Churches surveyed in southern Louisiana following Hurricane Katrina offered suggestions for how faith communities can be prepared for natural disasters. Many of the suggestions echo advice given by the disaster relief ministry of the North American Mission Board through its church and family preparedness resources on its Web site, www.namb.net/dr.
To improve communication between organizations, the churches suggested that each congregation have a disaster plan and a designated disaster team. To facilitate coordination of efforts, surveyed congregations also suggested keeping a contact list of churches from all denominations.
And while the American Red Cross may use large churches for shelter and aid distribution sites, small churches can help by offering specialized services and by preparing and distributing meals.
Tommy Puckett, disaster relief coordinator for Alabama through the Alabama Baptist State Board of Missions, recommended that those churches wanting to serve as shelters should invite the Red Cross to inspect their facilities to learn what they need to have in place. The Red Cross can also evaluate how many people the church can accommodate and for what length of time.
The survey also noted that churches should:
– Have emergency contact information for members so ministers can check on their safety and ask them to volunteer.
– Maintain lists of specialized service providers within their membership.
– Develop a technology team able to perform database and Internet searches to help people reunite after a disaster.
– Keep handy the contact information for denominational agencies that help provide disaster relief.
– Develop travel plans to reunite people, whether across town or across the country.
– Designate a location and organization to receive, sort through and store supplies and donations.
– When building or renovating a church facility, consider adding showers, kitchens, ramps and large, multipurpose auditoriums.
– Request financial donations and designate people to purchase items that are difficult to obtain through donation drives such as perishables, personal hygiene items, socks and underwear. Also consider buying in large quantity seasonal items such as coats, backpacks and school supplies.
– Store immediate-response items on site, including flashlights, cots, air mattresses, emergency water and at least a one-day supply of nonperishable food.
– Have telephones, long-distance lines, computers and Internet access to help evacuees reunite with family.
– Know a congregation’s limits. Don’t overextend or exhaust resources and storage capacities. (ABP, TAB)
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