Indiana Conference United Methodist Disaster Response Plan EMERGENCY DISASTER CALLING CHAIN Pastors Phone Number District Superintendent Phone Number District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) Phone Number Conference Disaster Coordinator (CDC) Rev. Jim Byerly, pastor, Rockdale UMC in West Harrison Mobile Phone Number 812-756-2122 Bishop Mike Coyner Phone Number 317 - AFTER A DISASTER IS CONFIRMED 1. Pastors call your District Superintendent (DS). Inform DS of condition of your community, church, etc. 2. District Superintendents (DS) call your District Disaster Response Coordinator (DDRC). Inform your DDRC of condition of your district, churches, etc. 3. District Disaster Response Coordinators (DDRC) call the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator 4. Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) will then contact the American Red Cross, Emergency Management Agency, and INVOAD to get additional information and an assessment of the damages and to see what we can do to help. Once this information is gathered, the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator will contact the Bishop's office to inform him/her of the situation. 5. The Conference Disaster Response Coordinator and/or Chair will dispatch Disaster Response Team to disaster site as needed. 6. Call upward if next level is not available. II. LOCAL CLERGY 1. Become familiar with the Conference Disaster Response Plan. 2. Work with your local Church Council to create a disaster plan for the Local Church. Elect a Local Church Disaster Coordinator at Charge Conference. Have him/her take Connecting Neighbors training. 3. Have the Trustees review insurance policies on all properties and risk management (what you can and cannot do). Remember wind and flood coverage. 4. Inventory your personal possessions, store documents, have supply of food, first aid kit, flashlights, portable radio, and other items useful in an emergency for at least 72 hours. 1. Monitor the Media for updates. 2. If told by the authorities to evacuate, GO! Notify DS. 3. Notify law enforcement or rescue workers of homebound, who need assistance to be evacuated.
Assess your own damage FIRST! Monitor damage of your parish through media reports. Do not interfere with any ongoing rescue efforts. A. Parish Assessment 1. Assess the welfare of members and special-needs populations within the parish. 2. Have the Board of Trustees determine if church property is damaged. If so, report damage to District Superintendent, and Insurance Company. 3. Report community damage to District Disaster Coordinator (DDC). B. Relief Help 1. In Low and Medium Level Disasters work with IC Liaison Officer to help organize trained volunteers to assist relief workers and victims, and to clean up. 2. In High Level Disasters contact the District Disaster Coordinator. (NOTE: PREMATURE ASSISTANCE CAN LOWER A VICTIM'S INSURANCE SETTLEMENT) Document everything with digital photos and give them to the property owner, if possible keep a copy on a computer for future reference. 1. Be an active part of the local religious community's long-term response. Focus on things your church can do. 2. Promote offerings for Disaster Relief in response to any Episcopal appeal, channeling funds to the Conference through the Conference Advance or UMCOR Advance. III. LOCAL CHURCH 1. The Church Council shall develop a local disaster plan through Connecting Neighbors, review it annually, and encourage families to develop a personal disaster plan. 2. Compile list of volunteers to serve as companions to: listen, run errands, make phone calls etc. 3. Establish a plan to receive volunteer teams from outside the area. 4. Organize support groups and serve on interfaith recovery agencies. 5. If your church has a nurturing committee, the following is suggested: A. Compile list of home-bound and organize teams to check on them before and after the disaster. 6. Board of Trustees A.Should annually review insurance coverage, provide a safe repository for valuable record, and inventory church property and contents. B. Consider using your facility as a potential shelter or service center. 1. Monitor the media for updates. 2. Board of Trustees should secure the church; remove swinging signs, board or shutter windows, and secure church records. 3. If church is a certified shelter, prepare to open. 1. Do not interfere with rescue or emergency personnel. 2. Discourage outsiders from entering the area. 3. Communications will be complicated, follow instructions of emergency personnel. 1. Activate plans and coordinate activities with District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) and the pastor, in charge. 2. A local interfaith effort is appropriate if possible.
