Conference leadership from the Alaska, Oregon-Idaho and Pacific Northwest Conference disaster response programs recently agreed that it\u2019s time to have a unified voice to strengthen their missions and prepare for the future. They asked the Pacific Northwest Conference\u2019s Jim Truitt to take on the challenge of launching the Greater Northwest Area Disaster Response pilot program beginning in March. <\/p>\n\n\n\n
\u201cDisasters do not have geographical or conference Jim has a long history of serving with local, regional and national preparedness and disaster-related missions. He\u2019s been involved with PNW disaster response programs since 2005, most recently as the PNW Disaster Response Coordinator. He has also served as a Subject Matter Expert for FEMA, Texas Emergency Management Dept., Western Jurisdiction, and the Southeast Jurisdiction; UMCOR Certified ERT Trainer; and recovery coordinator for the Galena, AK flood recovery. Jim is ready to take on a new opportunity to serve. <\/p>\n\n\n\n \u201cThe Greater Northwest Conferences have worked really well as a team,\u201d Jim said. \u201cThis relationship has been informal and based on mutual trust and respect. As time goes by, people leave and new ones come in. We are looking for a way to insure the working relationships continue and we continually improve our disaster preparedness and response.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n Dan Wilcox, Alaska Conference Disaster Response Coordinator commented, \u201cWhile we have been informally working as a team, this more structured approach to collaboration will give Jim more freedom in supporting the disaster preparedness and response efforts in the three sister conferences.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n