ATh 622 Disaster Response

1. Ministry Response to
Crisis and Disasters
Disaster Preparation
For the Local Church
Ministers & Laity
With Outside the Gates Foundation

2. Overview
The Threat,
• Last 15 years threat has increased
– September 11, 2001
– Natural Disasters
• Hurricanes
• Tornadoes
• Floods
• Earth Quakes

3. Overview
The Scriptural Mandate,
• Matthew 24:6-7
• 1Peter 5:8
• Matthew 7:24-27
• Ezekiel 38:7

4. Chaplaincy Disaster Response
Ministries
Chaplain Teams,
1. Immediate Response Chaplains
– Assess the need in disaster area
2. Local Church Teams; guards the home front
– Assembled in agency or local church
3. Chaplains Deploying with agencies (Red Cross, etc.)
– Support team members & victims

5. Disaster Response Chaplain Ministry
• Provide spiritual & physical care for disaster victims,
disaster responders and others as need.
• Insure that the dead are treated with dignity & cared
for properly.
• Assist with the physically wounded to insure they
receive proper treatment & health care.

6. Disaster Response Chaplain Ministry
• Give spiritual devotions & inspiration at the
beginning of the day; counsel, encouragement &
guidance during the day and vital debriefings of daily
events at the end of the day.
• Brief and train other deploying teams from churches
& other agencies with a focus on unity of purpose
and safety.

7. Disaster Response Chaplain Ministry
• Be available to pastors, law enforcement officers
and other caregivers in the disaster area to
encourage their efforts, provide counsel and
support to prevent burnout & Post Traumatic
Stress Disorder. Practice self-care skills to insure
responding chaplains do not become casualties.
• Teams are usually deployed for a maximum of 7-
10 days depending on team-member experience
with disasters.

8. Disaster Response Guidelines Local
Congregation

9. Scripture Focus
• Matthew 24:7, “And there will be famines, pestilences,
and earthquakes in various places.
• 1 Peter 5:8, “Be sober, be vigilant; because your
adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion,
seeking whom he may devour.”
• Ezekiel 38:7, "Prepare yourself and be ready, you and
all your companies that are gathered about you; and
be a guard for them.” (NKJV)

10. Preparation Essentials
1. Survival
– Protect Human Life
– Protect Church Property
– Protect Personal Property
2. Care
– Witness to the Community
– Help for the Needy

11. Surviving a Disaster
• Step 1: Laying the Groundwork
– Planning Process
• Church conference – reveal intentions
• Training Church disaster response workers
• Guests Speakers
– Red Cross
– CDC
– FEMA
– DHS
– Local Disaster Response agencies/teams

12. Surviving a Disaster
• Step 2: Assess Resources
– Human Resources
– Insurance Policy Review
– Facilities Usability During Disaster
• Shelter
• Distribution Center
• Goods, Supplies and Material Storage
– Local Disaster Agencies/Teams

13. Leadership Development
• Step 3: Develop a Strategic Plan to Train Church
Leadership
– Church Staff
– Lay Leaders
– Other Volunteers
• Name Leadership Positions
– Disaster Response Coordinator and Assistant
– Disaster Care Coordinator and Assistant

14. Leadership Development
• Develop Disaster Response Structure with
Clear Lines of Accountability
• Use Identification Cards/Badges, Hard Hats,
Shirts, Jackets, etc.
• Write Clear Job descriptions
• Set your Training Calendar

15. Resource Checklist
• Step 4:
1. Communication
• Church Directory
• Community Disaster/Crisis Directory
• Emergency Phone Number Directory
2. Evaluate Church Facilities
• Disaster Supply/Distribution Center
• Disaster Care Center

16. Resource Checklist
3. Build Disaster Document
Library/Resources Center
• Map Grids
• Disaster Response Plans
• Evacuation Plans/Routes
• Shelter Locations
• Church Documents
• Other Pertinent Information

17. Resource Checklist
4. Identify Human Resources
• Gifted
• Talented
• Skills
• Job-related Expertise
– Medical Workers
– Counselors
– Construction
– Hotel Managers
– Structural Experts
– Emergency Service Personnel
– Others

18. Post Disaster Recovery
1. Assess the Damage
– Human Life
– Church Property
– Personal Property
2. Care Intervention Response
– Plan is Activated
– Communication is Established
– Team Deployed
– Disaster/Crisis Care Center Operational

19. Post Crisis Recovery
3. Critical Incident Stress Management
– Teams Activated and Deployed by Community or
Church Disaster Response Leadership
4. Normalize the Situation
– Providing Help
– Providing Hope

20. Resources
• FEMA Website
• DHS Website
• Red Cross Website
• Salvation Army Website
• Disaster Response Plan Samples
• Articles on Trauma and Counseling
• International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
• Miscellaneous Items

21. QUESTIONS?