The Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada
honored Clark County’s Office of Emergency Management
for the agency’s role in organizing local efforts to
assist Gulf Coast survivors of Hurricane Katrina.
The Volunteer Center of Southern Nevada
held its 6th Annual Community Enrichment Awards Luncheon
at the MGM Grand Hotel & Casino Conference Center.
The organization, an affiliate of the national Points of
Light Foundation, is dedicated to supporting nonprofit
agencies, businesses and faith-based groups that rely on
volunteers to help solve serious social problems. In
addition to honoring several local individuals and
groups for their community service, the Volunteer Center
of Southern Nevada recognized Clark County Emergency
Management officials for their role in overseeing
operations at the hurricane relief center. Clark County
Emergency Management Manager Jim O’Brien will receive
the organization’s Helping is Healing Award, which was
created after the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorism attacks.
"I give Jim O’Brien and our
emergency management staff a lot of credit for
facilitating the success of our hurricane relief
operation," said Clark County Manager Thom Reilly,
featured speaker at the event. "It’s also
important to recognize that the relief center was very
much a group effort, serving as a tremendous example of
what our community can accomplish when we work together.
" Following Hurricane Katrina’s devastating
landfall on Aug. 29, Clark County officials mobilized a
variety of government and nonprofit agencies to set up
and operate a disaster relief center to help hurricane
survivors self-evacuating to Southern Nevada. Almost
5,000 people registered for help at the center from
Sept. 7 when the operation opened through its closure on
Nov. 30. Several thousand more self-evacuees came to
Southern Nevada than officials initially expected.
"Many agencies dedicated their
time, energy and resources to make the relief center
operation a success," O’Brien said. "It was
rewarding to be part of the experience, and I think we’re
a closer community as a result." The Volunteer
Center of Southern Nevada was a partner in the help
center. Other partners included: the Nevada Division of
Emergency Management, the Federal Emergency Management
Agency, Clark County Social Service, the state Welfare
Division, Nevada Mental Health, the American Red Cross,
the United Way of Southern Nevada, local housing
authorities, Nevada Job Connect, the Clark County School
District, the Southern Nevada Health District, and the
Regional Transportation Commission.
