Bessemer Alabama
Stake
Emergency Preparation
and
Response Plan
January 30, 2011
Bessemer Alabama Stake
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints
Contents
Emergency Preparation and Response Plan 1
Preparing for Emergencies 1
Responding to Emergencies 2
Tab A-Bessemer Stake Center for Emergency Center 6
Tab B-Bessemer Stake Membership List 7
Tab C-Bessemer Stake Leadership Directory 8
Tab D-Bessemer Stake Boundaries & Map 9
Tab E-Bessemer Stake Unit Emergency Plans 10
Tab F-Bessemer Stake Disaster Relief Shelter Organization 11
Tab G-Bessemer Stake Emergency Communications Plan 12
Tab H-Volunteer Interpreter Service 13
Bessemer Stake-Emergency Preparation and Response Plan
The emergency preparation and response plan for the Bessemer Alabama Stake is based on principles set forth in Providing in the Lord's Way: A Leader's Guide to Welfare (32296), its supplement Church Welfare Resources (34475), pages 14-17, Guidelines for Preparation of Ward and Stake Emergency Plans and the Sample Stake Emergency Preparation and Response Plan. All preparation and response will be carried out through the existing stake organizations. The Stake Council will be used fully to coordinate this effort. All ward/branch units in the Bessemer Alabama Stake will follow the Stake's plan in preparing their local preparation and response plans. Included in the Stake's plan is the Bessemer Alabama Disaster Relief Shelter Organization as specified in the North America Southeast Area Evacuation/Disaster Plan and the Bessemer Stake Emergency Communications Plan.
Preparing for Emergencies
Emergencies that are most likely to occur in the Bessemer Alabama Stake
· Tornadoes affecting an area as small as one home to an area as large as much of a ward/branch
· Hurricane aftermath affecting much of the stake area as well as the multi-stake area
· Winter storms/Ice storms affecting the entire stake area
· Flooding affecting small areas in the stake
· Drought affecting much of the stake area
· Toxic spills evacuation due to chemical or hazardous material spills on major highways and railroads crossing the stake area
· Any terrorist related attacks in the general area of the Stake
Ways to encourage members to prepare for emergencies
· Sacrament meeting talks by members under the direction of the Bishop
· Stake Conferences and other Stake resources to teach members in quorums, HP groups, and Relief Society sisters in the wards/branches
· Home and Visiting Teaching messages
· Teaching the principles of food storage, financial planning, physical and emotional wellness
· CPR and First Aid training offered to all members by the ward/branch
· Hold Relief Society lessons, Priesthood sponsored activities and other ward functions demonstration the basics of food storage, food preparation, and water purification
· Emergency Preparedness Fairs (Stake and Ward)
· Each ward/branch will report annually to the Stake Presidency or high councilor assigned to Emergency Preparedness on teaching stake members the principles of preparedness
Ward/Branch leaders should review, update and report annually on the following to the Stake President or as directed to the High Councilor assigned to Emergency Preparedness
· The accuracy of Ward membership lists
· Maps including GPS locations for all members and Church facilities including missionaries utilizing http://www.gpsvisualizer.com/geocode
· Members assigned to assist those members with special needs and missionaries
· Listing of members with special skills or equipment needed during emergencies
· Communication methods to be used if telephones are not working
◦ Implementation of the Bessemer Alabama Stake Communication Plan
◦ Designate location for Bishop to communicate with the Stake President at 4:00 PM Central time each day during the emergency
Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 2
Stake Council should review the following annually
· Ward/Branch plans
· Methods for communicating with the ward/branches and with the Chairman of the Regional Welfare Committee if telephones are not working (i.e., Stake Emergency Communication Plan)
· Resources in the Bessemer Alabama Stake to prevent and relieve emotional trauma
· Special needs members and missionaries safety during emergencies
· Special skill members who could help during emergencies
Updated lists
· Attached is the most current Stake Membership list with GPS coordinates
· Attached is the most current Stake Directory
· Attached is the most current Stake and Ward/Branch boundaries map
· Attached are the most current Ward/Branch Emergency Plans
· Chain of Communication
◦ Elders Quorum Presidents See Attached Stake Directory
◦ High Priests Group Leaders See Attached Stake Directory
◦ Bishop/Branch Presidents See Attached Stake Directory
◦ High Councilmen See Attached Stake Directory
◦ Stake President See Attached Stake Directory
◦ Area Office Per Stake President
◦ Church Headquarters Per Stake President
· Those with special skills by ward/branch-See Ward/Branch Emergency Plans
· Those with special equipment by ward/branch-See Ward/Branch Emergency Plans
· Those with special communications equipment-See Ward/Branch Emergency Plans
NOTE: The ward/branch executive secretaries, with the ward/branch finance clerks as backup, will prepare an expanded list as necessary in an emergency to send to the stake executive secretary of all of the above.
