LCI Lions ALERT Program

The objective of the Lions ALERT Program is to develop a plan of action in case of a:

• Level One emergency (affecting a few people)
   
• Level Two emergency (affecting a community)
   
• Level Three emergency (affecting hundreds or thousands of people in a region)
   

Develop an ALERT plan by appointing an ALERT chairperson who will assemble a team of volunteers and emergency service professionals.

To review the ALERT handbook, click here.

To submit the name of a district Lions ALERT chairperson, click here.

If an emergency has already occurred, contact the local Lions ALERT chairperson. Click here.

District 2-E1 Lions ALERT Program

Local Volunteers to Fill a Community Need

Lions Clubs International, already the leader in programs for the blind and visually impaired people, has launched a new emergency relief effort called the Lions Alert Program.

According to International President Jimmy Ross, the program is designed to formalize Lions relief efforts and establish a network of Lions helping Lions in providing emergency relief.  “Lions have always been involved in providing relief in the aftermath of disasters.  This Lions Alert Program provides specific guidance to the 45,000 Lions clubs around the world and helps them be even more effective in providing short and long term relief to victims of disasters.” Ross said.

“I can’t even begin to tell you the awesome response that we had from Lions in the United States, Canada, Europe, and around the world,” said a resident of Biloxi, Mississippi.  “After Hurricane Katrina, we couldn’t have rebuilt without Lions help.”  According to another Biloxi resident, “Words can’t say what we feel in our hearts.  Lions thought of us.  Lions came when we needed them.”

The Lions Alert Program grew from what Lions leaders consider “lessons learned” following 9/11, the 2005 tsunami, and Hurricane Katrina.  First and foremost, Lions realized quickly that local relationships and “feet on the ground” are key, since local service organizations are close at hand and familiar with an affected region’s political leaders and other power brokers.  Therefore they can move swiftly to identify very specific needs and cut through politics and red tape to fill gaps, often more efficiently than large international organizations headquartered far away.

The Lions Alert Program is not intended to replace the work of larger national and international relief organizations, but rather to supplement their efforts.  The program will provide Lions with a standardized structure and network to deliver needed services to people in emergency situations.

For more information on Lions Alert Program, you may visit www.lionsclubs.org.

DG Billy Wood has appointed PDG HAL GRIFFIN, 5041 QUAIL TERRACE, ABILENE, TX 79606 as District 2-E1 Chairman for this program. If you wish to help with this important project, contact PDG HAL at {325} 677-7770.

Updated November 6, 2006
Posted October 30, 2006