THE MITIGATION PHASE OF DISASTER RESPONSE

Rev. Dr. Paul Wood, Jr.

Greenwood DistrictDisaster Response Coordinator

DISASTER RESPONSE FOUR PHASES

DISASTER RESPONSE’S

FOUR PHASES:

MITIGATIONPREPAREDNESS

RESPONSERECOVERY

DISASTER RESPONSE SHOULD START WITH

MITIGATION

Definition of disaster mitigation

Phases of mitigation

The rationale for mitigation

Examples of churches doing mitigation

WHAT WE WILL COVER

BUT FIRST…..WHAT IS A DISASTER?

A disaster is a crisis situation causing wide spread damage which far exceeds our abilityto recover….

CHARACTERISTIC TRAITSOF DISASTERS

•Are local

•Are experienced differently fromperson to person

•Some are individual

•Some affect one or more households

•Some affect large groups of people.

MITIGATION (OR “RISK

REDUCTION”)

IS PREPARATION DESIGNED TO REDUCE THE

IMPACT OF RISKS AND HAZARDS

DISASTER MITIGATION

 The effort to reduce loss of life and property by lessening the impact of disasters. Mitigation is taking action now – before the next disaster – to reduce human and financial consequences later.

– George McKinney

•Reduce risk of loss of financial resources

•Save people from harm

•Minimize damage to the facilities& contents

GOOD REASONS FORDISASTER MITIGATION

MORE GOOD REASONS FOR DISASTER MITIGATION

•Stave off major capital expenditures by having adequate property insurance.

•Be resilient in the face of disaster in order to turn to the task of responding to the needs of other people.

PHASES OF MITIGATION

A. Risk assessment

B.Planning

C. Action

V. 1ST PHASE OF MITIGATION

A. Risk assessment

1. Identify assets (members, buildings, land, financial resources, etc.)

2. Analyze the risks

3. Summarize your vulnerabilities

V. 2ND & 3RD PHASES OF MITIGATION

A. Risk assessment

B.Planning

C. Action

RATIONALE FOR MITIGATION:SUMMARY

• It creates safer communities by reducing losses of life and property.

•Enables individuals & communities to recover more rapidly from disasters.

•Lessens the financial impact on individuals, the community, state & nation.

ONE MORE REASON TODO MITIGATION

Churches can expeditiously respond to the human needs within their communities, i.e. they can return to doing ministry.

REVIEW: MOST LIKELY DISASTERS IN THE

GREENWOOD DISTRICTTornado

Chemical spill

Hurricane remnants

Severe winter storm

Nuclear power emergency

Fire – wildfires & structural fires

WHICH HAZARDS APPEAR TO BE MOST LIKELY TO EFFECT

YOUR COMMUNITY & CONGREGATION?

Discussion in twos and threes

MITIGATION ISSUES IN CHURCHES

1. Health-related emergenciesa) equipmentb) procedures

2. Plans to respond to a tornado

3. Evacuation plans

MITIGATION ISSUES IN CHURCHES

4. Back-up of membership& financial records (off-site)

5. Fire extinguishers

6. Planning & training for ushers & staff

MITIGATION ISSUES IN CHURCHES

7. Insurance policies:a) up-to-dateb) sufficient

8. Inventories: up-to-date; multiple copies

MITIGATION ISSUES IN CHURCHES

9. Relationships established with:a) government agenciesb) schools

c) churchesd) American Red Cross, etc.

MITIGATION ISSUES IN CHURCHES

What else comes to mind?

DISASTER RESPONSE FOUR PHASES