Disaster Relief | Disaster Planning
Disaster Relief
O merciful Father, who has taught us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of your servant for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 831
In the wake of the recent devastating floods that have impacted our communities, the Episcopal Diocese of San Diego distributed aid through local congregations to those in crisis. For those who remain in need of assistance after the recent floods, we recommend visiting 211sandiego.org in San Diego. If you are in Riverside County click here, in Imperial County click here, and in Yuma County click here.
Disaster Planning
Planning for a fire, earthquake, flood, tsunami, or other disaster is essential for all churches. We are hubs of human activity. Even if the plan is for handling a slip and fall, or a heat stroke, the basics remain the same and can be transferred to larger disasters. The basics include:
- The appointment of a disaster team. Each member should have a copy of the plan and should be familiar with its contents
- Day and night telephone numbers of the clergy, wardens, police, fire department, utilities and insurance company, and members of the disaster team.
- Evacuation procedures, including the location of emergency exits.
- Locations of fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinklers, and smoke and fire detectors.
- Instructions as to how to turn off gas, electric power, and water.
- A priority list and the location of items and records to be saved first, for the Fire Department.
- A list of emergency services, with names and telephone numbers.
- The location of emergency supplies.
Other helpful tips:
Conduct regular disaster drills and inform your local fire departments to encourage their participation and input. Keep original copies of insurance policies off-site. Keep offsite copies of all important computer files, including regular back-up copies of electronic data.
