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Committee urges better disaster planning after winter storm, asks to join VOAD
Summary
The SWAP committee reported a letter to Metro leaders documenting disproportionate winter-storm impacts on people experiencing homelessness and recommended prioritizing shelters in power-restoration plans, improving real-time communication and granting homelessness providers a seat at VOAD emergency planning discussions.
HG Stoval presented SWAP’s report and said the committee drafted a letter to the mayor, Metro departments and council members documenting how the winter storm disproportionately affected people experiencing homelessness. The letter requests prioritizing homeless service providers for power restoration, better real-time communication with providers during emergencies and strengthened transportation access for vulnerable households.
Stoval encouraged including homelessness service providers at VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) planning tables so shelters and outreach teams can inform emergency decisions. The executive committee approved submitting the letter.
Council members added technical suggestions for distribution (stormcommission@nashville.gov) and recommended copying the chair of public health and safety to align council response. The SWAP committee also encouraged shelters to register clients with medical-device needs with NES so those households receive prioritized power restoration.
Next steps: SWAP will transmit the approved letter to Metro leadership, follow up with VOAD membership offers and coordinate with Council staff on outreach.
