1. 2014 PDA asked PW to train people, churches, presbyteries, synods in disaster preparedness

2. What is Presbyterian Disaster Assistance?
Known first as Presbyterian World Service, PDA started after WWII to help refugees around the world.
Bundesarchiv Bild , Dänemark, deutsche Flüchtlinge" by Bundesarchiv, Bild / Krämer / CC-BY-SA. Licensed under CC BY-SA 3.0 de via Wikimedia Commons -
What is Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA)? PDA began as Presbyterian World Service, which was a refugee assistance program that started after WWII.
It has evolved since then. It is NOT normally a relief organization – a relief organization arrives soon after it is safe to provide services directly to survivors – Red Cross and Salvation Army are examples.

3. In the late 1980s, Presbyterian World Service began to respond to disasters nationally.
In 1996, Presbyterian World Service changed its name to Presbyterian Disaster Assistance.
PDA has evolved. Its evolution:
In the late 80’s, Presbyterian World Service began to respond in the US.
In the 90’s, PDA began to respond to human-caused disasters, including to the Oklahoma City bombing and the Virginia Tech shootings.
In 1996, PWS became PDA.
In 2005, after Katrina, PDA set up a national call center at Ferncliff in Arkansas and began supporting hospitality sites.
Photo by Jocelyn Augustino FEMA

4. Supported by One Great Hour of Sharing Offerings
Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Presbyterian Hunger Program
Self-Development of People
(Read the slide.) In fact, PDA is funded entirely from OGHS and designated gifts. None of the per capita, the regular church offerings or money sent to presbyteries or to General Assembly goes to support PDA. PDA and SDOP each receive 32% of OGHS funds. PHP receives 36%, 4% of which goes to mitigating homelessness. (NOTE: It’s always good to stress the importance of the OGHS Offering.)

5. PDA responds to:
Natural, human-caused and technological disasters in the U.S.
Domestic and international refugee needs
International natural disasters and humanitarian crises, usually through partners such as ACT Alliance
Read the slide and highlight current (or well known) PDA responses for each category –
Natural and human-caused disasters in the U.S. – For example, PDA is responding to the 2017 Hurricanes in Texas, Florida and Puerto Rico …as well as the school shootings in Newtown, Oregon and Parkland. - CA mudslides, NW fires, hurricanes Irma, Maria, Matthew, Harvey, gulf flooding
Domestic and international refugee needs – PDA is working with Presbyteries in the border states and communities in Mexico to meet the needs of asylum seekers and PDA is active in refugee assistance in Syria through our international partner, the ACT Alliance. (ACT is Action by Churches Together.)
International natural disasters and humanitarian crises, usually through partners such as ACT Alliance – Acting again thru the ACT Alliance to support survivors of the 2017 earthquake and mudslides in Guatemala, the ongoing drought and famine in East Africa and other humanitarian crises in the Middle East.
we have responded to requests for assistance in South Dakota. In April 2011, when the Missouri River flooded Pierre and Fort Pierre PDA supplied a $10,000 grant. Then in the summer drought of 2012, a $10,000 grant was given for assistance in the ranching and farming communities. Most recently in April through a request from the Synod of Lakes & Prairies PDA gave initial community flood grant for $7,500 for the Pine Ridge reservation.

6. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance
Focuses on the long term recovery of disaster impacted communities.
Provides training and disaster preparedness for presbyteries and synods.
Works collaboratively with church partners and members of the ACT Alliance (Action by Churches Together) internationally, and nationally with other faith based responders.
Connects partners locally and internationally with key organizations active in the response — United Nations, NVOAD (National Voluntary Agencies Active in Disaster), World Food Program, Red Cross, FEMA and others.

7. Church World Service Gift of the Heart Kits
Hygiene Kits School Kits Cleanup Buckets
Thank you for your donation of cleaning supplies and school kits. After Hurricane Florence and its flooding in North and South Carolina, Unity in Disasters responded with these supplies to serve the communities affected. We could not have responded to this horrible disaster without your help. Thank you!
Joe Gilliom, Founder-President of Unity in Disasters
The buckets arrived at the perfect time and we got them right out to flooded households. Our clients really, really appreciated them.
Sara Echols, American Red Cross Greater Chicago Region

