Church Disaster Preparation

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Church Disaster Preparation
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Church Disaster Preparation

• Goal
• To assist churches to prepare for disaster by
  developing a strategy to minister to their
  communities during crisis through preparing their
  facilities, training their members, securing
  supplies, and developing protocols that will
  activate their disaster response plans.

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Church Disaster Preparation

• The Churchs Motivation
• Matthew 28 18-20
• Matthew 25 31-46
• Luke 10 25-37

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Church Disaster Preparation

• What disasters can happen in your community?
• What would people need if that disaster happened?

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Churches should consider the needs of individuals
  and families.
• Plans should include specific ministries
• Remember, ministry is the act of serving.
• Churches must plan for and train members to
  minister to those caught in crisis.

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Churches and Disasters
• A church is in a unique position to respond to
  the needs of its community.
• A church can demonstrate the love of Christ to
  its community.
• A church can meet the needs of victims.
• A churchs facilities can be used to minister in
  many ways to its community .

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church facilities in the affected
• area can be used as
• Bulk distribution center
• Food, supplies, clothing
• Child care center
• Communication center
• Information center
• Shelter for victims

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church facilities in the affected
• area can be used as
• Shelter for volunteers
• Staging area
• Feeding site
• Command center

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church facilities outside the affected area can
  be used as
• Gathering point
• Orientation center
• Shelter for volunteers
• Shelter for victims

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Organizing for Disaster Response
• Local Church Preparation
• Work with others cooperatively
• Coordinate with Red Cross, Salvation Army,
  government, state conventions, and SBC

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Organizing for Disaster Response
• Local Church Preparation
• Develop a crisis closet
• Be alert for opportunities to minister
• Identify and assign volunteers

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Organizing for Disaster Response
• Local Church Preparation
• Elect a disaster relief committee
• Provide training for the committee
• Survey members for skills, talents and interest
• Make facilities available for DR

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Secure church approval to coordinate with other
  disaster relief entities
• Make contact with government and ARC to
  coordinate before a disaster
• Be alert to crises for opportunities to minister
• Identify and assign volunteers according to
  talents
• Conduct damage assessment and notify
  associational and state DR leadership

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church Disaster Relief Leadership
• Church DR director
• Church DR resources coordinator
• Church DR volunteer coordinator

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Church DR Leadership

• Church DR Director
• Trained
• Chair of the DR Committee
• Assemble church DR response team
• Schedule
• meetings, activities, training
• Enlist other committee members
• Serve on planning groups
• Relate to state, association, ARC and others
• Alert church to opportunities to minister
• Prepare church disaster team to respond

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Church DR Leadership

• Church Resource Coordinator
• Trained
• Conduct inventory of facilities, equipment,
  supplies and vehicles
• Determine what to recommend for church approval
  for use
• Enlist volunteers to assist with plans for use
  approved by the church

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Church DR Leadership

• Church Volunteer Coordinator
• Trained
• Conduct skills survey of church members
• Develop database of volunteers
• Arrange for orientation and training of
  volunteers
• Organize teams
• Activate church phone chain when needed
• Assign volunteer teams duties

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Church DR Leadership

• Church Disaster Relief Team
• Trained
• Open the church as a shelter
• Prepare vehicles for a response
• Assist with evacuation
• Check on elderly and others who may need help
• Clear church parking lot
• Assist families in keeping with church DR plan
• Provide temporary child care or elder care

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church Opportunities and Action
• Mitigation
• Preparation
• Warning
• Rescue
• Evacuation

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church Preparation
• Pray
• Discuss with the pastor
• Complete church checklist
• Discuss with mens ministry director or others
• Consider finances

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church Preparation (continued)
• Recommend leadership team
• Discuss with state convention and association DR
  leaders
• Make list of possible services
• Contact local Red Cross, Salvation Army and
  government agencies.
• Select service and recommend to church

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Church Approval
• Present pertinent facts
• Develop a mission statement
• Present proposal to church
• Tell why ministry is needed

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Church Disaster Preparation

• Cooperate with other agencies
• Reach an agreement with associational state
  leadership
• Arrange for training
• Reach agreement with other agencies that respond
  to disaster in your community
• Secure permits, licenses or certification
• Check insurance
• Prepare to report to association, state DR
  leadership and other agencies you will be working
  with

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Church Disaster Preparation