Disaster Assistance
Boy Scouts of America
Central Florida Council
Disaster Assistance Program
The Central Florida Council has executed an agreement with the State of Florida
to participate in providing assistance to our communities in the recovery from a
disaster. All actions taken in fulfilling this agreement will be as directed
and/or approved by the State of Florida and as accepted and approved by the
Central Florida Council. All actions under this agreement shall either be
initiated by the council or have council approval prior to its commencement.
These services may be performed as a council wide action, may be a individual
district action, or may be an individual unit action. In performing this service
to our community the Central Florida Council’s youth and/or adult volunteers
shall not perform any duties or be put in any situations which may be considered
dangerous or in anyway possible cause harm to the volunteer. Adult leadership
shall be provided as required by the Boy Scout of America’s policies and the
Guide to Safe Scouting shall govern at all times. Any unit or individual
participating shall carry the proper accident and sickness insurance as required
by the council policy.
The Central Florida Council has established a council committee to organize and
direct this undertaking which includes representation from each District, the
Order of the Arrow, and the Council Staff. This committee and its members will
be responsible to initiate and or approve all service actions taken, to
coordinate and assist in the organization of the individual units, and to keep
and update all required documentation needs.
The individual units shall provide the volunteer staff for the services provided
in the actions taken in fulfilling the commitments made by this agreement with
the state. Individual unit adult contacts shall be named to facilitate the
response by the unit and properly trained adult leadership shall oversee the
youth participation. Documentation of parental/guardian permission shall be on
file for each youth participant on a per event basis.
Examples of possible situations that may cause this agreement’s enactment would
be our council area being struck by a hurricane, tornado, wild fire, flood,
extended power outage, extreme freeze, or a terrorist act. Examples of agencies
that might request our services could include FEMA, the Red Cross, the United
States military, local fire departments, local police departments, or any
federal, state, or local agency as approved to make a request under the
agreement enforce. Examples of response by our council volunteers could include
the assistance with the distribution of ice, water, blankets, food, and clothing
needs. At no time would our volunteers be considered a first response unit, our
assistance will only be provided after any and all threats have concluded.
