Month: September 2023

DAI CORPS OF NEW MEXICO PRESENTATION AT RUIDOSO

August 2017, two years after the original Dei Corps disaster response force dissolved its operations, former disaster response operatives from the Dei Corps were individually called out with other response organizations to the Hurricane Harvey disaster incident in Houston to face the worst disaster any of us had ever experienced in our time of service. There we got to see it all… about the worst a disaster event can get… and how powerless everyone is in the face of mother nature as well as survivors in the grips of human desperation.

We witnessed bodies in the water, authorities intentionally breaching levies to flood entire neighborhoods to save other parts of the city, responders with myself included being fired upon by armed and armored bands of looters with us returning fire against them to defend ourselves and those we were attempting to rescue, and military forces rendering aid to the area even coming under attack. It was nothing short of living through what would have made a blockbuster Hollywood disaster movie.

When the response action cleared up in Houston and the team I came down with went back to Dallas I stayed behind and went over to my old hometown in Beaumont, TX to check on old friends and their families in the area. Though Beaumont fared better than Houston widespread flooding had displaced most of them from their homes into disaster camps that had been pieced together by FEMA and the local authorities. It would be as if divine appointment that I would run into other former Dei Corps responders that also had been called there and together we began working together to provide relief services within the camps and later further rescues and supply runs to others in the surrounding communities of Lumberton, Silsbee, Vidor, Pine Forest, Port Neches, Nederland, and Port Arthur who had cut off by flood waters from reaching out for help. Along the way we would recruit “victim-volunteers,” volunteers who had lost everything in the disaster but still found it within themselves to render aid to others, to join us in our field operations. As September came to a close our response service came to an end and we went back to our homes.

After going through this harrowing experience we realized that had the original Dei Corps responded to this event with the original loosely organized format we were operating under we would have been woefully unprepared for the level of devastation and even the level of danger we would have found ourselves in. Never before had we ever suffered coming under gunfire from those we thought we were there to rescue and care for. This revelation kicked off the process of updating the program that a new disaster response force would operate under; from the structure we would operate under, from the supplies and field equipment we would use, right down to the minute details of a far more comprehensive training program for the future that would better prepare new responders to the harsh realties that exist in today’s disaster field. Thus, the blueprint for a much more modern disaster response force.

Starting 2021 the Dei Corps now operating under the name Dai Corps, Dai meaning “sufficiency” in the Hebrew language and “messenger” in another, began organizing its disaster response forces under direction of the DCEDC. The Texas Corps was first, being in the most demand, under our best Commander who had served as a Captain in the original force out of Ruidoso. Earlier this year (2023) efforts began to organize a Colorado Corp out of the San Luis Valley, the Uncompahgre Valley, and the Gunnison Valey. Though this is a work still in progress, we continue to work though some unique challenges inherit to the local government structure of Colorado, but we hope to complete organization by the end of the year. Now we have returned to the birthplace of it all by invitation of those in our community, Ruidoso, by request to organize the original disaster response force here for New Mexico.

Being the original Commander of the fledgling force that was started here years ago I find it no surprise that I had been called upon to present to you. Sadly, I am in no position to assume command of the new force for New Mexico as I have obligations in Colorado I must attend to. That being said, what I can do is provide to you a general plan to properly organize and prepare this new force for duty, since I’ve already had done this once, now in a world environment never before so chaotic and dangerous since perhaps the days prior to World War II. This is my plan:

