Congregation Preparedness Training

1
Congregation PreparednessTraining
2
What is a Disaster?

• A disaster is an event that disrupts normal
  life, causing physical or mental trauma and/or
  damage to property and/or community
  infrastructure
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in
  Disaster,
• Long-Term Recovery Manual

3
Phases of Disaster
4
Preparedness

• Preparedness is the state of being ready. It is
  the work that is done by individuals,
  organizations and communities ahead of disaster.
• Gathering information
• Establishing plans
• Learning about resources and processes
• Building relationships and partnerships
• --LSSDR Manual for Synods and Districts

5
Emergency Response

• This is the stage in which emergency and
  government officials are the primary players.
• Evacuation, search and rescue operations
• Shelter and staging areas established
• Danger high, most work done by trained
  professionals
• Untrained volunteers a hindrance
• --LSSDR Manual for Synods and Districts

6
Relief

• This is the work that happens once the danger of
  the emergency response stage is mitigated.
• shelter, feeding, medical assistance and crisis
  care
• safe, sanitary and secure
• managed by government officials and disaster
  agencies
• Basic clean-up and minor repairs begin
• --LSSDR Manual for Synods and Districts

7
Recovery

• The community begins to rebuild and put itself
  back together.
• moving out of shelters and into temporary housing
  or back to homes
• repair and rebuilding, helping people navigate
  the system, and tending to emotional and
  spiritual care
• faith community active and visible
• new alliances form
• community begins to define its new normal.
• --LSSDR Manual for Synods and Districts

8
Levels of Disaster and Disaster Response
9
Lutherans in Disaster

• Lutheran Disaster Response
• Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response
• National Voluntary Organizations Active in
  Disaster (NVOAD)
• Synod/District
• Congregations

10
Congregations in Disaster
11
Physical Plant

• Building Considerations
• Congregational Records
• Ongoing ministries and programs
• Other

12
Congregation Members and Staff

• Communication
• Roles during a disaster
• Decision making authority
• Responding to members needs
• Supporting affected staff/responding staff
• Other

13
Community

• Connecting to the community before a disaster
• Other congregations
• VOAD and other disaster networks
• Local Office of Emergency Management (OEM)
• Resources to offer during a response
• Shelter
• Chainsaw crews
• Food distribution
• Long Term Recovery
• Volunteer hosting
• Donations management
• Warehousing
• Case Management
• Other

14
Thank You!

• Questions?