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If only we had planned
When disaster strikes, everyone is trying to figure out where
to go, what to do, and who to call. Local churches are in a
unique positon to be a positive force in responding. Many
congregations already address the special needs of their
communities. People will naturally turn to the church in
times of crisis, seeking assistance, meaning and
healing.
Church-Staff-Membership (Individual, Family, Special
Needs)-Community-Communities in Need
There are four entities in or surrounding a
church location. They are the staff, the church membership,
the community where the community is made up of non-church members
and church members of other churches, and other churches/communities that need assistance. It is the responsibility
of the church to address all four groups. For your location,
it takes time to consider various potential disaster risks, make
preparations to avoid and minimize the impact of a specific
disaster and for the staff and individual and family church
members to respond to the needs of fellow church members, those in
the community and other communities..
Following a disaster, many people and
organization, including the faith-based community, immediately
respond. They provide many services including support of first
responders (fire, police, EMT, Search & Rescue), provide
assessment and early response teams, hot meals, distribution of
non-perishable food and water, and are active in the rebuilding,
and many other ways.
Theses coordinated and collaborative actions
of community organizations are not done alone but are coordinated
with the local county/city government (Emergency Management) who
is in charge of the disaster and in doing so lead to the best
possible recovery of disaster survivors.
Disasters do not wait for training and
preparation, so identification of potential disaster risks for
your church and staff, membership, and community, anticipating
what might happen, determine what can or cannot be done, and
meeting the needs. This also involves training and
preparation for individuals and family, special needs individuals,
church schools, and businesses in addition to church
preparation.
Some of the things you can do to prepare for the unexpected,
such as making an emergency supply kit and developing a family
communications plan, are the same for both a natural or man-made
emergency.
However, there are important differences among potential
emergencies that will impact the decisions you make and the
actions you take. Use the menu to learn more about the potential emergencies that
could happen where you live and the appropriate way to respond to
them.
Parts of a Plan
- Statement of purpose (How does this plan fit in with the
mission of the church and local community resources?)
- Types of Risks that are likely to occur in your community
- Assignment of responsibility (This will include covering a
variety of tasks such as working with volunteers to gathering
of the important papers and insurance.
- Action Plans (What services will be provided and
what will they entail? Storage, Use of Building, Volunteers,
etc.
- How do we mange the people who want to help? (Prior
training, on-the-job training, spontaneous volunteers (SUV's, etc.)
- A means of communicating with congregation and the
surrounding community.
Planning Steps
1- Review the top risks and educate
yourself on those risk
2- Anticipate what might happen and determine how to
minimize or react
3- Learn the Conference Communication Plan and
when it should be used
4- Establish a Church Disaster Coordinator
Determine what
your church can or cannot do
Work with the
local Emergency Management Agency (EMA) director in coordinating plans
Work with nearby
churches of all faiths
If
there is a Community Organizations Active in Disaster
(COAD) in your county or town, join with them.
Work
with the District Disaster Coordinator
5- Plan, educate, and prepare for
disaster incidents
6- You and your Family (Disaster Kit, Evacuation Kit,
etc.)
7- Workplace Planning
8- Special Needs People, whether physical, cognitive, or emotional;
whether permanent or temporary -- are among those who are
especially vulnerable to disasters if planning and development of
support networks has not been completed.
9- Church schools and the community
10- Evacuation
11- Develop a action plan for your family, business, church,
and community to provide more control of your welfare.
12- Share your completed church disaster plan with the District
Disaster Coordinator
13- Maintain your action plan of what to do and who
will do it after the disaster:
Because your church is faithful to its promises
Because your church is an instrument of
hope
Because your church is a constant and living community
resource
Because your church calls people by name
Because your
church values teamwork
Because your church empowers persons to
choose hope rather than fear
14- In event of a disaster, the Disaster Center located
at Simpsonwood will assist you and your community in
recovery efforts.
15. Review your plan periodically.
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A Prepared Church
One the plan is completed, the disaster plan is presented to
the entire church. Congretation willing to "buy
in" to the plan are more willing to participate in the
implementation.
While local plans can not lessen the physical impact of an
incident, a well thought out and followed plan can help mitigate
the emotional and spiritual impact.
A plan can speed up the immediate resosne and help lessen the
fellings of loneliness and isolation so commonly felt after
disasters.
A good disaster ministry plan also utilizes those volunteers
with that overwhelming need to help others in times of crisis.
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