CARD is a nonprofit agency, based in Oakland California. We were created by local nonprofit agencies to address the preparedness and response needs of service providers — whose consumers are among the most vulnerable people in any community. The 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake demonstrated what is now familiar: that despite great effort and billions of dollars invested, traditional disaster response agencies — FEMA, American Red Cross, Offices of Emergency Services, Department of Homeland Security, etc. — simply cannot address all of the emergency preparedness, planning and response needs of our increasingly diverse society.
In the aftermath of that earthquake, nonprofits and community agencies across the Bay Area came together to address the preparedness, response and recovery needs of their consumers and other vulnerable residents. Together, they formed CARD – Collaborating Agencies Responding to Disasters.
CARD leads and champions the “Use NO Fear” preparedness movement and we actively seek to end the use of fear and threat of disasters as the “motivation” for emergency preparedness. We have instead created and embraced a “Prepare to Prosper” curriculum and philosophy.
CARD complements traditional disaster response agencies by providing safe, culturally appropriate emergency services programs designed for nonprofits, faith agencies , service providers and the low-income and special needs communities they serve. CARD’s curriculum, materials and training style were developed in partnership with local agencies; with research from the fields of adult learning, facilitation, advertising and marketing, consumer behavior, disaster psychology and other disciplines; and current technology, events and trends are activity incorporated as appropriate.
CARD’s services are designed to provide immediate benefit to agencies, while also building their capacity continue serving their staff, volunteers, consumers and community in times of crisis – and afterwards. We help local nonprofits and local government agencies to partners more successfully.
With a growing realization that many communities cannot be reached by traditional methods, several government agencies work with CARD to help build their capacity to serve diverse communities in appropriate and sustainable ways.
Seniors, children, people with disabilities, homeless people, Limited English Proficiency (LEP) residents, medically fragile individuals, low-income families and many others depend on their trained and trusted local service providers to survive – before, during and after a disaster. Trained, committed and united, local agencies are the best support available for people with special needs in times of disaster. CARD helps local nonprofits and service providers harness their unique ability to reach, serve and empower their consumers. When their trust, specialized knowledge, indigenous wisdom, cultural competence and day-to-day access to vulnerable people are leveraged, nonprofits are critical partners in building economic and social resilience.
CARD offers a diverse, “use NO fear” empowerment-based curriculum – our philosophy is Prepare to Prosper! It is designed to address the cultural, social and financial needs and learning styles of community agencies. CARD programs reflect, respect and support the realities, interests, roles and goals of nonprofits, service agencies and faith groups.
CARD works to include all people in preparedness, planning and disaster response. We envision a world in which you and your loved ones can be safe anywhere you go. CARD works to fulfill this vision with government entities, community agencies and committed private sector partners.
HOW CARD CAN HELP
CARD has won local, national and international recognition and awards for our successes in training, coordinating and uniting communities. CARD can help you:
- move beyond fear, threat and disempowered messages
- become prepared and ready to respond at little cost
- feel secure in the knowledge that your community can continue to serve even after a disaster
- meet public and private funder requirements of having a disaster plan in place
- network and build stronger relations with other agencies and the emergency response community
- empower your staff and volunteers to walk the world feeling safe and more prepared
- understand—in simple terms—the sometimes complex issues related to disaster response, terrorism and government operations
