About Us – Disaster Recovery Army Inc.

About Us

Our Mission

To unite people and communities affected by disaster with support and aid provided by a network of partners and volunteers, in delivering expedited relief and recovery in order to get lives back.

Our Vision

To be a pre-eminent disaster relief and recovery organisation. In doing so, to stand out, bring people together, and actually deliver what is needed, fast - and changing the narrative of what is expected through convention.

Our Purpose

To provide and support effective relief and recovery to people who are destitute, suffering, unfortunate and helpless and who are affected by disaster, natural or otherwise, by providing a range of needed assistance.

Why Do People Turn To Disaster Recovery Army?

People and communities turn to Disaster Recovery Army for a variety of reasons.

Apart from what we do being a need, chief among the reasons why people seek our help include:

We Act Quickly

We understand the stress and displacement disasters cause, so we mobilise fast to help get life in order.

We're Thorough

Our teams have helped with many disasters, are well versed and trained, and understand what matters to you. We'll do all we can to assist with recoveries.

Inclusive Approach

Being connected with people and communities, and taking a personal interest in people's suffering is what drives us to provide our help to those in need.

A Bit More About Us

Disaster Recovery Army is a registered not-for-profit (NFP) and charitable organisation with a conscience.

Established with the purpose to both provide and support effective relief and recovery to people who are destitute, suffering, unfortunate and helpless, and who have been affected by disaster, including natural events. Our primary objectives are to coordinate recovery efforts, secure properties, livelihoods, farms and animals, distribute material aid, provide temporary accommodation and facilities, perform clean-ups, and offer any other relevant assistance, goods and services to help in recovery efforts and get people's lives back, following disaster.

Being connected with people and communities, and taking a personal interest in people's suffering is what drives us to provide our help to those in need. Our experiences allow us to engage, hear and see people's suffering and devastation. Our committee have all had some experience in either suffering or feeling people's frustration of traditional agencies and insurers dragging their feet with recovery assistance, or even refusing to help, leading to helplessness and despair, including accumulating to further erode the mental health of those living the nightmare.

Financially, many people affected by disaster are often strained, restricting their efforts to recover and rebuild their lives. And their experience can often have a flow on affect to each and every one of us. Disaster Recovery Army was established to minimise continued harm, and to get in there and help people and communities recover, fast, and in ways beyond what any other organisatiion can do.

We approach everyone's situation individually, whilst extending compassion, understanding, and a genuine desire to provide immediate help to get people's lives back. We listen, we assess, and we pull in all resources to get the recovery process underway, without bias or judgment, but with openness, integrity and honesty. Through these values, we build rapport and trust with people, communities, donors, our workers and volunteers, partners and suppliers, enabling an 'all in it' effort to get things done. We deliver on what we say we will do. And with our partners committing to do the same, our shared like-mindedness stands out, shines, and allows us to proactively provide meaningful assistance where and when it's needed. And there's no bureaucracy.

Our structure, comprising of a committee, employees, and an at-call labour force, is in place to respond immediately to almost any situation.

Recovery Is Involved

Managing disasters and recoveries involves so much more than providing assistance with clean-ups and aid (as we've referred to on our home page). There are a number of functions Disaster Recovery Army get involved.

Work Management

We use customised management programming to facilitate end-to-end assistance management - from task identification, to assessment, assignment, execution, completion and reporting.

Volunteer Management

Providing command and control functions to effectively and efficiently manage volunteers and support networks, in the interests of all stakeholders.

Damage Assessment

Our impact assessment systems allow us to gather real-time information and process it into relevant and actionable information. This includes reporting on welfare, damage and route clearances as well as relevant risks.

Debris Management

Debris often represents a person's life. We deploy teams to alleviating emotional challenges to residents.

Repairs

Our network and members are trained and equipped to conduct expedient repairs to homes, farms and sheds to facilitate safe reoccupation. This often includes water and debris removal, tarping and securing roofing, and fencing.

Access Clearance

This often includes tree felling, removal of debris, leveling of roads/drives, and other expedient repairs.

Resilience

Our approach to assist people and communities assists in identifying risks, consider actions, and support in better preparedness. Whilst helping people recover from devastation, we also innovate and adapt in the aftermath, with view of preventing repeat disasters.

Aid

We assist in the project management of aid delivery. From procurement, to warehousing and transport/logistics, through to distribution. We often work with other agencies to ensure a coordinated and streamlined approach.

Meet our monthly stand-out volunteer

Susan Harrison

Admin Volunteer

Susan has played a key part in Disaster Recovery Army's administrative and HR activities throughout December as we grow our depot network and onboard new volunteers. In a busy month, Susan has been instrumental in streamlining processes and taking responsibility for critical elements that help ensure our charity's purpose and success.

With bushfires raging in the Grampians (western Victoria), Susan has been instrumental in assisting with managing volunteer registrations, while also alleviating much administration from our management, allowing them to focus on the groundwork for setting up a base camp for the Grampians fire recovery works and the immediate need for Disaster Recovery Army's new Stawell depot.
With strong people and administrative skills, Susan's contribution this month has been greatly appreciated.

Why not become a volunteer?

Learn More