Emergency preparedness plans…does your parish have one in place?

Below is a series of articles compiled by Eugene Johnston, Interim Diocesan Coordinator for emergency preparedness. Each parish and agency in the diocese should have  an emergency plan in place.

St. Luke’s, Mobile

Written a few months ago in anticipation of the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina

In a few months we will mark the fifth anniversary of Hurricane Katrina, one of the greatest natural disasters to strike our shores.  On August 29, 2005, Hurricane Katrina stormed through the Gulf Coast region devastating homes, commercial businesses, communication networks and other infrastructure throughout the coastal region.  The images of Katrina are still seared in our minds nearly five years later, and people along the Gulf Coast are still struggling to put their lives back together.

Disasters like a hurricane can happen anytime, anywhere.  They can force you to evacuate your home and eliminate the most basic of comforts.  Therefore, preparation is power!  Five years ago, St. Luke’s Episcopal Church did not have a Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan.  We were woefully unprepared.  We were determined that in the future we would be prepared and that we would have a plan to respond to the needs of both parishioners and neighbors!  St. Luke’s Disaster Response Committee is engaged throughout the year to provide practical tips and information to help protect families and property.  In addition, St. Luke’s Hurricane Response Team is ready to mobilize human resources, food, water, and other comfort items in the first 24 hours following a disaster.  Many parishioners and members of the School family are volunteers on the Hurricane Response Team.  The Response Team creates a means of requesting and providing volunteers.  The Response Team works with a network of congregations in the Mobile area who can request and offer assistance during times of crisis.

We would be happy to share copies of St. Luke’s Disaster Preparedness and Response Plan with other parishes for your study and review.  We are confident that we will be in a much better position to reach out to our parish family as well as the community if a hurricane strikes our area this year. Why?  Preparation!

St. Luke’s Disaster Response Committee

By The Rev. Gregory Hein, Rector
St. Jude’s, Niceville

About a month ago a member of our congregation was involved in a terrible accident.  While walking through a parking lot and across the driving lane to get to a store, she was struck by a vehicle and the blow caused her to hit her head on the pavement.  The impact caused a great deal of brain damage.  She was flown to Sacred Heart Hospital in Pensacola from the parking lot in Niceville.  This parishioner had lost her husband nearly two years ago.  The couple had never had children and the closest relative who could make medical decisions was not listed in anything in her purse.  It was a few hours later, when the story made the news on the internet that members of the congregation heard that she had been hurt.  A few members went to be with her at the hospital and began trying to track down her step-son who was the person to make medical decisions.  It took time and was very frustrating for the people involved.  Members of the congregation also knew that she had a dog and cat in her home that needed to be cared for.  Eventually members made contact with her step-son and got access to the house to take care of the animals.  Unfortunately, she didn’t recover from the injury and died about a week later.

This event led our congregation to start thinking about how we as a Church family might be more helpful in such situations.  Although in this case getting in touch sooner with her step-son would not have made a difference in the outcome, it would have gotten everyone who needed to be involved contacted sooner.  As a congregation we have decided to take the following steps.  First we are asking everyone to update emergency contact information and give a copy to us.  Even if there is someone else in the home, there is always a chance that the two could be in an accident together.  We are asking not only for the primary contact but a secondary contact as well.  Along with this, we are encouraging our members to carry this information with them in some form with the additional information that the priest or parish staff should be notified in case of an accident.  Second, we are asking members of the congregation to give us a key to their house and the alarm code if they have one.  The keys will be coded and kept in a locked key box.  The corresponding information with the names and addresses will be kept separately.  This will allow us to have access to the house in case of an accident, or if there is a hurricane and they have evacuated.  It will allow us to check on the house in their absence if they request it.

We will be updating this information on a regular basis so that we will be better prepared should such a tragic event happen to one of our members again.  This was a difficult lesson to learn about being prepared to respond as a parish family.  Hopefully this will encourage others to be prepared as well.