THE GENERAL PLAN

1. LOCATION- I’ve taken the liberty of speaking with now the new owners of A-Secure Indoor Self Storage off of Resort Drive about the possible use of the facility being reused for a second generation of the disaster response force. Like before they are open to this until another, hopefully better location(s) can be found when ready.
2. DIRECTORS & OFFICERS- Under the laws of New Mexico a nonprofit corporation, which the new Dai Corps of New Mexico must be incorporated under, must find at least three Directors for its future Board, and these specific Officers to serve its corporate needs- a President, an Execute Vice-President, a Secretary, and a Treasurer to meet legal requirements. The old Dei Corps used the ranks of Commander, Captain, and Lieutenants to fill these roles corporately as well as on the disaster field. The new Dai Corps could used this same system to start but add Lieutenants specifically for interviewing and arranging training for new recruits, maintenance of organizational property and equipment, and for future outposts within surrounding Counties to support Headquarters.
3. FILING ATTORNEY & NONPROFIT ACCOUNTANT- I would recommend filing the articles of incorporation using an attorney with the Secretary of State and using a nonprofit specialized tax accountant to write up and file Form 1023 with the IRS to obtain the 501(c)(3) tax-exempt status for the disaster response organization. Though the original Dei Corps was a faith-based disaster response organization, I would recommend for legal and grant purposes to file it as a secular organization that carries a Chaplains’ Corp. The Chaplain’s Corp would cover these same faith-based needs as in the past but yet not disqualify the disaster response force from grants that are not available for faith-based organizations. The nonprofit accountant must be familiar with COROS reporting to the New Mexico Attorney General as it will be a requirement for 501(c)(3) organizations such as Dai Corps to make these COROS periodic reports for public oversight.
4. RECRUITING & TRAINING- Once the Form 1023 has begun the process of being prepared to be filed, begin recruiting recruits for training and begin the training as laid forth in the new program. The new program emphasizes skills and scenario training first before sitting for FEMA ICS training. The ICS courses will serve as the Capstone course to complete basic training.
5. FUNDRAISING & FILING FOR GRANTS- Once recruiting begins the need for fundraising to acquire donations of financial resources, supplies, disaster supplies, vehicles, equipment, and if possible, property begins to equip these recruits for service. This will require time for these resources to be donated into the organization but once donations come in; ensure that they are used appropriately and that donors are appreciated for their support. Events to raise funds are also a big hit not only for raising money in a fun atmosphere but pulling in recruits as well.
6. EXPERIENCE- Once there are sufficient trained responders and relief volunteers to conduct a small response, do so. This begins the process of getting the organization itself some field experience and getting some of the green off of the force. Once the force succeeds in the smaller missions our responders will be in better standing with ICs (Incident Commanders) to handle larger disaster events and campaigns.
7. NEW MEXICO VOAD- Once the disaster response force develops and obtains competency in general disaster service, especially if it identifies a specialty it does exceptionally well, the Dai Corps of New Mexico should apply to join the State VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Assisting Disasters). Once part of the VOAD the disaster response force will be recognized as a fully legitimate and bona-fide organization and will be on the state’s rolls for service when needed. This would complete the rollout of the organization.
8. RECOMMENDED STRUCTURE- For New Mexico I would recommend the following structure:
   1. COMMANDER- Serves as President and Commanding Officer over the entire disaster response force.
   2. CAPTAIN- Serves as the Vice-President and Executive Officer over the disaster response force. Also serves as the COO or general operations manager and ensures that all aspects of the Dai Corps are operating properly and are ready to roll upon receiving the call to duty.
   3. LIEUTENANT TRAINING- Arranges for and executes the training for new recruits. In the beginning I would recommend new recruits serving within their communities in roles similar to those that they would serve in the disaster field: Providing meals to those in need, emergency housing for displaced families, transporting supplies and equipment, safety, threat recognition, security service, and medical service. Once these basics have been mastered promote these recruits to train for disaster field service- First Aid, Self-defense, IFOC Field Chaplaincy, and the FEMA ICS courses. Those that show the aptitude, interest, or experience promote them to field security, search and rescue, or EMS service training to develop this capability and deploy when it is ready.
   4. LIEUTENANT CHAPLAINS CORP- This officer, a chaplain, will oversee and lead the disaster relief effort of the Dai Corps. There should be sergeants, preferably also chaplains, that oversee smaller teams that operate specifically in proving food supplies and meals, providing emergency shelter in disaster camps, minor non-emergency medical care, chaplaincy-based counseling and grief support services, and camp security services.
   5. LIEUTENANT DISASTER RESPONSE SERVICES- This officer, preferably trained and experienced in law enforcement, rescue, paramedic, and military services, will oversee sergeants and their teams specializing in disaster field security (preferably law enforcement officers), DSAR (disaster search and rescue), and paramedics (various EMT levels).
   6. LIEUTENANT OUTPOSTS- As the Dai Corps grows and has sufficient staff to do so I would recommend that outposts are set up in the surrounding Counties with Lieutenants overseeing teams of the above capabilities. I would recommend against expanding beyond the surrounding counties to prevent overtaxing management resources at command in Ruidoso.
   7. LIEUTENANTS COMMAND OPS- These officers serve as the Secretary and the Treasurer overseeing internal information management and processing of the organization, and financial resource management, accounting, and reporting respectively. Distribution of information to the public and fundraising management would also fall under the domain of these officers and their staff working underneath them.
   8. LIEUTENANT MAINTENANCE- This officer would be responsible for the repair and maintenance of organization’s vehicle fleet and equipment as well as any real property that the organization may rent or own. The Sergeants and teams underneath them would essentially ensure that all vehicles and equipment are at response-ready status at location and at outposts with vehicles. This was not available during the original Dei Corps and the inclusion of such a unit has proven invaluable in Texas Dai Corps.

This would complete the general plan I would recommend to organize and then launch the next generation of the Dai Corps of New Mexico disaster response organization and this would complete my general presentation to you all. Again thank you all for your invitation to present to you all. I am open to any questions you may have and I’ll do my best to answer them… its been a pleasure! Thank you!