Disaster Response Team

In preparation for Disaster Preparedness month in September, we have distributed a kit that contains an informational video that can be shown to your church trustees as well as your congregation on disaster preparedness. This kit will also include other informational pamphlets as well as a disaster resource survey that we would like you to complete and return to the DDRT. For more information please contact Chris Safrit at 434-4273.

IN THE EVENT OF A LOCAL DISASTER

Pastors should respond in this manner:

1) If mandatory evacuation is ordered, lead by example and go . When you arrive at your evacuation location, call the District Disaster Coordinator, Chris Safrit at 757-434-4273. If you cannot reach him, call the District Superintendent, 615-7479. and give him your location.

2) If evacuation is not mandatory, report within 24 hours to the district office any damage to church and/or parsonage . The District Office number is 757-473-1592; parsonage, 464-5392. If these phones are down, call one of the numbers above.

3) Check on members of your congregation to see if they are okay and report any injury or loss of life in the congregation as a result of the storm to the district office. This is not just for statistical purposes, but will help us prioritize how we can best use the recovery assets available.

4) It is important for us, as a district and conference, to have an indication of the damage in the various areas of the district. Since you live in these communities, it will be helpful if you also provide us with information on what you know about the damage in your area.

5) Major damage from hurricanes and tropical storms provides us, as pastors, with a unique opportunity to offer pastoral care in the congregation and community . People continue to look to the church and pastors for guidance. Other persons in your congregation can provide assistance, such as Stephen Ministers, counselors, and chaplains. If they are willing to make themselves available beyond the local church, please provide contact information to the district office.

6) Historically, we as United Methodists have a deep commitment to long term recovery after hurricanes and storms. Information you provide helps us assess what we need to do.

7) Should we have a major disaster, we will call on you to help provide congregational resources for recovery efforts, e.g., staffing relief tables at FEMA Centers, providing transportation, providing food, etc.

Responsibilities of Local Pastor

While not serving on the DDRT ((District Disaster Response Team), the success of all relief efforts rests in the hands of local pastors, who must prepare their congregations for a disaster. Following the disaster it is the pastor who must relay valuable information to their congregation and likewise to the District Superintendent, the DDRT and CDRT so that the people in their community receive the best possible care.

Prior to a disaster:
- Have an effective calling tree to each church family.
- If no evacuation is expected the Pastor should enlist the help of the congregation to help people prepare for the disaster, which can include structural preparation and stockpiling of needed supplies.
- Set the proper example. If there is an evacuation, the pastor should leave and urge all the congregation and community to do the same.
Following disaster:
- Report to the District Superintendent ASAP as much of the following information as possible: Damage to church and parsonage, general condition of neighborhood.
- Use a calling tree to check on church families.
- Report to the District Superintendent the Pastor’s ability to minister to the congregation if the Pastor’s family is also affected by the disaster.
- Relay information to the congregation and community about federal, state and conference relief options, locations of shelters, food, supplies, filing centers for financial assistance, pastoral care and counseling and other vital information which will be supplied to you by the DDRT Communications Coordinator.
- Worship on Sunday. If the church is damaged, find an alternate location or worship outside.

Local Church Disaster Coordinator

Prior to a disaster:
- Serve on the Church Council on Ministries or Administrative Council
- Work with the Trustees to ensue the insurance for church and parsonage covers flooding if in a flood plane.
- Basic insurance only covers water damage from the sky.
- Make sure the church archives are properly protected from water damage and fire.
- Create an effective calling tree to each church family.
- Identify church members who will need assistance in the event of an evacuation and have persons lined up to assist them in evacuation.
- If no evacuation is expected the Church Disaster Coordinator should enlist the help of the congregation to help people prepare for the disaster, which can include structural preparation and stockpiling of needed supplies.
- Set the proper example. If there is an evacuation, the Church Disaster Coordinator should leave and urge all the congregation and community to do the same.
Following disaster:
- Assist the pastor in accessing the following: Damage to church and parsonage, general condition of neighborhood and church families.
- Use a calling tree to check on church families, identify which ones are in shelters, or staying with other people.
- Relay information to the congregation and community about federal, state and conference relief options, locations of shelters, food, supplies, filing centers for financial assistance, counseling and other vital information which will be supplied to you by the Conference or District Disaster Response Team Communications Coordinator.
- If the church is damaged, assist the pastor in finding an alternate location to worship the Sunday following a disaster.
- Be responsible for coordinating the collection and shipment of relief supplies within the local church if the church is not damaged. ( should this be handled at a more centralized level so several people aren’t calling the same resources for the same help)
- Be responsible for coordinating the enlisting of volunteers to assist in relief efforts and VIM teams if the church is not damaged

Please take this time to review the conference disaster plan which is available at www.vaumc.org. Also, please review your own local church plan for possible changes and adjustments that may need to be made since last years Hurricane Season.

If you need assistance with your plan, or have general questions about disaster related issues please email me at the following address: disastercoord@elizabethriverdistrict.org. My cell phone is 434-4273.