St. Paul’s, Daphne: Emergency Preparedness Plan Summary

In 2006, the vestry commissioned a work group to develop a plan for emergencies with emphasis on preparation for a hurricane.  The initial outline was constructed by Thack Dyson, Lea Verneuille, Ross Hobbs and David Owens.  Subsequently, a larger group was convened and an initial plan was developed. The plan made a commitment that St. Paul’s members would take care of each other in an emergency and further we would reach out and assist others affected in the gulf coast region.

The basic strategy was built on existing church programs and services.  Chairpersons for the Food Ministry, Heaven and Health Committee, Stephen Ministry and Outreach Committee, along with the assistance of our Parish Nurse and the Thrift Shop, were called on to develop particular plans for an emergency.  To that was added a committee to handle Chore Services/ Supplies and a Lodging committee.  The latter two would be activated when an emergency was looming.   Further, an executive/communication committee was formed to direct and coordinate the whole operation.

The initial training was conducted by Ross Hobbs and David Owens with assistance from some community professionals from the Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross.  Ross Hobbs and Lea Verneuille designed and assembled the plans into a notebook for each member.  In 2008, four members of the planning group (Tim Op’Holt, Lea Verneuille, Donna Brown and Howard Wilson) bought equipment, attended training and became certified as ham radio operators.

Every year in May or June all committees composing the planning group use a standard process to update their plans.  These updated plans are brought to a meeting in which typically the group simulates an emergency situation to assure currency of knowledge and skill.  In most of these annual meetings, the Deputy Director from Baldwin County Emergency Management Agency has attended and made suggestions.  Following the updating of plans, the group establishes a process to communicate with the church members to assure they are aware of the services offered and their responsibilities.  The emergency plan is communicated to the parish by publishing one or more articles in the Tentmaker (parish newsletter), a standard form is distributed to the congregation to gather current contact information from members, announcements are made in church and in July 2010, a presentation was made by the Emergency Preparedness Committee at a church breakfast.  Moreover, members of the planning group learn about and coordinate with other community resources that are active in planning and providing emergency services.

Wilmer Hall: Hurricane Emergency Preparedness Plan

By Sally Greene, Executive Director, Wilmer Hall Children’s Home

The oil spill has been at the forefront of the news this summer on the gulf coast.  This has been a devastating disaster for our area and everyone is working to respond as effectively as possible.  Even though we do not want to think about another catastrophic event, coastal residents have to be vigilant with regard to hurricane season.  Individuals, as well as parishes, businesses and corporations need to have a plan in place in case a hurricane hits their area.

Wilmer Hall has a specific policy and procedure document for hurricane emergency management.  This manual may be more detailed than others may need due to the fact that we have so many people involved and the safety of our children is our top priority.

However, the procedures may be useful guidelines for others to incorporate according to their situation, whether it is a home, a church or a business.  The 11 page document is too lengthy to print in this article but listed below are some of the policy and procedure measures that may be helpful to individuals and parishes.

• Response is based on the intensity of the storm (class 1-5 based on wind)
• Impending Threat – be aware of hurricane watch or warning and begin preliminary preparations such as purchasing hurricane supplies
• Vehicles should be filled with gas and parked in a safe place
• Evacuation routes should be identified. In the case of evacuation have a 5 day supply of clothes along with sleeping bag or mat.
• Secure all buildings – bring in all items from outside such as furniture, plants, trashcans, bicycles, etc.
• Have water on hand in case of loss of the water system (bottled water for drinking and fill bathtubs with water)
• Office/Administration: secure all important documents in a safe, dry place and turn off all computers, copiers, fax machines, etc.
• Food – prepare to have non-perishable food and snacks for 5 days, disposable utensils, ice chests filled with ice.
• Provide emergency medical supplies and make sure all medications are filled
• Provide flashlights, rain gear, radios, batteries, lanterns, gas grill for cooking.

Those of us who have grown up on the gulf coast know that often a hurricane is headed toward a particular area and then changes course before it makes landfall.  However, if you have experienced a storm such as Frederic, Ivan or Katrina you know the importance of being prepared.  Never underestimate the power of Mother Nature!