Faith Planning Efforts

During difficult times many people turn to trusted community and faith-based organizations, a pandemic will be no different. However, during a pandemic church services may be canceled and annual community events postponed, making it very difficult to receive the much needed and expected help and encouragement from these trusted organizations.

That is why it is so important that faith-based and community organizations join in planning for a pandemic. By planning now for all types of emergencies you are helping your members understand what to expect from your organization during an emergency and perhaps avoiding chaos and confusing that can often occur from lack of preparation.

Some things faith-based and community organizations may need to consider when planning for a pandemic are:

• How to host services and meetings without gathering in large groups, such as providing recorded services online or for small meetings, using conference call technology
• How to maintain financial stability while tithes or membership fees are not consistently collected
• How to provide the support and encouragement your members expect from you during difficult times
• How to maintain productivity while up to 40 percent of your staff and volunteers may be unable to work due to illness or taking care of an ill loved one

The Church World Service Emergency Response Program helps equip faith-based organizations prepare for emergencies. They have developed a publication titled The Religious Community as Disaster Educator: Planning, Prevention, & Mitigation which outlines multiple ways you can prepare and provide guidance to your members. Download the full version of this publication or view the expert below.

The Religious community can work on disaster prevention by:

• Building awareness about disaster-related issues among such groups as men’s and women’s societies, Sunday school classes, Boy and Girls Scouts and service clubs.
• Maintaining contact lists that include
  • Pastors trained in crisis counseling
  • Public officials who want to avoid or mitigate an existing or potential problem
  • Agencies and people working on or responsible for addressing technological hazards in you local, state or territory governments
• Meeting local agency officials and putting a “face” on the area of concern
  • Ask about plans for emergency services prior to a disaster in your area
  • Present specific concerns with factual information

Churches can encourage there members to take some basic steps in their homes to prevent and lessen the effects of disasters or accidents:

• Developing a family disaster plan
• Writing down emergency telephone numbers
• Relocating or elevating appliances and electrical service entries in basements
• Creating “safe rooms” for protection from tornadoes

Planning considerations for churches:

• Knowing the hazard analysis for you area – what exists today and potential future hazards; possible source of explosions, contamination and radiation
• Adequate insurance on buildings and contents
• Use of church facilities for shelters and other disaster response needs in cooperation with other care-giving agencies
• The congregation’s resources – people and material – and how they can meet disaster needs (make a list of these materials and people and how to contact them in an emergency)
• A telephone tree of system to check on church member needs when disaster strikes
• Training for people in the community in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, first-aid, light search and rescue, emotional and spiritual care
• Telephone numbers/addresses of out-of-town family members, judicatory staff, other support people and agencies
• Disaster plans of families in the congregation

 

To sign up to receive the Ohio Department of Health's Pandemic Flu Faith-based and Community organization newsletter visit www.ohiopandemicflu.gov/newsletters.htm

For additional information on preparing your organizatin for pandemic flu visit:

• The official Pandemic Flu Web site's page on community planning

Checklists

Faith-based & Community Organizations Pandemic Influenza Preparedness Checklist

Lista de Preparacion Para una Pandemia de Gripe Tanto Para Organizaciones Comunitarias Como Religiosas (Spanish)