8. National Response Team & National Volunteer Team
Volunteer Work Teams
Volunteer Host Sites
National Call Center
1.The primary vehicle of response is the National Response Team or the National Volunteer Team. Most important thing they do is provide a Ministry of Pesence – show up and show the survivors the healing love of Christ.
The requirements and training for NRT and NVT are the same. All PDA NRT & NVT members go through a self-selection process, then a discernment weekend before they are added to the team. The only difference between the two teams is the time commitment. NRT members agree to serve a minimum of three years and commit to 4 weeks of active service – 2 weeks in the field (deployed) and 2 weeks of training, including 1 week at the annual meeting. NVT members are not expected to commit at that same level.
NRT, on early deployments, assess the needs and provide “Ministry of Presence.”
While NVT members are not expected to commit as much time as the National Response Team, they generally are available to represent PDA at meetings or to take on “other duties as assigned” – help with host sites, etc.
2. Volunteer host sites are often a local response to a disaster. With PDA support, churches and other local organizations open their doors to host volunteers who come to a disaster to help with clean up and rebuilding. Some of you may remember the volunteer villages after Katrina. Volunteer hosting has evolved into sites and are usually housed in churches whose congregations have responded to God’s call to assist the survivors of a disaster.
3. The work is done in collaboration with local long-term recovery organizations that usually provide supervision and support for the work teams. Because volunteers provide a lot of the labor, the money donated for rebuilding and repair goes much farther than if LTRGs had to pay contractors.
4. The PDA National Call Center manager, Eden Roberts, works with churches and partners on the paperwork and physical criteria necessary for hosting volunteer work teams.
While the work the teams do is important, it takes second place to the most important thing that work teams do – and that is provide a Ministry of Presence. 99% of the value of what we do in disaster response is just who up and show the survivors the healing love of Christ.

9. What PDA does in U.S. response
$7,500 initial funding to presbyteries
Long-term recovery organizing and funding
Emotional spiritual care and resiliency workshops
Disaster preparation training
Collaboration with ecumenical & other partners,
Short answer: serve Christ and support the presbytery. This is the mantra of the National Response Team.
Here are some other things that PDA does in US disasters.
Provides $7,500 initial funding to presbyteries – requested directly to Jim Kirk, National Associate for Disaster, by the Presbytery Executive
Long-term recovery organizing & funding
Offers emotional spiritual care, resiliency and renewal workshops, and compassion fatigue retreats.
Disaster preparation training – in collaboration with Presbyterian Women
Collaboration with ecumenical & other partners through National VOAD

10. National VOAD National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
is a nonprofit, nonpartisan, membership-based
organization that builds resiliency in
communities nationwide.
National VOAD is a network of organizations that provide support in times of disaster. It includes partners such as the Red Cross, Salvation Army, PDA and other denominational disaster response organizations like the Mennonites, UMCOR, and Lutheran Disaster Services, and an assortment of community-based nonprofits. At the national, state and local levels VOAD works with civic disaster response organizations including FEMA. In fact, FEMA has a designated position for each disaster called a VAL – or Volunteer Agency Liaison. The work of VOAD is to help coordinate the volunteer response to disaster.
Primarily VOAD is an effective, efficient way to connect need with resources. A very brief example is this. Several years ago during a response to a tornado in Virginia, the state VOAD ed to its member organizations a request for 50 pairs of work gloves. Within minutes, organizations responded and gloves were on the way to the disaster site. In brief, that’s how it works. VOAD is also often responsible for the initial meetings that lead to long-term recovery committees.
SD contact is with Lutheran Social Services in Aberdeen

11. The difference between disaster and emergency
A disaster overwhelms local resources
An emergency is an event the community can manage by itself.
A disaster is different from an emergency. Here is the difference. We prepare and have resources to deal with an emergency. “Name some resources your town has to prepare for emergency?” (Perhaps people will name hospitals, fire stations, police departments, and first responders.) You’re right: our municipalities and counties provide basic emergency equipment and personnel. EMS is even named Emergency Medical Services! When there are the resources to deal with the crisis this is an emergency and emergency response.
So when the crisis demands more than our local resources, we call that a disaster. 9/11 was a disaster. So were Katrina and the Newtown elementary school shootings. The local agencies had to call outsiders for help in those cases. The event that overwhelms local resources is what we call a disaster. Disasters impact everyone in the affected area and beyond.
Both emergencies and disasters are crises, and may be traumatic events depending on the physical and emotional impacts of either. Disasters impact everyone in the affected area and beyond.

12. Disaster Response happens because you hear a call from God to serve the survivor.
Read the slide.

13. Disaster Preparation happens because you hear a call from God to reduce the suffering caused by disaster.
Read the slide.
So what is disaster preparation?
What would be a disaster plan?

14. A prudent person foresees the danger ahead and takes precautions; the simpleton goes blindly on and suffers the consequences. Prov. 22:3
Read the slide.
If you need a biblical reason, it can be found in Proverbs 22:3.

15. This is a disaster plan.
So here is a brief and simple disaster plan. When the flight attendant gives safety briefing, that’s a disaster plan.

17. Individual/Family Preparedness
You can instruct disaster preparation top-down, presbytery to individuals and families or bottom-up, individuals and families up to presbytery. In either direction the congregation is in the middle.
Here we are going bottom-up beginning with individuals and families. Our rationale is that we cannot function effectively in a disaster unless our own safety and family needs are met. Here are few essentials of family preparation.
Know what emergencies or disasters are most likely to occur in your community.
Have a family disaster plan and have practiced it.
Have an emergency preparedness kit.
Be sure that at least one member of your household is trained in first aid and CPR/AED.
What we want you to take away from this information is that Family Preparation is essential to reducing the chaos of a disaster. There is a plethora of information on disaster preparedness online. Start with FEMA at Ready.gov or with the Red Cross.

18. Family Disaster Plan Get an emergency supply kit.
Make a family emergency plan.
Learn what to do in different types of emergencies.
Check out ready.gov – lots of helpful information
What would you put into your emergency supply kit? Would it differ by type of emergency? By season of the year? By where you stored it?
What would be in a plan?

19. Emergency Supply Kit
Water and food for at least 3 days. 1 gallon of water a day per person. Don't forget pets! A can opener!
Prescription medicine that you take every day
A first aid kit to treat cuts, burns, and other basic injuries
A battery powered radio with extra batteries or a hand crank radio.
A flashlight and extra batteries.
A whistle to call for help.
Any other ideas?
Extra glasses Dust mask
Money Moist toilettes, garbage bags, ties for personal sanitation
Computer information backup Blankets
Clothing Mess kit
Tools to turn off water, gas, etc Sleeping bag
Plastic bags for food and/or waste – even human
Bleach – keep things clean – including water – nine parts water to one part bleach for disinfectant – 16 drops (pure) bleach in 1 gallon water to drink
Formula and diapers Feminine products
Matches Candle
Paper and pencil Games

20. Include Paperwork Copies of important information:
ID information – SSN, DL, passport
Insurance account & phone numbers
Financial account & phone numbers
Prescriptions
Will, Medical power of attorney
Recent utility bill with your address on it
Household inventory
Social Security cards needed for government help according to those who have been there.
Birth certificates, marriage and divorce papers
Home titles and deeds
Insurance account numbers and financial account numbers help especially if community is gone – i.e. Spencer, SD.
Inventory of house for insurance purposes – pics?
Account numbers and phone numbers for all utilities or other bills that may arrive after you leave.

21. What are the Possibilities?
A basic plan includes:
How will I receive emergency alerts and warnings?
What is my shelter plan?
What is my evacuation route?
What is my family/household communication plan?
Review and update insurance coverage
These are minimum essentials -
Make a plan today. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes, so it is important to know which types of disasters could affect your area.  Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.
Have and practice an evacuation plan….which would be different if you have a pre- school, for Sunday worship and Sunday School, or if the building is occupied by only a secretary and the pastor.
Plan to care for family members – adults, parents, grandparents, pets
Review insurance coverage.
Plan ahead for how you could take action in different types of situations. For example:
Evacuate means leaving the area. Think about friends or relatives you could stay with in another town. What could you do
with your pets? Get tips on how to plan for an evacuation.
Shelter in place means taking shelter wherever you are – like at home, work, school, or in your car. In some emergencies,
this is safer than leaving. Learn how to shelter in place.
Quarantine and isolation means keeping sick people (or people who might be sick) away from other people to keep
diseases from spreading. Find out more about quarantine and isolation.

22. Consider Needs Specific to You
Different ages of members within your household
Responsibilities for assisting others
Locations frequented
Dietary needs
Medical needs including prescriptions and equipment
Disabilities or access and functional needs including devices and equipment
Pets or service animals
What about school age children? Grandparents? Who will check on who?
Where might each be located? Where found?
Will there be adequate food with proper diet?
Prescriptions? Pills for how long? C-pap? Walker?
Know the plans for children’s schools – for your workplace
Where can you go if you must evacuate?
Where can you shelter in place – near home?
If there is quarantine what happens?

23. Practice, Practice, Practice
Once you have a plan – practice it!
Fire drill at the house.
Leave home with only your kit – is it enough?
A note on the door says “house is gone” and see what happens – everyone meet – even without phones?
Fire drills are important at school – at church – at home. Second story with children? How can they get down?
If you really want to know if you have sufficient supplies in your kit, leave home with only it and determine what else you may need.
Try to communicate with everyone at some point.
Leave a note on the door saying the house is gone and see if everyone knows where to go and what to do.

24. Is a Disaster Plan worth the effort?
A disaster plan won’t eliminate the chaos after a disaster, but it will reduce the chaos.
A disaster plan can sometimes prevent an emergency from becoming a disaster.

25. Congregation Disaster Plan
Is our congregation willing to prepare ourselves and our facilities for the eventuality of a disaster?
This is the big question! Is the congregation willing? It is sometimes a hard-sell in places that don’t have frequent disasters. It’s probably a lot easier to convince a congregation in Moore, OK or South Florida that they need a disaster plan than in the Shenandoah Valley or Northern Maine.( Click back to slide 5) But a church fire can happen anywhere and is the most likely event that having a disaster plan can mitigate.
Prayer for clarity in discernment and guidance as to who and when to ask is essential. Think about how to go into the life of the congregation with this question. The session, pastors, PW, committees, staff, and key members all need to be considered. So who is first on the list?

26. What do you wish you had done last week? What do you do now?
The first step in the basics of disaster preparation is get beyond the denial and other concerns to establish the perceived need for disaster preparation. This is no small matter and will take time and persistent communication.
Identifying a strategy is useful. Then identify the persons interested and willing to “wade into the waters” of disaster prep.
Second time - after referring back from Slide 6
But a church fire can happen anywhere and is the most likely event that having a disaster plan can mitigate.

27. What are the Possibilities?
A basic plan includes:
Plan for continuation of the ministry of the church
Have and practice an evacuation plan
Plan to care for vulnerable members
Review and update insurance coverage
These are minimum essentials -
As a body of Christ each congregation is called to continue operating as a viable worshiping, functioning community in times of disaster and chaos. The future of each congregation is in the “how” the congregation handles the disaster.
Have and practice an evacuation plan….which would be different if you have a pre-school, for Sunday worship and Sunday School, or if the building is occupied by only a secretary and the pastor.
Plan to care for vulnerable members – who is elderly and living alone, a single mother with several small children, a disabled member or someone who is ill. Who knows who these people are and how to check on them?
Review insurance coverage.
Why churches need to be prepared:
To take preventative steps to protect your church and congregation from harm
To determine ahead of time how you will response should a disaster strike your church or members of your congregation
To insure the continuity of your churches ministries should a disaster occur
To care for the vulnerable in your congregation
To connect with helpful community services
To prepare to respond effectively to the needs of victims in the surrounding commun

28. Ensure continued ministry of the church
Continue regular worship services
Protect church records
Communication plan
Again, we are called to continue operating as a viable worshiping, functioning community in times of disaster and chaos. These are the critical elements in fulfilling that mission. The way in which a congregations navigates a disaster’s direct hit impacts the future life of the congregation. How do you make sense of this statement? (Ask for short responses.)

29. Where to start? Task force should ask more questions. Refer to:
Congregational Preparedness Questions
Congregational Preparedness Checklist
So where do you start……by asking lots of questions. HAND OUT Congregational Preparedness Questions
and Congregational Preparedness Checklist and take time to review them and think about them. Are there questions at this point?
(Give time for participants to go through these lists. Allow up to fifteen minutes. Let then know they can mark in their copies as they will have access to all the materials in this presentation. )

30. Review other church plans
Later look at an existing congregation disaster preparation plan, FPC Winchester, VA. We aren’t going to elaborate on that plan now, but note that the final structure of the disaster response team in the Session of the church with the responsibility for implementing the plan related to the ministry of a particular session member. For example, Property Management will always have a seat on the Session. The person may change but the seat of responsibility is always there.
Photo by Shaun Gulang

31. Resources www.ready.gov www.fema.gov www.redcross.org www.cdc.gov
Most of these are individual/family resources but UCC and UMI have manuals and resources for church plans as well.
The following are free:
The Humanitarian Disaster Institute offers a wide range of helpful resources for faith-based organization. Most helpful for churches are their Ready Faith: Planning Guide and Ready Faith: Preparedness Workbook.
The Southern Baptists have prepared a helpful Church Preparedness for Disaster Relief guide for congregations.
First United Methodist Church in Hampstead, NC has published their Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan as a helpful example document.
The United Church of Christ National Disaster Ministries organization offers detailed Local Church Disaster Preparedness and Response Planning Guidelines.
The Hope Crisis Response Network created a Disaster Planning for Churches guide, which includes, among other things, information on spiritual preparation for volunteers and a list of ethical considerations for disaster response workers.
From:

32. PDA Contacts PDA web Page www.pcusa.org/pda
Jim Kirk, Associate for Disaster Response (U.S.)
Beth Snyder, Associate for Program Administration
Eden Roberts, National Call Center –
Read the slide.
Mention that is PDA’s main website and that there is also a PW “quiet page.” It contains tools, resources, etc. that can be used to teach disaster preparation. We’ll discuss some of these this afternoon.

34. David Monson