Churches should prepare to respond quickly to disasters

Churches should prepare to respond quickly to disasters

Disasters are a natural part of life, and, as such, every church should prepare for them, according to Tommy Puckett, director of the office of men’s ministries and director of disaster relief for the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions (SBOM).
   
“If you’re going to provide a holistic ministry, you should serve people during the good times and be prepared when tragedy strikes,” Puckett said. “The church should look out on their community with compassion to see every man, woman, boy and girl come to know Jesus as their Lord and Savior. Many times, the only way that can happen is by extending a cup of cold water in Jesus’ name during a time of disaster.”
   
The North American Mission Board (NAMB) echoes this belief on its Web site. “The greatest tool the kingdom of God has in our world are Christians living in the local community sharing their faith day-in and day-out under the power of the Holy Spirit. The local church ministering in the community is still God’s beginning point for the sharing of the gospel worldwide.”
   
The key to providing effective assistance in times of trouble, Puckett added, is quick response accomplished by already having a plan. “One night’s ministry can make the difference in saving a life or having lives lost,” he said.
   
As mutual aid coordinator of the Alabama Emergency Management Agency (EMA), Bill Atchison appreciates the support that volunteer organizations and churches give during disasters.
   
“The emergency support effort of our first responders, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) and Alabama EMA could not be done without the work our churches and volunteer organizations do,” Atchison said. “There are some things that we can’t do as a government agency that the churches can do and can do very quickly.”
   
He added that church disaster plans should mesh with the strategy of city and county officials and the local EMA. “If you are not having meetings to plan response and become involved as a church, you need to be,” Atchison said.
   
Terri Hasdorff, executive director of the Alabama Governor’s Office of Faith-based and Community Initiatives, advises churches to become involved in the state’s Voluntary Organizations Active in Disasters network to connect on the county level and stay aware of opportunities and resources. 
   
She also recommends that congregations get involved with their local Citizen Corps Council and undergo free Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training to help citizens react to disaster situations in a way that will assist trained emergency personnel.
   
“Sometimes in a major disaster, it can be several hours before trained personnel can get to the scene, especially in rural areas,” Hasdorff said. “Many times, faith-based organizations are close to the disaster and people from those organizations, if they have received any type of CERT training, can be very helpful. It really makes a difference when average citizens get involved. Faith-based organizations can play a critical role in bringing that about.”
   
Carefully planned disaster procedures can greatly affect how churches respond to tragedies, according to NAMB.
   
NAMB officials said, “Congregations need to discuss their plans and determine how they, as individuals, can become part of this ministry. The unprepared church will miss valuable opportunities to minister while attempting to react to a disaster in their community.”
   
To help churches minister in times of crisis, NAMB offers these tips for developing disaster plans:
   
• Coordinate with the local government and chapter of the American Red Cross.
   
“Often local American Red Cross, government or Southern Baptist disaster relief officials do not know what is available to them through associations and churches because they are not informed of local church plans,” NAMB officials explained.
   
• Elect a disaster relief committee and do long-range planning.
   
According to NAMB, the committee should be headed by a “director who will give general direction to mitigation, preparation, organization and training.”
   
• Determine possible outreach opportunities for the church.
  
• Consider the church’s financial ability to pay for the ministry.
  
• Contact the association’s director of missions, associational men’s organization director and state disaster relief director for suggestions and guidance. 
   
• Secure church approval.
   
“For a church to be effective in its ministry, it needs the entire church’s approval and prayer should be the foundation for everything the church does,” Puckett said.
   
• Respond to church requests to develop the ministry or continue research for later recommendation and begin immediately implementing those.
   
A detailed disaster-planning brochure is available at www.namb.net or through the SBOM office of men’s ministries at 1-800-264-1225. For more information on the state’s faith-based and community initiatives, visit www.servealabama.gov.