goal of Plan:
3. Timeline:
4. Preliminary Budget:
5. Fundraising Plan:
6. Potential Partners:
7: Volunteer Coordination Needs/Plan:
8. Communication/Public Relations Plan:
9. Coordination with State Support Organization (SS0): if present in state
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Part IV: EVALUATION (suggested format)
After each activation of the Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan, the following
evaluation will be completed by those involved, and used to determine potential changes
and improvements to the plan. Complete evaluation within 30-60 days following its
implementation.
The Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan was activated at:
______________________________________________________________________________
How was the Plan activated?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Was communication and leadership of the Plan adequate? Explain:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________________________________________________
Was the affiliate’s ability to function compromised?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What areas of the Plan worked well?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
What areas of the Plan need improvement?
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
Additional comments:
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________________________
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Appendices
APPENDIX A
Local Disaster Contact Information
LAW ENFORCEMENT, FIRE, EMS, MEDICAL
Agency Phone Number
Police 817-573-2648
Sheriff 817-579-3307
State Police/FHP 817-579-3337
Fire 817-326-2659 / 817-579-1111
Ambulance 817-279-1408
County EOC / Fire Marshal 817-579-3335
Power Company (UCE) 817-326-5232 / 817-556-4000
Gas Company (ATMOS) 888-286-6700
Waste Recyclers IESI 800-350-3024
Water Company (Monarch) 866-654-7992
Local Hospital (LGMC) 817-573-2273
RELIEF AGENCIES
FEMA 800-621-3362
Red Cross 800-438-4636 / 214-678-4414
Salvation Army 800-725-2769 / 214-274-0514
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United Way 817-579-5100
HFHI CONTACTS
HFHI US Support Center 877-434-4435
HFHI Disaster Response Department 800-422-4828
SSO/ODC
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Appendix B
Partner Families
Listings of Partner families and their contact
information can be found at
http://www.tinyurl.com/habitathomeowners
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Appendix C
Rapid Assessment Form
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Date Completed
Rapid Assessment Form
Affiliate
Purpose
This form is designed to give a brief snapshot of your affiliate’s perspective as soon as possible after a disaster
has occurred in your community. It will help HFHI determine how best to support you as the situation evolves.
Please complete it to the best of your ability in a timely fashion and submit it to the US Support Center at
USDisasterResponse@habitat.org or via fax at (229) 410-7909.
Contact Information
Name
Title
Best phone number to
reach you
E-Mail Address
Alternate Phone
Number
Impact Questions
Was your office/ReStore damaged by the disaster?
If yes, to what extent?
Were any Habitat homes damaged by the disaster?*
If yes, how many?
Yes?
No?
* Please be sure to direct Habitat homeowners to file a claim with their insurance provider as soon as possible unless they
have the resources to make the repairs themselves.
Self-Assessment
Please indicate how severe an impact the disaster will have on your affiliate in the next 30 days. The
following areas should be judged based on a scale of 1 (no impact) to 5 (severe impact):
No impact---------Severe
Focus Areas
Affiliate staff workload & availability*
Loss of income from donors
Collecting timely payments from homeowners
Loss of current/potential volunteers
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Comments explaining any concerns rating a 4 or 5 above:
*Includes your board if you have 3 or fewer full-time staff members at your affiliate.
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Appendix D
Schematic of Disaster Response
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Re-Building Needs/
Work with contractors
1. Coord Approx 25%
done
2. Homeowner/Builder
coord complete ~ 17
June
3. Repairs/Rebuilds to
begin ~ 17 June
4. Complete
Repairs/Rebuilds ~ 24
August (school opens)
5. Notes – #1
HFH Homeowners’
Immediate Needs
1. Mostly complete
2. Possibly assist in
short/mid-term
needs
HFHHC (with others)
1. Resume Building
Sotero’s Home(#67) on
12 June; target
dedication nlt 15 August
2. Begin Home 68 on ???
(in July?)
3. Begin 69 & 70, utilizing
outside support, to
complete by year end.
4. Notes – #2
Rancho Brazos Clean Up
With added volunteers
1. Ongoing, but largely
complete
2. Awesome County,
Community, Outside
participation!
Other Affiliates
And Volunteers
1. Other Affiliates &
Volunteers join on #67
(Sotero)
2. Coordinate with Trinity
for “blitz” on Olga’s Home
(#66) – Comm Bank join in
3. Utilize Other Affiliates &
Volunteer Groups on
accelerated builds of #6869-70
4. Notes – #3
Habitat for Humanity
Of Hood County
HFH Selection – RB
Residents
1. Flyers in work
2. Process begins
22 June
3. Selection Date
– 8 August BOD
4. Notes – #4
Stages of Disaster Response and Recovery
1.0 Purpose
To establish guidelines to follow when Habitat for Humanity of Hood County (HFHHC) and its
partner families are affected by a disaster.
2.0 Policy
HFHHC builds simple, decent houses in partnership with partner families in Granbury, Texas.
Seeking to put God’s love into action, HFHHC brings people in Granbury together to build
homes, communities, and hope. In the wake of a disaster, HFHHC is committed to using its
expertise, partnerships, and volunteers to help our community recover. Recovery is a long‐term
goal, to be achieved through HFHHC services and the variety of other Hood County community
services offered to individuals and families impacted by a disaster.
Stage 1:
• Assess the damage to partner family houses and HFHHC property to determine if they are
repairable or need to be rebuilt
• Communicate with and educate affected partner families on steps for reporting damage to
insurance companies and provide information on resources available for assistance and
repair/rebuilt guidance
• Mobilize volunteers for immediate response to affected areas to mitigate further damage to
houses and property, to include remove fallen trees, prevent future water damage, and secure
doors and windows
Stage 2:
• Offer HFHHC contractor/project management services to partner families who want HFHHC
to oversee their repairs or rebuilding, while leveraging its partnerships to benefit the homeowner;
and provide guidance to those who seek to complete repairs independently
• Oversee administrative and legal procedures to ensure partner families and HFHHC are
protected on issues related to mortgages and insurance
• Engage volunteers and teams, if needed, to assist with repairs to existing houses and property to
salvage materials from destroyed structures to provide the community with affordable materials or
recycle them to keep them out of landfills
• Collaborate with first‐response agencies to identify individuals in need of house repairs or
potential homeownership services
• Hold disaster response application workshops for individuals in need of new houses
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Stage 3:
• Match partners and volunteers, if needed, with new construction builds
• Qualify individuals and families for future homeownership
3.0 Rationale
HFHHC continues to respond to the housing needs in our community. Following a disaster, not
only will we provide services for partner families impacted by disasters, but we will seek other
ways to become engaged in the recovery stages as we revitalize neighborhoods, strengthen
communities, and build hope.
HFHHC 01/09/2014
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Appendix E
Preparedness Information for Partner Families
Prepared information can be found on line at www.ready.gov. Copiers of information available
are on file at the HFHHC office.
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Appendix F
Board/Staff Emergency Contact List
(Current Board Roster at http://tinyurl.com/currentboard)
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Appendix G
Typical Recovery Report-Mission Granbury
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