This document discusses preparing for disasters and crises by getting trained to help those in need. It mentions that Jesus and the Bible foretold of calamities, and that churches should be places people can get support. It provides information on training programs through FEMA and VOAD that allow faith-based groups to assist officially. The document encourages churches to develop response plans and get involved with their county VOAD to be ready to help their community in a crisis. It stresses that with proper training, churches can expand their ability to meet needs when disasters strike.

1. When Your Life or Neighborhood
Looks Like This:
Who do you call?
Where do you go for help?
Are you ready?

2.  Jesus says the end times will include earthquakes,
famines and other calamities in Matthew 24:4-14;
Mark 13:5-11 & Luke 21:5-19.
 Revelation describes the same kinds of events
before the 2nd. Coming of Jesus.
 Religious People always want to blame the
victims for sin in their lives.
 If sin entered the world with Adam and Eve, then
is what we see taking place - the death of the earth
and not “God's judgment?”

3.  Many will come and say they are “the way” but don’t
go with them – the cults are getting prepared and
trained so that they can be on the “front lines.”
 All these things are “an opportunity for your
testimony” – when we serve people well, they will ask
you “so what do you believe?”
 “So make up your minds not to prepare beforehand to
defend yourselves;” – too many in the church come
with an agenda in their head as to what they NEED to
say instead of LISTENING to those who have
suffered.

4.  60-70 Years ago society revolved around the
church.
 Today – most see the church as “unessential.”
 Everyday in our communities people are in
crisis – death of a family member, divorce, lost
jobs, medical diagnosis that is not favorable.
 Church should be the safest place to come and
be open and honest about the trials we face.
 Training to be better equipped is simple and
can expand to meet the needs of a community.
 Many programs already exist that a church can
use to meet the needs of the hurting.

5.  After 9-11, President Bush signed HSPD #5
authorizing the development of National
Incident Management System or NIMS.
 NIMS opens the door to faith based
organizations to serve as long as volunteers are
trained to respond.
 VOAD – Volunteer Organizations Active in
Disaster is our open door to reach the hurting
after a local event like the San Bruno Fire.
 Training with one organization is not
“transferable” to another without an MOU.
 There are liability issues that each church must
consider.

6.  Fires in Santa Cruz County in 2010 did not meet
the criteria for SBA to get involved leaving
many un-met needs.
 Groups, like Convoy of Hope need at least 200
families to be displaced in a concentrated area
before they will respond.
 Earthquake in Japan and the ensuing Nuclear
Reactor issues kept outside resources at bay for
many, many days.

7.  Only state, under Governor Schwarzenegger to
have a Cabinet member who oversees all
volunteerism in the state.
 Many counties are not willing to share their
volunteers with other counties because of
fiduciary responsibility.
 As of September 2010, it was mandated by the
Governor that every mobile home park in the state
have a written disaster response plan submitted to
the governor’s office
 Not every county in NorCal has an active VOAD
but they are easy to launch.

8.  Developed a Disaster Relief Task Force.
 Task Force has presented Response Plans that the
Presbytery have approved.
 We are members of Northern California VOAD at the
State Level.
 Possible for us to have representation at each county
VOAD and to participate at the local levels.
 Training Matrix for all Volunteers is in place.

11. 1906 Earthquake in the Bay Area Today
• Today, 7.2 Million live in the bay area.
• Death rate of ¾ of 1% today would be
the equivalent of 50,000 dead.
• Homeless rate of 56% with today’s
population would leave 3.7 Million
without a place to live.
• Reports from 1906 show that Santa Rose
had more damage than San Francisco.

12. Christ Centered Training Offered
• Sunday Service Presentation.
• 4 Hour Introduction to Crisis
& Disaster Response.
• 1 Day – Piece by Peace:
Discovering God’s Plan for
Dealing with Death, Trauma,
Divorce and Other Losses in
Our Lives.
• 2 Day Training in Critical
Incident Stress Management.
• Church Planning and
Preparation with Pastor Jim.

13. The Need Is Great

14. Christ is The Answer
Will you Prepare?
Will You Help?

15. Will You Go?

16. The Only Piece Missing is You