Congregation PreparednessTraining

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

Phases of Disaster

Relief

Recovery

Mitigation

Preparedness

Disaster Event

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

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

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

RecoveryThe 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

National

Regional

Synod/District

Community

Congregational

Individual

Levels of Disaster and Disaster Response

Lutherans in Disaster• Lutheran Disaster Response

• Lutheran Social Services Disaster Response

• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (NVOAD)

• Synod/District

• Congregations

Congregations in Disaster

Community

Congregation Members and Staff

Physical Plant

Physical Plant

• Building Considerations

• Congregational Records

• Ongoing ministries and programs

• Other

Congregation Members and Staff

• Communication

• Roles during a disaster

• Decision making authority

• Responding to members’ needs

• Supporting affected staff/responding staff

• Other

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

Thank You!

Questions?