Pensacola District Online
Tuesday, September 07, 2010
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Disaster Preparedness, Response, and Resources
Disaster Response Alert:
Oil Spill Disaster in the Gulf of Mexico
(Posted 5/5/10)
The following is an alert from Rev. Alan Gantzhorn, Disaster Response Coordinator for the Pensacola District of The United Methodist Church.
As you are aware, our district is expected to be impacted by the BP oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico. Unfortunately, weather and ocean currents make it difficult to predict exactly where or when the oil will make landfall, although a widespread impact of disastrous proportions is expected. In Escambia County, the local volunteer organization assisting in disasters is the Be Ready Alliance Coordinating for Emergencies (BRACE).
At present, BRACE is coordinating volunteer efforts through First Call for Help. To register please call the First Call for Help hotline @ 850-595-5905. Some of the volunteer positions needed include the following:
In Santa Rosa County, please contact the Santa Rosa Citizens Corps at 850-983-4606 for information on volunteer opportunities. In Okaloosa County, the Citizen's Corps can be reached at 850-651-7560.
FOR UPDATES:
Ministry in a Time of Crisis
- The Gulf Oil Spill Disaster
(Posted May 2010) by Rev. Dan Morris, Pastor
Navarre United Methodist Church The Deepwater Horizon Incident poses an unparalleled threat to the Gulf Coast and communities. As we pray, prepare, and wait for the outcome of this massive oil spill, our congregations are again facing environmental, economic, and spiritual crises.
As United Methodist clergy serving on the Gulf Coast, we have unique settings of ministry that will require special responses. No one knows our situations better than ourselves, and we need the wisdom and inspiration God gives to us when we gather.
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 From the Pensacola District Administrative Assistant:
Continue here for notes from the May 10 meeting of Alabama-West Florida Gulf Coast Ministers.... >>>
From the Alabama-West Florida Conference:
May 10 Meeting in Navarre - Article & Photos Posted 5/12/10 by AL-West FL Conference
Photo at right by Meredyth Earnest, AWFC Communications
Resources and Instructional Guides
Don't wait until disaster strikes to develop response plans! Here are some resources to help you:
Here are some instructional guides:
Pastors, in case of an emergency situation, if you plan to leave the area please inform your District Superintendent. If you have any damage to report please contact your District Superintendent and/or District Disaster Response Coordinator.
Tips Regarding Disaster Preparedness and Response
Pensacola District Disaster Response Coordinator
Pastors are encouraged to follow storm tracks closely and to plan ahead for the possibility that a storm could impact the local area. Accordingly, please implement the following protocol. 1. Pastors should review their church disaster plan with the church business administrator and Trustee chairperson to make sure everyone is aware of their responsibilities. Begin implementing the steps of your disaster plan well in advance of any anticipated landfall. 2. If you have not done so recently, back up important church files and documents, and store the back up in a secure location, preferably away from the church. Portable hard drives to back up church computers can be purchased at reasonable prices at local office supply or electronics stores. 3. If you do not have one, consider purchasing a charger for your cell phone that will work in your automobile. In the event of a power outage, you will still be able to charge and use your cell phone. 4. In the event the storm tracks into the eastern or central gulf, begin securing church property well in advance of the storm, preferably 24 to 36 hours ahead of landfall. Remember that your church staff and volunteers will need time to secure their own homes and property. 5. In the event that the projected landfall is in our district, pastors should first attend to their own safety and the safety of their families. In the event that a pastor must evacuate, he/she must contact the district superintendant and advise him of the pastor's anticipated relocation and contact information. Pastors who are forced to evacuate should return as soon as possible. Your congregation needs you. 6. In the event of landfall within the district, pastors, in conjunction with the church business administrator and Trustee chairperson, should perform a damage assessment of all church property as soon as such an assessment can be done safely. Report any damage to your insurer and to the district superintendant and/or district disaster response coordinator. 7. Watch for e-mail instructions from the district office in the upcoming days. Being Prepared for Response to Natural Disaster
by Amelia Fletcher AWF Conference Disaster Response Coordinator
The Alabama-West Florida Conference trains and prepares for response to natural disaster. Through Connecting Neighbors workshops local congregations write and organize their individual responses to disaster that might befall any church - e.g., fire, wind damage, water damage. The 2-hour workshop provides the direction and points to be considered for local response and covers protocol. Dr. Chris Perry and Amelia Fletcher are both UMCOR trained trainers for this program. Because ALL DISASTERS ARE LOCAL and always remain in the hands and attention of the community, then it should be understood that any response begins at the local level and then moves to a larger body in steps for aid. The pyramid is an illustration to remember.
WHO IS RESPONSIBLE FOR OUR CONFERENCE RESPONSE?
LOCAL Response Leaders DISTRICT Response Coordinators CONFERENCE Disaster Response Coordinators BISHOP LOCAL church damage: If the local church can handle the repair and clean up without assistance, then a report/call to the District Superintendent and District Disaster Coordinator (list of coordinators is on the AWF Conference website here) is all that is needed.
DISTRICT: If damage is more widespread, then district church response is activated by the District Superintendent and District Response Coordinator in conversation with Conference Coordinator.
CONFERENCE: The Conference Coordinator with the help of all District Coordinators and UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission) Coordinator requests aid from within the conference and decides if more involvement from the Southeastern Jurisdiction and UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) is needed.
SOUTHEASTERN JURISDICTION OF UMVIM (United Methodist Volunteers in Mission): The SEJ provides the communication for volunteer needs Alabama-West Florida conference requests to all jurisdictions. They also provide the framework for channeling those volunteers.
UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief): provides, only upon the request of the Bishop, trained staff, an immediate grant, and training for local volunteer groups in affected area.
The CONNECTION: Provides support and aid from across the country to any area in need through the channels of the Jurisdictions.
Of course, none of this happens in a vacuum. Your District Coordinators and Conference Coordinator are busy throughout the year and communicating updates and providing training on a local and district level.
For Questions or Scheduling a Connecting Neighbors workshop or an Early Response Team Training, contact Amelia Fletcher: 251-968-2549 or amelia@gulfshoresumc.org. For current trainings in your area or lists of District Coordinators and contact information see the AWF Conference website. Go to Ministries link and click on "Response & Recovery."
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 Amelia Fletcher
AL-West FL Conference Disaster Response Coordinator P.O. Box 374 Gulf Shores, AL 36547
251-968-2411 church office 251-968-2549 SM Office 251-978-8384 cell 251-968-7186 fax Copyright © 2010 Pensacola District. All rights reserved.
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