Gov. Blunt's Faith-Based Initiative Works to Coordinate Missouri Resources for Emergency

Gov. Blunt's Faith-Based Initiative Works to Coordinate Missouri Resources for Emergency Response

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Aug 26, 2008, News Report

Found in: Emergency Management

Community organizations active in disaster (COAD) and/or Long Term Recovery Committee development, sheltering, feeding, volunteer management, donations management, debris removal, supporting a multi-agency resource center and case management in response to local disasters to be discussed at events throughout the state in September.

Gov. Matt Blunt's Faith-Based Initiative is hosting meetings in southeast Missouri and southwest Missouri in September to engage faith communities in ongoing efforts to prepare for emergency response. The meetings will focus on providing orientation in mass care, citizen preparedness, and emergency human missions through which faith-based organizations can help their local emergency management officials with disaster response.

"The ice and winter storms that ravaged both Southeast and Southwest Missouri last year were met with a tremendous response by volunteers who helped provide shelter and food, or helped seniors and Missourians with special needs weather the storms," Gov. Blunt said. "In many cases, volunteers gave up their holidays to help winter storm victims recover. Missouri is blessed with volunteers who help their neighbors during times of need. It is my hope that participants will take this useful information back to their congregations and adopt a core faith-based services mission."

The Region E (Southeast Missouri) symposium will be September 8-9 at the First United Methodist Church, 500 N. Main St., Poplar Bluff. The Region E event is intended for representatives of all faith congregations in Bollinger, Butler, Cape Girardeau, Dunklin, Iron, Madison, Mississippi, New Madrid, Pemiscot, Ripley, Stoddard, Scott and Wayne Counties.

The Region D (Southwest Missouri) symposium will be September 12-13 at the St. Elizabeth Anne Seaton Church, 2200 W. Republic Road, Springfield. The Region D event is intended for representatives of all faith congregations in Barry, Barton, Cedar, Christian, Dallas, Dade, Greene, Hickory, Jasper, Lawrence, McDonald, Newton, Polk, St Clair, Stone, Taney, Vernon and Webster Counties.
Participants will learn how congregations can become active in community disaster response, teach family preparedness to their members, and help their congregations write a continuity of operations plan. The program also will focus on eight human services missions, which a congregation may embrace to support their local disaster response. The missions include:

·  Community Organizations Active in Disaster (COAD) and/or Long Term Recovery Committee development

·  Sheltering

·  Feeding

·  Volunteer management

·  Donations management

·  Debris removal

·  Supporting a multi-agency resource center

·  Case management in response to a local disaster

Congregation members interested in attending the symposia may register online or call University of Missouri Fire and Rescue Training Institute at 800-869-3476.