3. Victims may be eligible to receive vouchers for temporary housing, food, and clothing. See the appendix for suppliers. 4. Do not do any repairs until government and insurance companies have assessed the damage and you have taken digital pictures. 5. Keep a journal and a copy of digital photographs. 6. If the disaster is federally recognized, Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) will open a Disaster Recovery Center. Promote offerings for Disaster Relief in response to any Episcopal appeal directing funds to the Conference through the Conference Advance or UMCOR Advance. AFTERMATH PHASE IV. DISTRICT SUPERINTENDENT The District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) is your appointee and should not assume your authority or role. 1. Be familiar with the Conference Disaster Plan and its application for your area. 2. District shall train annually and develop a district disaster plan under the guidance of the DDC. 3 Identify churches actively involved in community assistance programs. 4. Be familiar with Indiana Emergency Management Agency (IEMA); and inform them how your district will be involved in disaster relief. 1. Monitor the Media for updates. 2. Contact the Conference Disaster Coordinator (CDC) and prepare for possible action. 1. Monitor the damage to your district through media reports. Do not interfere with relief efforts. 2. Assist District Disaster Coordinator (DDC) begin checking damage and injuries in the area. 1. Tour the affected area with your District Disaster Coordinator, Zone Disaster Coordinator, Conference Disaster Coordinator, Conference staff as appropriate and the Bishop. 2. Listen! Listen carefully to the affected pastors and people. 3. If shelters are open, tour the shelters. Provide pastoral care to the shelter if none is available. 4. Be available to District and Conference Leadership. 5. Since the Bishop usually initiates an appeal for a special offering for disaster relief and recovery work, you will need to determine if you need to ask for financial assistance through the Bishop s office. (Discuss this matter with the Conference Disaster Coordinator). 6. Compile your estimates with District Disaster Coordinator's estimates. Convey information to Conference Disaster Coordinator. 7. Organize and meet with ministers in the affected area. Make available retired pastors for help and assistance (consider financial support for supplying retired pastors to help and assist) 8. Monitor your pastors, emotional, spiritual, and physical health. 1. Keep in touch with District Disaster Coordinator, Zone Disaster Coordinator & Conference Disaster Coordinator. Make additional visits to the disaster area. 2. Encourage unaffected churches to share their facilities and furnish leadership and workers.
3. Things that can be done to avoid problems for the local pastor: a. Let the congregation know how much their pastor's work is appreciated; d. Approve all grants for funds. IN THE AFTERMATH PHASE 1. Check with the Conference Disaster Coordinator (DDC) to determine when assistance can be terminated. 2. Meet with the District Leadership Team (DLT) to evaluate the District Plan and how it worked. 3. Make report to Bishop. District Coordinator makes final report to the CDRC. 4. Publicly acknowledge workers and work done. 5. Encourage care for pastors and families. VII. RESIDENT BISHOP 1. Become familiar with the Conference Disaster Plan. 2. Promote training through Chairperson of the Conference Disaster Response Committee. Encourage the Conference Leadership Table to consider disaster response in each team, board or agency's guidelines. 3. Encourage pastors and churches to use the Conference Disaster Response Plan. 4. Attend training with cabinet, emphasizing the need for planning and training. 1. Monitor the media for updates. 2. If your area is expected to be affected and an evacuation is recommended, move and set up a temporary office away from the disaster area. 1. If you are a victim, listen to emergency personnel and follow their instructions. 2. Monitor damages through media. 1. Plan tour for damage assessment with District Disaster Coordinator (DDC), DS, Conference Disaster Coordinator (CDC), and Conference Staff as appropriate. 2. Request assistance, financial or personnel, from UMCOR if needed. 3. Determine and recommend an Episcopal appeal for funds as necessary. 4. Receive a completed report on type/level of assistance prepared by the Conference Disaster Coordinator. 5. If resources are needed which require specialized help, assistance can be requested from UMCOR. 1. Think long range: the recovery can take up to several years. 2. Monitor the progress by keeping in touch with the Conference Disaster Coordinator (CDC). 3. Insist that agencies of the Conference cooperate and help as needed. 4. Consider temporary assistants to Pastors and District Superintendents. 5. Make further financial appeals to Conference and to UMCOR, if needed. 6. Make periodic visits to the disaster area. IN THE AFTERMATH PHASE 1. Ask all involved leadership for reports and evaluations. 2. Publicly acknowledge workers and work done. 3. Plan for a service of praise a year from the date the disaster struck.
Appendix DS - District Superintendent DDRC - District Disaster Response Coordinator CDRC - Conference Disaster Response Coordinator INVOAD - Indiana Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster ERT - Early Response Team VIM - Volunteer In Mission DTL - District Leadership Team IC - Incident Command