Definition of Disaster
Disasters may be natural or human caused. Natural disasters include hurricanes, tornadoes, floods, earthquakes, fires and explosions. Some fires and explosions may be human-made. These events or situations cause human suffering or create human needs that victims cannot alleviate without assistance. Lutheran Disaster Response becomes involved when a disaster, affecting the Lutheran community, is greater than existing local resources.
Stage 1: The first 24 hours
- Event/Disaster Occurs
- Assess damage for self, congregation and community (Refer to "Assessment Tool")
- Report/Consult with the district/synod disaster coordinator
-- Provide initial review
-- Put on alert
-- Ask for assistance
-- Agree on initial response
- Visit and/or mobilize member visits to affected area and people
- Reassess scope of disaster
-- Visually
-- Determine disaster status by gathering benchmark data (note the source of info)
Lives/fatalities
-Homes/structural damage
-Displaced families/individuals
-Level of disaster as per FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency)
- Address immediate needs and assess resources of congregation and community
- Focus on material needs. Do not provide cash, but offer vouchers or items so as to not reduce cash assistance later
- Communicate with local agencies (i.e. County Emergency Management Agency, Red Cross)
- Report/Consult with the district/synod
- Plan next steps
-- Work with district/synod to communicate needs
-- Participate in or help establish interfaith long-term recovery efforts
-- Access ˇ§Resource Inventoryˇ¨ to assess resources for long-term recovery
-- Determine the need for a steering committee
-- Develop and implement recovery plan
