Disaster Plan

Home

North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church

Disaster Response Guidelines - Condensed Version (2008)

 

 

 

Preparation

Response

Recovery

Local Pastor/

Disaster Response Chair

·  Talk with congregation about being prepared

·  Select church coordinator

·  Have church establish response plan

·  Encourage ER Training

·  Collect relief supplies

·  Be trained in disaster

·  Know local Emergency response personnel and procedures

·  Offer your local trained ER Teams

·  Survey congregation/community for needs

·  Contact DRC/DS if you have needs beyond the capability of the church

·  Set up as relief/distribution center if needed (not as shelter)

·  Communicate with local emergency management personnel

 

·  Provide housing/meals for volunteers working in your community

·  Provide directional assistance for teams

·  Keep DS informed as to progress of recovery

·  Resume pastoral duties as soon as possible

District Coordinator

(DRC)

 

·  Be trained in Early Response

·  Attend meetings of conference DR committee

·  Get to know DS and establish a means of communication for emergencies

·  Train churches in your district using the Local Church Guide

·  Arrange training for ER as requested

·  Encourage collection of emergency supplies

·  Check with pastors in area whose churches are affected by disaster

·  Offer assistance to partner-district where needed

·  Check with DS on damage reports

·  If not affected, volunteer to help with coordination efforts

·  Meet with Conference DRC to determine response program

·  Inform MERCI of needs and areas for response supply delivery

·  Encourage volunteers from your district

 

·  Encourage churches in district to volunteer and/or provide for volunteers

·  Visit affected area as often as possible to offer hope and support

·  Communicate with MERCI any needs and concerns for affected area

·  Communicate need for CARE teams

District Superintendent

(DS)

 

·    Be trained in response procedures

·    Establish a communication system with District Coordinator

·    Make disaster response training a yearly part of a district pastors’ meeting

·    Be aware of CARE

·    Gather information from pastors/DRC about damage in your district

·    Meet with Bishop/Cabinet/Committee to determine response

·    Visit affected area as soon as possible after event

·    Call MERCI with any assistance requests

·    Encourage churches in district to volunteer for recovery efforts

·    Visit affected area as often as possible to offer hope and encouragement

·    Have a district pastors’ meeting to discuss recovery effort

·    Debrief pastors

 

Conference

Disaster Response

Coordinator (NC DRC)

·    Know Conference DR plan

·    Serve as or appoint a representative to NC VOAD and NCIDR

·    Schedule training and organization for DR Committee, Resource Support team and others

·    Call and preside at meetings of conference DR committee and resourcing local churches

·    Establish communications with DS and District DRC

·    Encourage churches and district coordinators to be ER trained

·    Support district DRC

·    Contact UMCOR’s DC office to request/schedule ER training

·    Post confirmed ER triainings on NC DR website

·    Check with district DRC and DS to determine need

·    Communicate with NC Conference Connectional Table to coordinate response

·    Survey damage with DS and DRC

·    Communicate needs to UMVIM and to MERCI

 

·    Encourage church volunteer participation and donations toward recovery

·    Assist in gathering recovery information

·    Encourage district to establish links with other relief agencies

Bishop

·    Have cabinet trained by UMCOR at least every 4 years

·    Encourage District Superintendents to have disaster response programs annually at district pastors’ meetings

·    Support and encourage collections of emergency response materials and donations

·    Support efforts to fund DRC & MERCI

·    Notify UMCOR immediately of disaster needs

·    Tour damaged areas as soon as possible

·    Meet with Cabinet, Disaster Response Committee and UMCOR to determine course of action for response

·    Encourage conference to participate in response and recovery efforts both physically and financially

·    Tour damaged areas whenever possible to offer hope and support

·    Provide assistance for local pastors in disaster areas

 

MERCI

·    Collect and store emergency response materials, encourage local churches to do the same

·    Assist the Conference Disaster Response Committee in training early response teams (ERT) and local church preparation

·    Maintain relations with other disaster response agencies, UMCOR, UMVIM, VOAD and Interfaith organizations

·    Coordinate ER teams to affected areas at the request of DRC and/or UMVIM

·    Send available emergency response supplies as requested by DRC/DS/local pastors

·    Coordinate volunteers with local communities

·    Communicate needs to conference communications, Bishop and others as necessary

·    When required, set up long term recovery centers, hire staff, coordinate volunteers, do case management for clients

·    Communicate needs to appropriate agencies

·    Work with local churches and communities for best recovery efforts

·    Train recovery teams

UMCOR

·    Provide disaster response training for conference personnel & confirmed local trainings

·    Train Cabinets in UMCOR procedure

·    Collect and store emergency response materials

·    Provides materials support (emergency response supplies)

·    Upon request of the Bishop, provides emergency funding and technical support

·    Provides continuing technical support when requested

·    Provides available funding upon written request from Bishop

Conference UMVIM Chairperson

·    Maintain list of UMCOR-trained Early Responders & communicate list to UMVIM-SEJ

·    Contact UMCOR’s DC office to request/schedule  ER training

·    Post confirmed ER trainings on NC UMVIM website

·    Immediately prior to anticipated disaster, alert trained Early Responders of potential deployment

 

·    Communicate with NCC DRC concerning need for ER teams

·    Alert UMCOR-trained Early Responders when NC Conference ER teams are needed

·    Alert UMVIM-SEJ for additional teams as needed

·    Alert conference to need for MERCI communications support & disaster supplies

·    Communicate need for UMVIM recovery teams

Return to the Top