(Modified from conference plan by South East District)
Caring for People — After the storm has passed
(Please advise people to wait until the authorities say that it is safe to be on the road before sending people out to check on the members or buildings)
● Have your "Congregational Care Team" call (if phones are working) or visit vulnerable church members to see how they are doing (wait until safe to drive).
Caring for the Church Facilities — After the storm has passed
● After it is safe to drive, trustees need to check the church buildings and parsonage to assess damage.
● A designated lay person should call the conference office of Risk Management at 800-282-8011, extension 144, to report any damage. Follow Risk Management instructions.
● Trustees should do what is possible (safely) to secure buildings from further water damage (tarps).
Caring for Community — After the storm has passed
● If there are unmet needs in your community after a storm, when it is safe to drive, you have an opportunity for ministry, including:
- Forming teams to help neighbors pick up debris
- Forming teams to help "dry in" homes with tarps
- Offering food, ice, hot meals, or a dry place to sit if your facility is undamaged
- Working with district and conference disaster coordinators to identify volunteer case workers to assess damage (this is the United Methodist part of emergency response)
- Working with district and the Storm Recovery Center, 800-282-8011, extension 149, to provide volunteer teams to areas in need.
Caring for Others in the Conference and Beyond in Disaster — After the storm has passed
● Work with district and Storm Recovery Center to provide volunteer teams to areas in need.
● Take an offering for United Methodist Committee on Relief, designated for the particular disaster.
● Prepare and deliver requested supplies and flood buckets to identified gathering places
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