In the aftermath of the devastating storm that hit Northwest Indiana on August 11, the city of Hobart is applying lessons learned from its citizens’ ability to band together and assist those in need.
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Capitalizing on that spirit of collaboration and support, the city has launched
City officials identified ways they could strengthen support for people in distress during future emergencies and launched Hobart CARES (Community Assistance, Resources, Emergency Support). The derecho event highlighted a need for a more organized way to connect residents with resources and provide opportunities for organizations and individuals to offer assistance when the need arises.
“The devastating storm that rocked our region showed us how quickly needs can emerge across a community and how many people are willing to step forward to help,” Kelly Clemens, Chief of Staff for Hobart Mayor Josh Huddlestun, said in a press statement. “Hobart CARES gives us a way to better organize those efforts, share resources and connect residents with available assistance as recovery needs change.”
Huddlestun said that the city’s response to the storm showed the resilience of the community as well as the strength of city employees. It also showed where the city could improve.
“Hobart CARES is a direct response to what we learned, giving neighbors, volunteers, local organizations and the city a clear way to. coordinate resources, meet needs and move forward together,” he said in the release.
Hobart CARES is organized into four areas: Get Support, Volunteer, Emergency Resources, and Prepare & Recover.
Get Support includes an emergency check-in registry, assistance requests and wellness checks, while the Volunteer portion of the program provides opportunities to assist with cleanup efforts and local neighborhood needs. Emergency Resources delivers information related to shelters, food, utilities, debris removal and emergency contacts. Prepare & Recover provides preparedness information, storm recovery resources and disaster assistance information.
Hobart CARES is a continually evolving initiative that serves residents beyond individual emergencies, allowing the city to update information, available services and volunteer needs and opportunities as circumstances change, Hobart Marketing & Planning Coordinator Russell Brodhacker explained. Accordingly, Hobart CARES is making residents aware of available resources before they are needed so that the community is better prepared to support one another during an emergency.
Residents can learn more about resources available through Hobart CARES on the city’s website: cityofhobart.org. The Hobart CARES site includes a page for organizations interested in becoming a Community Partner. Individuals can visit the Volunteer page to offer financial assistance, participate in upcoming donation drives and more.
Hobart CARES features an Emergency Check-in portal where residents can voluntarily provide information that may help the city better understand who in the community may need additional support during an emergency, such as residents who live alone, may have difficulty evacuating or receiving/understanding information, have mobility limitations and for someone registering on behalf of a family member or loved one.
Jim Masters is a freelance reporter for the Post-Tribune.