January 7, 2009

DISASTER INFORMATION

DEVELOPING COMMUNITY NETWORKS

MODULE 2

A. INTRODUCTION

Before a disaster or a hazard occurs at your congregation, a disaster plan needs to be in place. As part of a disaster plan, there will be a Community Networks section. A Community Network would be stakeholders that are interested in assisting your congregation before, during and after a disaster. For the community network to work effectively there must be a willingness of the group to work together as a team.

B. DISCUSSION

1. The purpose of module 2 (Developing Community Network) will be to explain what is community network and will recommend approaches that can be used to develop a community network. For our discussion, we will define Community Network as stakeholders that are interested in assisting your congregation before, during and after a disaster. A Community Network will allow your congregation to have access to training, emergency support, congregation support, etc.

2. Some questions you can ask yourself about your congregation if a disaster should occur during your tenure with answers:

a. How can our congregation continue to have religious services if the church burns down or the church buildings are not useable? Make arrangements with another church or appropriate location for religious services.

b. What would our congregation do if a church member requires medical attention during a religious service? Have members of the congregation trained in first aid or survey your congregation that are medical trained.

c. Do usher know what to do during an emergency during a religious service? Train ushers what to do during an emergency.

d. There is no end to What If questions.

3. You want to be ready before a disaster hits your congregation. A Community Network is developed by establishing a rapport and maintaining contact with the person(s) or organization than can provide assistance to your congregation. Some examples of person(s) or organization that could be part of the Community Network are the following:

a. Another church organization (could be used as a temporary location for religious services, etc.).

b. Fire Department. The fire department can perform a fire inspection of your facilities and provide recommendations.

c. Police Department. The police department can perform a security inspection and provide recommendations.

d. American Red Cross. The American Red Cross can provide first aid training and other resources for your congregation.

e. District Church Office.

f. County or City Emergency Planning Office.

g. Interfaith Organization.

h. Lutheran Disaster Relief (LDR).

i. Homeland Security.

j. Etc.

4. For the Community Network to work in your congregation, a group of individuals from your congregation should be participating in the Community Network. After these individuals are active in the Community Network, they should report to a designee of the congregation of the work or issues going on the Community Network.

5. The Community Network should be involved in preparing, during and after a disaster event. The Community Network would some times have a subject expert on various disaster situations. The congregation volunteers should decide if the appropriate subject could aid their congregation before, during or after a disaster.

6. It is recommended that a basic disaster plan should be developed for your congregation. By having a basic disaster plan in place, your congregation will be better prepared to deal with a disaster event. The disaster plan should be tested as appropriate to verify that the disaster plan is working.

C. CONCLUSION

Developing a Community Network would greatly assist your congregation dealing with a disaster or a hazard before the event occurs. Your congregation can benefit from these established stakeholders for assistance.

[Name of Church]

Community Networks Contacts

This information was last updated on _______________. (Tri-annual updating is recommended)

Local

All Emergencies 9-1-1

Fire Department