1. For Stake Emergency Communication Specialists
This discussion is an outline of the responsibilities of your awesome calling! 1

2. Under What Authority is Your Calling and Responsibility?2

3. "Priesthood leaders may call a welfare specialist to assist in identifying and analyzing the best mode(s) of backup communication and to provide communications support in emergencies. The specialist should have the knowledge and experience required to evaluate communication needs and recommend a practical solution to leaders." 3

4. Responsibilities...
1 Functions under the direction of a priesthood leader to ensure that he can communicate with Church leaders within the stake or ward and with local civil authorities (who in turn provide reports to the Area Seventy or Church headquarters).
2 Recommends backup mode(s) of communication that will work most effectively.
3 Develops the emergency communications part of the emergency preparedness and response plan.
4 Develops and practices communications exercises with local Church leaders.
5 Becomes familiar with Church policies on local unit purchasing of communication equipment, staging of mock disasters, and use of Church meetinghouses.
6 Learns of the emergency communication plans of the county, city, Red Cross, and VOAD.... 4

5. Responsibilities...cont'd
7 Maintains an up-to-date list of contacts for Church and community leaders.
8 Develops relationships with other Church emergency communication specialists and community communication experts to coordinate emergency communications. This may include supporting each other during an actual emergency.
9 Prepares to serve in a disaster event, taking into consideration personal and family circumstances.
10 Plans to serve at the side of the priesthood leaders to ensure effective communications during a disaster.
11 Monitors and assesses communication options during the disaster. Helps Church leaders use the most familiar method that will be effective during an emergency. 5

6. Discussion:
After discussing these responsibilities as a group, why do you think each was included? Which one would you start with?

7. Where do I start. What resources are there to help me
Where do I start? What resources are there to help me? Three steps forward! 7

8. First: Download emergency planning worksheets to help you organize your efforts and identify resources:
preparedness.lds.org 8

9. –Johnny Appleseed
Worksheets are found in the Stake and Ward Emergency Planning Guide at preparedness.lds.org 9

10. Second: Identify and plan for alternative communication methods as described in the next two slides
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11. From: providentliving.org
"A key part of disaster response is for Church leaders to have open lines of communication with Church headquarters, Church members, and community leaders. Identify and plan for alternative communication methods that can be used in case the phone system, cellular phone service, power grid, or vehicle transportation routes are disrupted during a disaster. Such methods may include:
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12. Alternative Communication Methods...
• Internet communications (including , social media, and instant messaging).
• Text messaging (may be available even if voice service is not).
• Amateur radio.
• Personal contact via walking, cycling, and so on (full-time missionaries might be able to help).
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13. Third: Participate in ongoing Training Available to Help You in Your Awesome Responsibility!! Sunday evening VoIP net. Special ERC conference July 22, 2017 Simplex nets
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14. Ps. Don't forget that you are a vital part of the Church Emergency Operations Center (CEOC)!
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15. "In the event of a widespread or large-scale disaster, a Church emergency operations center can be established to coordinate response and cleanup efforts, determine the safety and security of members, and minimize suffering of Church members and others in the community."
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16. Church Emergency Operations Center (CEOC)
Functions and Staffing
The following functions should be available at the emergency operations center (based on FEMA’s National Incident Management System [NIMS] guidelines).
Function/Responsible
Designated Priesthood Leader/ Assigned Area Seventy or designated stake president
Planning for Response and Recovery/Area Seventy or designated stake president
Liaison with local emergency management/VOAD representative
Internal Communications/Stake emergency communications specialist(s)
Information gathering and external dissemination/Stake Public Affairs Director(s)
Operations/Priesthood-assigned volunteers and Welfare Services staff
Logistics/Welfare Services staff
Safety and Security/Priesthood-assigned volunteers
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17. Extra Credit!
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18. After Action
Mitigation
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19. "You will learn a lot through your disaster response and recovery efforts. In some cases you will see how problems could have been prevented or how efforts could have been coordinated more smoothly. Church leaders can mitigate these problems in emergencies by evaluating past disaster relief efforts and making plans for how to improve emergency preparation and response. A few weeks after a Church response to an emergency is complete, local Church leaders should have a review and planning session to prepare for future situations. This meeting could be held in person or by conference call, and it should accomplish two main purposes: 1 Review results from this event and record lessons learned. 2 Update emergency response plans based on evaluation."
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20. Mitigation
Emergency Communications review and mitigation planning include:
• Communication tools utilized and their effectiveness (cell phones, land lines, Internet, etc. The specialists
• Most valuable source(s) of information
• Conference calls
• Church leader communication with local government emergency managers
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21. End of Presentation. Beginning for you!!!