Emergency Management Resources

Resources for congregations and individuals for being prepared for disasters and emergency situations. For preparation for things like fires, playground safety and storms, please review the resources on the resourcelibrary page from Church Mutual. If you know of other resources that are missing from this page, please contact us at office at ohiomeadville.org

Congregational Preparedness

Preparing for Disaster – downloadable guide in pdf format from the Lutherans.  www.ldr.org/prepare

The Changing Role of the Church in Disasters – downloadable from the Virginia Council of Churches. www.vacouncilofchurches.org  (go to the box on the right side – VOAD – click and click on this resource.)

Where to Start

Make a Plan

• Develop a congregational communications plan.  Know how you will reach those who are in need of medication, the home-bound, etc
• Inventory your assets
• Create a plan of how to provide shelter in place, safety in the congregation’s building
• Create a plan for evacuation

Getting Ready for that "We Hope it Never Happens Here Event" that Just Might Happen

• Keep insurance policies up to date with realistic coverage levels 
• Do not keep the insurance policy in the church building to avoid it being lost or damaged if the building should be damaged or destroyed
• Check flood plain plans to be sure the church is not in any newly drawn plans. If it is obtain flood insurance
• Have someone trained to know what to do to coordinate information and how to file claims
• Have someone act as coordinator to meet and get to know fire and police responders 
• Develop a plan on how to safeguard essential church documents.  Make a second copy of all legal documents, insurance policies and other vital files and move them to an off-site storage area.
• Develop a communication plan to keep congregation members connected and informed in the event of a disaster.

Get a Kit

• Gather and have on hand an emergency supply kit – water, food, first-aid supplies, tools and emergency supplies, sanitation needs, hygiene items, etc.

Be Informed

• Learn about specific threats to your city/region, and know what you will have to do.

Make a Checklist

• Phone numbers,  check to see if there is adequate insurance, know how to use fire extinguishers, check smoke detectors regularly, stock emergency supplies, take a CPR class, determine escape route, determine safe spots in the building

Practice and maintain your plan.

• Check utilities and know where all sources are located.

Resources

FEMA: Are You Ready? An in-depth Guide to Citizen Preparedness. www.fema.gov/areyouready/

Roberts and Ashley: Disaster Spiritual Care: Practical Clergy Responses to Community, Region and National Tragedy.  Skylight Paths Publ. 2008.  A 348 page book highly recommended by the ELCA. Can be found on Amazon or other book services.

National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster: Light Our Way - A guide for Spiritual care in Times of Disaster.  Request from VOAD at dola at nvoad.org or write: NVOAD, 1501 Lee Highway, Suite 206, Arlington VA 22209. Or phone 703-778-5088.

Unitarian Universalist Disaster Response Contacts

• UU Trauma Response  Ministry www.traumaministry.org

Non-Profit and Religous Disaster Response Websites

• National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster ~ www.NVOAD.org
• Church World Service Emergency Response Program ~ www.CWSERP.org
• American Red Cross ~ www.redcross.org
• Friends Disaster Service ~ www.friendsdisasterservice.net
• United Church of Christ ~ www.ucc.org /disaster
• Episcopal Relief and Development ~ www.er-d.org
• Mennonite Disaster Service ~ www.mds.mennonite.net
• Church of the Brethren ~ www.brethren.org/site/PageServer?pagename=serve_brethren_disaster_ministries
• Lutheran Disaster Response ~ www.ldr.org
• Presbyterian Disaster Assistance ~ www.pcusa.org/pda
• Salvation Army ~ www.salvationarmyusa.org
• United Methodist Committee on Relief ~ http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor
• Catholic Charities ~ www.catholiccharitiesusa.org

Federal Disaster Response Websites

• Centers for Disease Control ~ www.cdc.gov
• Federal Emergency Management Agency ~ www.fema.gov
• Occupational Safety and Health Administration ~ www.osha.gov
• US Department of Homeland Security ~ www.ready.gov
• US Government Avian and Pandemic Flu Information ~ www.pandemicflu.gov
• National Readiness Site Ready American ~ www.ready.gov/america
• Basic Emergency supply kit ~ www.ready.ohio.gov

State (OH, PA, WV, NY) Disaster Response Websites

Community Animal Response Team (covers a tri-state area, southeast Ohio, southwest PA, northern WV) www.TriStateCART.com

Ohio

• Ohio Emergency Management Agency ~ www.ema.ohio.gov
• Be Prepared Kit by State of Ohio agencies responsible for disability and aging services ~ www.olrs.ohio.gov/ASP/GetPrepared.asp
• Hunger Network of Ohio ~ www.hungernetohio.org
• Ohio Legal Rights Service for people with Disabilities ~ www.olrs.ohio.gov-/ASP/HomePage.asp
• Ohio Community Service Council ~ www.serveohio.org

Pennsylvania

• Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency ~ www.pema.state.pa.us
• Pennsylvania Hunger Action center ~ www.pahunger.org
• Disabilities Rights Network of PA ~ http://drnpa.org

West Virginia

• West Virginia Emergency Management Agency ~ www.wvdhsem.gov
• Volunteer West Virginia ~ www.volunteerwv.org

New York

• New York Emergency Management Agency ~ www.semo.state.ny.us
• NY Hunger Action Network ~ www.hungeractionys.org