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Congregations Responding When Disaster Strikes
Register your congregation to connect with your local disaster response infrastructure.
STEP 1
STEP 2
Assign a leader to serve as your Response Coordinator, the key point of contact.
STEP 3
Access helpful resources to be ready to respond when disaster strikes.
Disaster Response Coordinator
STEP 2: Assign a Leader
Identify a point of contact or Disaster Response Coordinator to enable your congregation to be in communication, the most critical element of disaster response.
The Coordinator directs your congregation’s response and serves as the liaison between your congregation, your denominational disaster response ministries, local disaster relief agencies, and other congregations Willing To Respond. Anyone Willing To Respond can serve as a Coordinator, and training materials are available to equip them. There are two primary functions of the role:
The Coordinator is the central point of contact between your network of disaster response organizations and your congregation and helps ensure effective communication by:
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Following and responding to communication from the local disaster relief agencies and your denominational disaster response ministries
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Sharing relevant disaster response information with your congregation
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Connecting with other local disaster response leaders
The Coordinator organizes the participation of the congregation and its members in disaster response by:
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Helping your congregation identify how you will respond to disaster
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Offering or coordinating training for volunteers as needed
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Arranging a process for volunteers to serve when opportunities arise
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Forming a disaster response team
Consider how your congregation will serve when disaster strikes.
Who - Build a team of people within your congregation that are willing to volunteer in one or more ways in disaster response.
What - The way you serve is up to each congregation. Some considerations may include a congregation’s previous experience, sense of calling, available resources, volunteer skills, as well as anticipated needs in the community and how other congregations are serving. Your local Long-Term Recovery Group, Office of Emergency Management (OEM), or Regional Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD) may be able to help with assessing your community's needs and available resources.
Where - Willing To Respond congregations serve wherever they are led. Congregations typically respond first in their local community then beyond. The Willing To Respond network helps your congregation get connected to collaborate.
When - Some congregations and volunteers intend to be generally ready to respond when disaster strikes, as needed and able. Other congregations identify a specific way to serve prior to a disaster to be better prepared.
How - Congregations typically identify how they will serve as they would with any other ministry. It may be helpful to do so in conversation with other congregations in your area, your denominational disaster response ministries, and your local LTRG/OEM/VOAD to develop a coordinated effort.
Need to update your congregation's contact information? If your information needs to be updated after initial registration, contact us.
These training materials are available to help the Disaster Response Coordinator successfully fulfill the role in their congregation.
Coordinator Training Manual
The DRC Training Manual is a step-by-step guide to fulfilling the role and executing disaster response within your congregation.
Coordinator Training Video
The DRC Training Video provides an overview of the DRC's role and responsibilities.
TRAINING MANUAL COMING SOON...
TRAINING VIDEO COMING SOON...
File Type: pdf
File Type: Mp4/Mov
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