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Mission and Programs

Mission

MISSION
NOKR as a humanitarian organization is dedicated to make it possible for people to register their emergency contacts and others for everyday emergency situations, in natural catastrophes, or man made disasters. Respond to these events by providing registered information to public trust agencies and coordinate real time information exchange between government entities, private sector non-profit agencies, and faith based organizations.

VISION
Through proactive and preventive measures, help make a painful or tragic situation less painful for individuals and families.

OBJECTIVE
To help facilitate the next of kin notification process for families by providing Local and State Agencies with secured access to online information provided by individuals. This service is free to the public and to the registered agencies using the search service.

CORE VALUES
Privacy, Trust, Accountability, Partnerships.

Programs

The Next Of Kin Registry (NOKR) was established as a FREE tool for daily emergencies and national disasters. NOKR is an emergency contact system to help if you or your family member is missing, injured or deceased. NOKR provides the public a free proactive service to store emergency contacts, next of kin and vital medical information that would be critical to emergency response agencies. Stored information is only accessible via a secure area that is only accessible by emergency public trust agencies that have registered with NOKR.

Reach out to America (ROTA) Campaign 2007
50 States 250 plus cities

EDUCATING AND PREPARING AMERICA
ROTA will become the first and largest ever US education campaign to prepare citizens for daily emergencies, natural disasters, threats of potential terrorist attacks and the growing concerns about the global avian flu virus. ROTA will visit 50 States and over 250 US cities nationwide. Our goal is to educate and provide resources to individuals, families, Native Americans, seniors, disabled citizens and homeless individuals in rural areas of America. ROTA will emphasize on helping those who do not have direct media or internet access and establishing an alliance with the local authorities, civic, faith and tribal leaders.
see: http://nokr.org/roa/nokr_2005.htm

Program / Activities (NTEE Code)

Disaster Preparedness and Relief Services
Fire Prevention / Protection / Control
Victims' Services

Accomplishments for Fiscal Year Ending 12/31/2008

1. Continue to grow NOKR's global volunteer program that now has volunteers in 87 countries.
2. NOKR marks its 5th-year anniversary since launching.
   
   NOKR is now listed on more than 92% of all State websites as a resource for the public and emergency agencies.
   
   NOKR can now be found on many government websites like the US Governments portal www.usa.gov and the https://www.disasterhelp.gov/gathering-loved-ones.shtm
   
   In 2007 the US Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) consulted with the Next of Kin Registry in an effort to answer HR5441 (Department of Homeland Security Appropriations Act, 2007), SEC. 689c. NOKR put forth the requested solution for the National Emergency Family Registry and Locator System (NEFRLS), which is being established in compliance with Congressional legislation SEC. 689c of H.R. 5441 to help family members separated after major disasters to communicate with one another.
   
3. NOKR established a Faith Based Division. Why does NOKR need a Faith-Based Division? There are several reasons. First, faith communities, by their very nature, are positioned to reach out to those faced with crises and emergencies. Its what we do. Secondly, in recent years the government has recognized something we have known for some time. In times of disasters, emergencies and crisis, some of the first people on scene are usually people of faith. They are there to offer support, supplies, counseling, spiritual care and a shoulder to cry on. Finally, congregations are being called on more and more to become better prepared for emergencies. Though we have learned some difficult lessons in the past years, its good to see more congregations doing emergency planning.

1. In 2008 NOKR began to blueprint and develop a new innovate fiscal plan and direction to solve both long-term sustainability for the NOKR resource and fight global warming. NOKR will seek to partner and invest only designated donor funds in a renewable energy plan. This plan will sustain the NOKR resource as an unwavering free resource for the public and the emergency agencies we serve.
2. NOKR will establish new synergistic partners that will enable NOKR and the respective partners to provide enhanced emergency preparedness resources nationally and globally.
3. NOKR will build a template for all US States to utilize the NOKR resources to provide statewide coverage of the NOKR resource. This template will use the existing information pipeline structure within government. To include the, Department of Motor Vehicles, Department of Education, Emergency Management Divisions, Public Safety, Health and Human Services and others.

NOKR has had tremendous success on the regional level and now on the national level. NOKR is a steadfast organization dedicated to bridging the information gap between the public and the registered agencies. NOKR's nonprofit free service provides these agencies assistance in the rapid location for those who have registered their next of kin or emergency point of contact. We should mention there is no other service like NOKR that is available anywhere internationally.

Many people think that if they are carrying a driver's license or identification card, authorities will know who their emergency contact is in case someone is missing, injured or deceased. Often times though, the information is not current or readily available and it becomes very difficult to locate next of kin. In one example, the NOKR system would benefit the scores of individuals that arrive in emergency rooms across the country, that are unable to provide vital contact information. According to the US Center For Disease Control that number was significant at 900,000 in 2003.

Many unfortunate accidents happen each day to individuals in our society and many of them do not have information, which could lead to expeditious family location. NOKR is beneficial in many ways. In the unique and changing climate we currently live in, unfortunately tragedies such as 9/11 or even more recently, the Southeast Asian tsunami has reminded us about our vulnerability and the importance of family. The National Next of Kin Registry is becoming a vital link to the needs of law enforcement and emergency services internationally.


For more information and recent news please visit NOKR at http://nokr.org/press/press_release.htm or visit the website at http://www.nokr.org

Chief Executive Profile

Mark Cerney is NOKR's founder. Mark has been involved in a number of organizations committed to connecting families in crisis situations. This includes the creation of Bellingham Washington based Community Care 2000. This service utilized volunteer Firefighters and EMT's to survey rural and suburban populations and identify those with special needs in case of fire or emergency medical situations. Under Cerney's leadership, the group developed a record of citizens who might need particular help during any emergency. The program expanded into an educational program for these families through the local fire and emergency service organizations. Mark has also been involved with such fine organizations as the California Youth Authority, San Diego County Medical Examiners Office, Clark County Coroners Office Las Vegas and Whatcom County Fire District 3 in WA.

Mark is a US Marine Corp veteran who served Honorably with the 1st Marine Expeditionary Force 3rd Battalion 1st Marines from 1986-1993. In 1989 Mark was recognized by the United States Navy Amphibious Forces Seventh Fleet for his role in saving 16 U.S. Marines survivors of a CH-53D helicopter crash in Korea. Mark also served Honorably in the United States Army National Guard as a field medic from 1994-1997.

Mark attended college in California and Washington and has trained through the National Emergency Response and Rescue Training Center (NERRTC) at Texas A&M's Domestic Preparedness Campus. Mark was recently featured in a new book being written called Wisdom Out by Elle Allison. The book highlights wise leaders around the world and defines what wisdom looks like in our world today. The book emphasizes on extraordinary "regular people" who have experienced ups and downs, losses, trials, and adversities in life, but who choose to carry on in ways that make things turn out well for themselves and others.

Additional Comments

The injury or passing of a loved one is a difficult time for families and friends. This sad time is compounded when you're not informed when a loved one is injured or passes on. This happens when Local and State Agencies are unable to locate a family member or Next Of Kin. This would happen for numerous reasons:

A lack of information about family or contacts

A lack of resources available to search for family members or "Next Of Kin"

Nonprofits: Find out how to add to and update your information.

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