Faithful Readiness Workshop: Preparing for Emergencies
Tuesday, April 30, 2024, 9:00 AM
How prepared are you and your church for disaster to strike? Deadly tornadoes, fires, floods, and shootings can happen anywhere and anytime. As a community of faith, we are called to respond.
"The immediate aftermath of a disaster is not the most effective time to introduce yourself to the disaster preparedness community," says Janet Thompson, one of the Diocese of Missouri's Disaster Coordinators. "Having a plan and practicing the plan will mitigate the harm from disasters."
Janet encourages leaders from throughout our Diocese to attend a workshop on Thursday, April 30 in Columbia. Faithful Readiness: An Emergency Workshop for Faith Communities is sponsored by national and state emergency management leaders (see the flyer and registration below). This one-day event features presentations and panel discussions focusing on the proper approach to responding to an emergency event within the community.
Janet also suggests we all ask these questions:
For the church itself:For individual members:
- Do you have a weather/fire emergency plan?
- If so, have you practiced it? When did you last practice it?
- Does your jurisdiction have a COAD (Community Organizations Active in Disasters)?
- If so, are you a member? Have you been served by members of the COAD in a disaster situation?
- Does your jurisdiction have an Emergency Management office?
- If so, have you made contact with the staff?
- Do you have an active assailant plan?
- If so, have you practiced it? When did you last practice it?
- Do you have a weather/fire emergency plan?
- If so, have you practiced it? when did you last practice it?
About the workshop:
When: April 30, 2024 / 9 a.m. - 4 p.m.
Where: Boone Electric Cooperative / 1413 Range Line St., Columbia, MO 65201
Registration is free. Please register by April 24, 2024.
The presentations and discussions involve emergency management professionals as well as faith community leaders who share "real life" stories on how they and their faith community have faced disaster.
The purpose of the workshop is two-fold:
- To introduce faith communities to the basics of emergency management and preparedness.
- To assist in developing strong working relationships between the faith communities and the local emergency managers prior to a disaster.
FEMA has what is called"the three asks." These three asks are the focal point of the workshop and presentations are given as to how to answer these asks:
Ask 1: Prepare members of your faith community, using the Individual and Family Preparedness Program.
Ask 2: Prepare and Emergency Operations Plan for your place of worship.
Ask 3: Prepare to perform external service for your community during disasters.
These three asks are lifesaving and life sustaining.
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