Standing Up a Nonprofit EOC: Coordination in the Cape Fear Region
For many nonprofits, disaster response is both a vital opportunity to show up for their community and a challenge marked by familiar hurdles. Fragmented information, rapidly shifting needs, and urgent demand for volunteers and resources can make efficient disaster relief coordination a challenge for even the most seasoned experts. This year, our Cape Fear regional office is taking
a major step to overcome these obstacles by supporting the launch of the Nonprofit & Faith-Based Disaster Command Center, a collaborative initiative in New Hanover County designed to activate within 72 hours of an emergency.
When expressing her enthusiasm for the project, Cape Fear Regional Director Emilie Hart shared that, “Our regional office was honored to serve as one of three key partners involved in
designing this initiative and helping turn the vision into reality, it’s a major step forward! Having all the nonprofits in sync will help allow us to respond and coordinate faster, that way we can really be there for communities that need it most.”
The Command Center creates a unified structure where partners can share updates, identify unmet needs, and coordinate assistance efficiently. This launch is made possible through the leadership and generosity of the Harrelson Center, whose nonprofit campus model provides the proximity and teamwork needed for this effort. Additionally, the New Hanover Disaster Coalition (NHDC), a network formed in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in 2018 to strengthen community-wide disaster coordination, laid the foundation for coordination which has made the command center possible. NHDC coordinates with New Hanover County Emergency Management and Wilmington City Emergency Management to ensure everyone is working together.
Through this shared structure, the Command Center relies on the region’s most knowledgeable and committed individuals to respond to hazards facing coastal communities. Catholic Charities contributes its long-standing commitment to faith‑based disaster response, but the Command Center’s strength lies in the collective expertise of all partners involved. Wherever disaster hits in New Hanover County, the command center will be ready to mobilize. A short video is included with this story to offer additional context, but the Command Center’s mission is clear even without it: to unite community partners so that no survivor faces recovery alone.