How Presbyterians Prepare
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Prior to the storm: · Prepare a Disaster Plan for your church to include: (1) who will do what in the event of a storm, (2) how to secure the church’s important documents, valuable equipment and furnishings (historical records, computers, communion ware, etc.), (3) how to contact members after the storm, (4) how cleanup will get started after the storm. · Identify “at risk” members of the congregation who will need special assistance. Pair them with other members who could help during a storm. · Prepare your personal disaster plan, which may include an “evacuation in place” strategy, or a “buddy system” to evacuate to a friend or family member’s home not in an evacuation area. · Gather emergency management information and telephone numbers for your city and county.
In the days prior to the arrival of the storm: · Finalize your 7 day survival kit. · Make final checks on “at risk” members of your congregation. · Implement your personal disaster plan and your congregation’s disaster plan.
During the storm: · Be safe. If you’re in an evacuation zone, please evacuate then stay where you are until the danger passes. Follow directions given by emergency management personnel.
After the storm has passed: · Check on the damage to your home and attend to family and loved ones. · Secure your home and begin initial cleanup. · When it is safe, check on damage in your neighborhood. · Help neighbors with cleanup. (Remember the airplane wisdom of securing your own safety before assisting those around you.) · Implement the “after storm” part of your congregation’s disaster plan which includes how to check on members, and how to start cleanup. · The best source of information will be the public media. Remember that in times of disaster, many rumors fly.
The Recovery Phase: · Provide spiritual support to the victims of the disaster. No secular agency can do this. · If your church has a disaster response ministry team or work team, activate them to provide help to your members who are in need.
What the Presbytery will do after the storm: · The Presbytery staff will initiate calls to churches in the affected areas to assess the situation and offer care and assistance. If you have a working phone, please call the Presbytery office with a report and leave a message at 800-733-7889 or 813-868-4800. · If you do not receive the Presbytery’s voice message system, it means there is no electricity at the office. All of the Presbytery staff will have cell phones. If you need to reach us, contact: Executive Presbyter Gerry Tyer on his cell phone 727-560-7235 or via email (gtyer@pbty.com), Associate Executive Susan Snedeker-Meier (727-421-3750, ssmeier@pbty.com), Associate Executive Mary McKey (727-560-7236, mmckey@pbty.com), or B.J. Johns (813-468-0496, bj@palmaceia.org). · The Presbytery staff and Disaster Response Team members will make visits to churches in the affected areas and will share information through the Presbytery’s email system. If you would like to receive the newsletter, write to Karen Porter (kporter@pbty.com). Information will also be posted on www.presbyteryoftampabay.com. · Gerry Tyer will contact General Assembly’s Presbyterian Disaster Assistance and brief them on our situation. · If your church has a work team available to help other churches, contact the Presbytery office with your offer of help (800-733-7889 or 813-868-4800) or email B.J. Johns (bj@palmaceia.org). Warning: do not just show up! Work teams must be self-sufficient with food, water and shelter. They must be appropriately dressed (work shoes with closed-in toes and heels, long pants, sun screen). Teams need to be prepared to return home each night. · The Presbytery of Tampa Bay’s Disaster Response team and office staff will help coordinate the deployment of work teams. In general, we plan to use local ecumenical groups. Florida has a centralized information center: 877-FLA-PDAN (877-352-7326). · The other presbyteries in Florida will be in touch with us if we are affected in order to assist with work teams and specialized help. · Rebuild Polk after Disaster (RPAD) is active in Polk County. Our representative is Jack Banton. His telephone number is 863-686-1966. · The Presbytery of Tampa Bay’s Disaster Response Team and Presbytery staff will convene to identify and coordinate with existing relief resources. · Presbyterians are not “first responders,” but we coordinate our efforts with other agencies to help with unmet needs and to avoid duplication of efforts. We specialize in long-term recovery, which means we are often the “last to leave” a disaster area. Recovery takes years. Our greatest resource is our faith in God and our willingness to serve God by attending to the needs of the world.
Key Contact Information: · Presbytery Office: 800-733-7889 or 813-868-4800. Gerry Tyer’s cell phone: 727-560-7235. Web site: www.presbyteryoftampabay.com · Email contacts: Gerry Tyer gtyer@pbty.com or B.J. Johns: bj@palmaceia.org
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