Conference Timeline for Disaster Response

TIMELINE FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

Our goal is to help our churches and pastors as they move through response, rescue and recovery towards a new normal.

Within 12 hours:

Conference Minister (CM) sends out pastoral email and update to Conference churches
Regional Staff (RS) begin contacting churches and specialized ministries (clergy and laity) via texting (optimal mode of communication in the wake of a disaster) or direct contact to offer support and assess need
Board of Directors (BOD) and Association BOD or Executive Committee may assist in this contact
Determine who will take point to guide Disaster Resource and Response Team (DRRT) through disaster timeline/protocol
Conference Minister (CM) and Regional Staff (RS) coordinate with DRRT and Administrative Assistant
Contact National UCC Disaster Ministries to activate resources and support

Within 36 hours:

Share this from the EPA with your congregation: Planning for Natural Disaster Debris
CM calls pastors in damage zone (parish and non-parish settings)
CM/RS visit if possible (with help from BOD and Executive Committee as appropriate)
Send email update to churches and post on web
Contact National Disaster Ministries
Connect with Disaster Partners (note list at the end of this document)
CM, RS, DRRT and Admin. Assistant continue to compare and update information
Mentoring/Coaching assignments are made for each pastor/church/specialized ministry in impacted area
Send email update and/or text messages to churches and post on web
Begin conversations on potential funding needs and connect with National UCC on resources

Within First Week:

Collaborate with rescue and recovery efforts
Continue meetings to collaborate support and relief efforts
Keep Conference churches informed as needed and National UCC
Assess, stabilize and support churches and specialized ministries in the disaster zone...ministering in and through them. This will include practical, emotional and spiritual needs
Work with and through partners

Second Week through 3 months:

Continue support in and through local churches and specialized ministries
Continue support to pastors, consider lunch gatherings
Support and Educate churches about delivery of benefits protocol including FEMA application deadlines
Provide ‘debriefs’ if helpful: Clergy, Laity and Volunteers
Conference staff continues to collaborate information gathered
Continue collaboration with Disaster Partners and National UCC, including application for funds through UCC National Disaster Ministries
Collaborate and coordinate with efforts of immediate responders
Facilitate assistance from Conference churches and send Thank You notes
Continue Communication to Conference churches
Begin conversations and education around Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRG) formation
Gather stories of storm impact and recovery efforts to update Conference churches

3 Months and Beyond:

Support Efforts of Long Term Recovery Groups (LTRG) and local church pastors
Continue Collaboration with Disaster Partners
Continue communication and coordination with Conference Churches
Facilitate Assistance with National UCC
Assist in coordinating out of region disaster volunteers
Begin evaluations to gather lessons learned and best practices
Develop a plan for long term monitoring of pastors (and their families), churches and recovery efforts
Recruit experienced people who are willing to be future mentors, coaches and team members

Resources for Ongoing and Advanced Preparedness

Ongoing Preparation:

Send out email with suggestions and preparations in general about disasters
Seek host churches for out of state disaster response volunteers
Provide workshops for church preparedness
- Emotional resilience
- Media usage training
- Church and personal preparedness: Including directions for “Shelter in Place” resources.
Assist churches to connect with their local community disaster response protocol and people
Provide online and social media training and educational resources including web-links to existing resources
Recruit and train additional clergy and lay experienced mentors and volunteers
Explore trauma remediation and resilience resources and trainings
Provide resources for annual emergency preparedness day/month

Advanced Preparation:

Send out email with suggestions and preparations when Disaster is predicted
Discuss disaster response timeline/protocols with church leadership
Contact local disaster management officials to learn about disaster response timeline/protocols and any role the church is expected to play
Discuss disaster response timeline/protocols with ecumenical and civil society partners

Disaster Partners:

Other Resources: