DISASTER RECOVERY PLAN FOR A CHURCH

Disaster Recovery Plan for a Church

Disaster Recovery Plan for a Church

Background:

Disasters are extraordinary events that because of their scope, intensity or duration, overwhelm the community's capacity to cope and maintain equilibrium. They may be natural -- such as floods, bushfires, earthquakes, storms; or human-caused, through deliberate, accidental or negligent interference in the health and well-being of people or communities.

State Government's Disaster Plan provides for a coordinated response by government departments, lead non-government organisations and the community, in the areas of emergency rescue, medical intervention and ongoing recovery services, including agriculture, commerce, industry, power, telecommunications and transport.

Disaster Welfare

The State Disaster Welfare Plan coordinates the activity of key government departments and non-government agencies involved in the provision of services relating to the physical, medical, economic and social well-being of individuals, groups and communities who have been affected by a disaster.

The State Disaster Recovery Committee, chaired by the Department of Community Services, coordinates the immediate Emergency Relief and longer term Emergency Recovery involvement of government departments that are responsible for health, medical and welfare intervention and specific activities such as community infrastructure, education, housing and insurance.

Four core Areas of Disaster Relief are coordinated by lead Participating Organisations, or “Community Partners”:

Emergency Accommodation is arranged by Adracare, the welfare arm of the Adventist Church;

Emergency Catering by the Salvation Army;

Emergency Clothing , The St Vincent de Paul Society; and

Personal Services and Welfare Information, the NSW Red Cross Society.

Anglicare, the Anglican Church's Welfare organisation, is a fifth “Participating Organisation” mobilising its State-wide network of facilities, trained clergy and lay volunteers to assist in the four emergency welfare functional tasks where required.

Uniting Church

The Uniting Church's involvement in Disaster Recovery has been through its already functioning areas of specialised pastoral ministry, specific community welfare and support organisations, and through local clergy and congregations continuing their normal ministry in response to local needs.

Full-time Chaplains and their part-time colleagues to Police, Fire Brigade and Ambulance Services relate to the pastoral needs of the officers and their families of their organizations and as a secondary role assist where appropriate in organising pastoral and religious services for members of the community affected by the emergency. Full-time and part-time Hospital Chaplains provide for the spiritual and religious needs of disaster affected people through their own hospitals' casualty departments and emergency teams. Mental Health Chaplains are part of their Health Area's Disaster Response.

Regional and local welfare and community support organisations -- Lifeline, Community Aid -- continue to provide the counselling, relief and support assistance for which they are designed, carefully linking with the Disaster Welfare organizations to avoid unnecessary duplication and confusion of services.

Local ministers and congregations prepare for immediate response and longer term recovery, including memorial services, prayer meetings, theological reflection on the emergency. They can support the government sponsored local Disaster Welfare Services teams or work informally through their local church to bring encouragement and support to disaster affected people in their own geographical ...