Disciple: A New Approach to Preparedness

Taking it one step at a time

By Christine McTaggart

There is no better time to develop a preparedness plan than when all is calm. It allows you the space to think through multiple scenarios and put response plans in place. It gives you the freedom to check, purchase and replace emergency equipment and supplies. It gives you the opportunity to run drills and come together as a congregation to ensure each person knows the plan, what resources are available and how to respond in a given emergency.

And while preparedness planning certainly has a primary focus on responding to emergencies, putting a plan together has an everyday benefit as well. In the thinking through of responses and resources, a congregation often brings to light all the ministries and community contributions it makes every day.

It’s understood that putting together a preparedness plan can feel overwhelming or simply lack a sense of urgency. There is often something more pressing and demanding of time and attention than a disaster-type crisis. When thoughts do turn to planning, it’s often in response to a specific worry instead of the development of an overall plan.

The Diocese of North Carolina understands the demands on our churches, both in terms of time and resources. But we also understand the importance of putting together a preparedness plan when it’s not immediately needed. So we’ve developed a new approach to help you take it one step at a time.

A NEW APPROACH

Rather than proposing plans be developed with one long form, the Diocese has developed resources to help you approach it as a module system. Though all modules should be completed in the interest of preparedness, they can be done one at a time and in the order of importance to the church. The module approach also makes it easier to invite expertise into the plan; rather than one person trying to do it all, modules provide a great opportunity to utilize skills and experience within the congregation.

The first module is the “core module,” or the summary of key information that may be needed in any emergency. Having it in one place makes it easy to draw from when a situation arises; the thinking will have been done ahead of time, and only the execution of the plan will be needed when stress levels are running higher. It is not intended to include every detail but rather to provide quick access to leadership, spokespeople, available communication channels, resources and more.

From there, the planning is separated into four separate modules: natural disasters, medical emergencies, church security and property damage. Though there is response overlap between the four categories, each has specific elements to consider. In each module, planners will find resources from experts and organizations, available tools like apps or checklists, a downloadable, form-fillable plan template, information and guidelines to help you complete the template, and blank plans to help you pull together a response specific to a situation, such as an impending storm.

The new preparedness section of the diocesan website is and will continue to be a work in progress. Presentations and webinars (see next page) are taking place throughout April, and resources will be developed and posted as well. Preparedness plans should be routinely checked and updated, and the tools offered to help you with yours will be as well.

FIRST STEPS

Update your entry on the Episcopal Asset Map. The Asset Map is a joint project of The Episcopal Church and Episcopal Relief and Development (ERD). Originally intended as a tool for use in locating resources as part of disaster response, it quickly became apparent its real purpose is to provide access to and highlight everyday ministry throughout the Episcopal Church. Every Episcopal church and mission is included, providing everyone with an opportunity to share the news of all their church or ministry has to offer, both every day and in times of trouble.

As explained on the map itself, “[t]he map is a powerful tool that allows you to see not only what is happening around your diocese, but throughout the Church. The map can help you build networks with people interested and involved in similar ministries so you can share ideas and strategies, or it can be a jumping off point for entirely new directions. In times of disaster or emergency, the map will serve as a framework for assessment and response, showing a disaster’s impact and how local bodies are responding. At all times, the map can serve as a platform to connect and inspire.”

The Asset Map was recently redesigned to be more user friendly, to be optimized for mobile and to allow for more storytelling. As soon as the launch of the new site is complete, the Asset Map will be integrated into the Episcopal Church’s website as its “Find a Church” tool. When that happens, it will become the church map and search tool on the diocesan website as well.

Please take a moment to visit your church’s listing at episcopalassetmap.org, even if it’s already been completed. (We want to ensure all data was transferred correctly when the new site launched.) Once you choose the Diocese of North Carolina, click on “See the Map,” and you can find your church either by “map” or “list” view. Select your church and complete any edits on the link found under “Looks Out of Date?” or “Update this Place” at the top of the page; once submitted, it will be approved by a map administrator and made public.

[Update your church's entry on the Episcopal Asset Map.]

Find volunteers with experience. You might be amazed to learn of the experience sitting in your church’s pews. Instead of asking one person to generate the entire preparedness plan, ask for a volunteer with the appropriate expertise to run point on each module. Church leadership will still be tasked with being familiar with and approving the final plan, and perhaps even coordinating the efforts of the module volunteers/committees, but the work will be lightened by enlisting more (and knowledgeable) hands.

Explore the modules. Take some time to look through the respective modules in the Preparedness Planning section of the diocesan website. Though we’ll continue to add resources and information as needed, there’s enough there now to get you started and familiar with the approach.

LISTEN TO THE EXPERTS

One of the resources offered in each module is thoughts from experts on what to consider and think about for the relevant topic. We have three lined up to take place in April; all are expected to be recorded and made available on the diocesan website on the appropriate topic’s module page. There is no cost to attend any of the offerings; however, registration for all is required.

• April 16, 2 p.m. – Webinar: Preparedness Planning for Natural Disasters
  Lura Steele, program coordinator for ERD’s U.S. Disaster Program, shares insights on factors to consider when preparing for an approaching storm or other natural disaster.
• April 24, 2 p.m. – Webinar: Preparedness Planning for Medical Emergencies
  Jeffrey Hammerstein, paramedic and assistant chief and community outreach/EMS Public Information Officer of Wake County EMS, takes participants through key factors of being ready to provide assistance in the event of a medical emergency along with tips on how to prepare for and assist first responders coming to help.
• April 27, 10 a.m.-1 p.m. - Church security presentation (St. Mark’s, Raleigh)
  Agents from the NC State Bureau of Investigation will share the types of potential threats with which churches are faced, steps you can take to help reduce them and the need for security assessments. A site assessment will follow the presentation. Also discussed in the presentation will be the benefit of developing relationships with local law enforcement and how to identify safety resources you may already have.

It’s hard to make preparedness planning a priority, but it is worth the effort. While everyone hopes the plan will never be needed, you’ll be grateful to have it ready in the event you do. And if you don’t ever need it, the effort will still leave you with a clearer understanding of your ministries and all the ways you bring the Church to your communities.

Christine McTaggart is the communications director at the Diocese of North Carolina.