The goals of the conference were to educate members about the respective organizations and roles, to identify common needs, and to explore avenues to further coordination between APA district branches and local ARC chapters. The American Psychiatric Foundation recognized the importance of increased participation by psychiatrists in disaster efforts and graciously agreed to sponsor this meeting. Its policy leadership is provided by a Board of Governors comprised of volunteers from across the country. The primary function of the ARC is to provide relief to victims of disaster and help people prevent, prepare for, and respond to emergencies. The ARC is staffed primarily by volunteers.
Emergencies vary in size from single family fires to hurricanes.
When the scope of a disaster exceeds the capabilities of a local SDU, a Disaster Relief Operation is established. The Disaster Relief Operation is comprised of leadership groups and personnel from the affected chapter, from that state, and, if necessary, from around the country. Disaster Services Headquarters is located at Red Cross National Headquarters in Falls Church, Virginia. It has a 24-hour command center which track disaster operations and coordinates service delivery on large scale operations. It has been an integral part of all operations since Hurricane Andrew in 1992.