The Arlington Christian Disaster Network (ACDN) was awarded Honorable Mention for the FEMA Individual and Community Preparedness Award in "Excellence in Volunteer Sustainability" at a luncheon Monday afternoon.

ACDN, a coalition of Arlington faith-based organizations, has partnered with Arlington's Office of Emergency Management (OEM) in providing emergency relief since the tornado that touched down in Arlington in 2012.

Members of ACDN have all completed Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training which is a standard curriculum set forth by FEMA that covers disaster preparedness, fire safety, light search and rescue, and disaster medical operations. ACDN now assists with instructing CERT training and monthly Continuing Education to further provide trained volunteers in the event of a disaster. ACDN also utilizes their facilities as mass care shelters, warming and cooling centers in times of need.

ACDN's role in Arlington's emergency management has been so pivotal that it has been written into the City of Arlington's emergency management plans, Arlington Emergency Management Administrator Irish Hancock said.

FEMA Region VI Regional Administrator Tony Robinson presented the award to ACDN Board Chairman Mike Loesch, and stressed the importance of faith-based organizations in communities. In many emergency situations, these organizations are there to help before FEMA, and in circumstances where a federal disaster is not declared, Robinson said.

The purpose of the award is to recognize organizations that make their communities safer, stronger, and more prepared for emergencies, and ACDN has done an amazing job at doing just that, Robinson said. ACDN serves as an example to faith-based organizations across the country.

Out of 138 applicants, ACDN was among the 11 awarded and 37 given Honorable Mention.

Loesch said this wasn't something the organization was aiming or shooting for, and that he is extremely honored to have his group's tireless efforts be recognized by FEMA.

"This is beyond anything any of us ever planned on doing," Loesch said.

ACDN consists of 17 Arlington faith-based organizations and has formally been active for three years.

If you would like to receive CERT training, please visit the website at http://www.arlington-tx.gov/fire/cert/ for more information. If you are interested in your organization joining ACDN, please email David Tran at [email protected]