CHAPTER TEN
Getting On Stage

Mel Gibson—recently voted the most popular movie star in the entire world. Across the globe, acting schools are packed with aspiring young actors and actresses, all hoping to someday, somehow, be fortunate enough to follow in his footsteps. Acting ability, personality, good looks, luck, etc.—they have all contributed to his famous career. Yet, more than anything else is the fact that he got himself on stage. In fact, you can see this common factor active in the lives of all the famous actors and actresses. Somehow they were given the opportunity to be on stage. This is the all important starting point. Once Mel Gibson was allowed on stage, he was given the chance to present himself to the worldwide movie audience which, today, so deeply appreciates him. All of his fame and good fortune has occurred because somehow he managed to get on stage.

I have said that a disaster site, such as where a tornado strikes, is much like a stage. But not everybody can get on it. Just like a Hollywood movie set, you must first have a stage pass. If you don’t, security won’t let you enter. Every disaster site is guarded in this same fashion, whether it be by state police, county sheriff, local law enforcement, military, or some other official such as a game warden.

Just as on any Hollywood stage, a disaster site is a highly managed, strictly enforced affair. Of course, amongst all the chaos, this fact may seem obscure, but nonetheless it is positively there. And in the same way that just any old person isn’t going to be allowed to walk onto a live movie set while the cameras are rolling—who and who isn’t allowed into a disaster area is strictly controlled by certain authorities.

These authorities have the final say and they issue the "stage pass" for the various "players" to "get on stage" (into the disaster site).

FEMA, or the Federal Emergency Management Agency, is located in Washington, D.C. and is our nation’s top governing authority in times of disaster. Some years back, the United States came up with legislation to better manage disasters. When passed into law it was given the name: The Federal Response Plan. The specifics of this law have been published in book form and is referenced as Public Law #93-288. I sent His Grace Priyavrata dasa a copy of this book. The President’s signature on it gives FEMA its authority.

As part of this law, FEMA is required to notify the American Red Cross whenever a major disaster has occurred. Furthermore, it is then stated that the American Red Cross is required to notify NVOAD (pronounced no-vad). NVOAD in turn notifies its member agencies—which are located in every state, including Puerto Rico, Guam, and other U.S. territories.

This shouldn’t be too confusing. As far as NVOAD and what this is—NVOAD stands for an organization called, National Voluntary Organizations Active In Disaster. What follows, then, is the proper chain of command and authority structure which governs in times of disaster—here in America:

FEMA

NVOAD

This is noteworthy. Since NVOAD is to be activated by the American Red Cross when a major disaster strikes, NVOAD and its member agencies all have federal authority and are each part of The Federal Response Plan. The bottom line here is that if you belong to NVOAD you get a "stage pass." This is how you get on stage—for both big and little disasters. This is how you become one of the "actors!" This is how you get on television. This is how you stop and get that guy’s attention who is sitting in his big easy chair. This is how you instill appreciation for Lord Krishna within his heart—and simultaneously, millions more just like him/her, all watching the news on their television sets.

As for who the current members of NVOAD are, a partial list would include such organizations as World Vision, Volunteers of America, The Salvation Army, Christian Reformed World Relief Committee, Ananda Marga Universal Relief Team, and Church of the Brethren—about thirty groups in all. Let’s add Krishna Disaster Relief!