Disaster Response

Indiana ConferenceUnited Methodist Church

When disaster strikes, the local church usually provides the first response. This

basic understanding - that disaster response is local - helps form a foundation

for UMCOR's national training and response. First and foremost, UMCOR is a

resource for the local response.

UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.

UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering—whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster—with open minds and hearts to all people.

Develop a disaster plan that fits with your church’s mission.

Connect the church to outside resources and to the community’s emergency plans.

Identify types of disasters likely to impact the church community and the needs that may arise.Assess the church’s resources to meet those needs.

Identify the church’s role in disaster readiness and response.

Create a plan to manage volunteers.

Assign responsibilities.

Develop a system of communication.

UMCOR’sConnecting NeighborsLeadership Training Program

When: Saturday, September 15, 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Where: In Heartland Hall at the Delaware County FairgroundsCost: FREE!

Information from you that will help us prepare for disaster response.

Is your church a Red Cross shelter?

Can your church sleep and feed 50 – 200 people?

Is your church capable of housing VIM teams?

Does your church have showers or access to a facility with showers?

Who in your church is certified as an Early Response Team member?

Who in your church is interested in becoming certified?

ERT Training

• 1 full day• Hands on• Basic disaster training• 1 hour of Safe Sanctuary• How to be safe• How to bring a house to Safe, Sanitary, and

Secure.• Completion and pass = badge good for 2 yrs.

Early Response Teams

• 20-30 individuals • So that at least 7 are available to respond• 5 days• 2 travel days• 3 days on site

Who in your church is a HAM radio operator?

Who in your church is already involved in disaster response with other agencies?

Are you or do you know persons who are police or fire department chaplains in our district?

2 Assess your own damage FIRST! Monitor damage in your parish through media reports and direct contact.

3 Inform DS of condition of your family, community, church, etc.

4 Help organize trained volunteers to assist relief workers and victims.NOTE: PREMATURE ASSISTANCE CAN LOWER A VICTIM’S INSURANCE SETTLEMENTDocument everything with digital photos and label appropriately.

5 Be an active part of the local religious community’s long term response.

Focus on the things your church can do.

VIM Leadership Training

• How to organize and work with a mission team

• How to keep everyone safe and working.• How to work with the Incident Command

System and/or the Long Term Recovery.

Case Management

• Training for Volunteer and Paid Case Managers

• 2 day Training • UMCOR provides the trainer at no charge

– Local sponsoring group provides• Meal (lunch for the CMs)• Books (UMCOR sends the file to a local print shop and

they are paid for and received by the local sponsor)

Case Management 2

• Starts at “0” so all CM are on the same page• Basic intro to disaster response• Gets to the “nuts and bolts” how to run and

do a successful case• family-by-family problem solving• Local case managers develop relationships

with survivors and connect them to organizations that can best help them.

Case Management 3• They guide families and individuals through the

labyrinth of forms, applications, and organizations they must work with to get the help they need.

• Case managers can also provide direct financial assistance from the generous donations of United Methodists (and others) to meet urgent needs.

• Ultimately, case managers help survivors develop their own plan for recovery.

• UMCOR specifically seeks to help survivors who have the least resources, who are often hiding in the missed spaces of the community and need to be found.

Spiritual & Emotional Care• Spiritual and Emotional Care (10 Hours - 2 Days)

“Calming After the Storm” and “The Ministry of Caring” are four- and six-hour workshops that offer practical information and ideas to help people facing the unique emotional and spiritual challenges that accompany disaster. Care Ministry Teams (“Care Teams”) are faith-based, ongoing teams that provide spiritual and emotional care following disasters. Working closely with their conference disaster response committee, Care Teams help disaster survivors connect with the spiritual, emotional, and basic life resources within themselves and their communities.

Earth Steward & Disaster Response

• Earth Stewardship and Disaster Response (3 hours) If “the earth is the Lord’s,” then what is the Christian’s responsibility to care for God’s creation? In this class, we consider ways our lives impact the earth, how we can live sustainably, and understand the severity of weather events.

Volunteer Management

• Volunteer Management (4 Hours) Volunteers are likely to come when you want them and when you don’t. Learn how to handle both types of volunteers. Learn what systems need to be in place for volunteers to accomplish their goals of serving others and having a meaningful experience. Class time will be spent considering housing issues, means of recognizing volunteers, coordination of work, transportation, job descriptions and more.

Relief Supplies

• UMCOR's Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La.• MMDC North Central Jurisdiction Depot, IL• Coordinates the shipment of cleanup

supplies, Flood Kits, Health Kits and other materials to disaster sites .

So, Show me the Money

• UMCOR does not charge for their services• UMCOR does:

– Provide a $10,000 Emergency Grant to the Annual Conference to be dispersed through the Conf. Disaster Response Coordinator. (requested through Bishop)

– Coordinate gifts from United Methodist Churches. (through CDRC)

How do we get “there”?

• Only when invited by:– The Incident Command System– The local community/church

• Self Sufficient

Who ya Gonna Call?

• East District Disaster Response Coordinator– John A. Young, 765-278-8733

• Conference Disaster Response Coordinator– David Powell, 317-339-0013

• Bishop’s Office– 1-800-218-3206

•Be There!•Be Hope!