Communications
· The assigned Stake High Councilman, with the Stake Executive Secretary and finance clerk as backup, is assigned to coordinate communications within the Bessemer Alabama Stake during an emergency
· The Stake President is the official voice of the Church in the Bessemer Alabama Stake
· Response to Area or Church Headquarters will be through the Stake Presidency
· The Stake and Ward/Branches will utilize as much redundancy in communications as possible during an emergency and should plan for that redundancy
· If telephones or radios are not working, teams made up of one MPH and one APH holder will be used as “messengers” within the stake area. If possible, they will be encouraged to travel by vehicle but if necessary on foot.
· A MPH holder will be designated in each unit to carry messages to the Stake Emergency Center.
· Contact with the Area Office or Church Headquarters will be per the Stake Emergency Communications Plan
· A listing of all HAM radios and satellite up link operators/owners is part of the Stake Emergency Communications Plan
· All Bishops/Branch Presidents will contact the Stake President daily according to the Stake Emergency Communications Plan
Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 3
Responding to Emergencies
The Stake President will determine who will direct response efforts if the Stake Presidency is not available
Responsibilities of the Stake Council
After ensuring that their own families are cared for, the Stake Council should convene to:
· Review any instructions or counsel from civil authorities, the Area Presidency, and Church HQ
· Determine an initial course of action
· Confirm overall responsibilities, making sure that key Priesthood leaders, Relief Society leaders, and others are available to minister to the people and that others, as assigned, focus on the physical arrangements needed at the time
· Make an initial assessment of the condition of members, missionaries and others including missionaries
· Set the time and method for follow-up communications
NOTE: If the Stake President is not available when an emergency occurs, his counselors will direct response efforts. When an emergency occurs, all members of the Stake Council may not be available. Those members of the Stake Council who are available may designate other members of the stake for assignments under the direction of the Stake Presidency. (The Stake Presidency should determine who will direct response efforts in case no member of the Presidency is available)
Priority of Actions in an Emergency
· Assist those who are injured or in danger (Response teams will be organized and coordinated by the Ward/Branch Emergency Preparation Specialist under Bishop/BP direction)
· Establish direct communications with Ward/Branches and with the Mission Presidency
· Each Ward/Branch should report to the Stake Presidency as soon as physically possible
· Account for all members and missionaries utilizing predetermined GPS coordinates
· Establish communications with Church Area/HQ authorities as soon as possible
· Establish a Stake Emergency Response Center if emergency is stake wide
· Establish contact with local emergency agencies (governmental, Red Cross, EMS, and others)
· Assist families that have been separated to reunite as soon as possible
· Arrange for temporary shelter and other selected services as necessary
· Assess damage to Church property and take steps to protect it as necessary
· Review damage to homes and apartments, and determine ways neighbors can assist one another
· If necessary, establish emergency shelters for those in need. (Obtain Area Presidency approval if a Church meetinghouse will be used as an emergency shelter)
The Bessemer Alabama Stake will establish a Stake Emergency Response Center in an emergency that is Stake wide to handle the aforementioned priority actions and to assist members as needed with
· First Aid medical assistance
· Medical supplies
· Food preparation
· Clothing
· Drinking water
· Temporary shelter
· Personal Hygiene items
· Sanitation and waste handling
· Recreation for children
· Counseling
Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 4
Selected Services
The Stake President should determine who is appropriate to provide selected emergency services with input from the Bishops/Branch Presidents. This could be determined in advance or at the time of the emergency. Refer to Church Welfare Resources (34475), pages 16 and 17, for more information on first aid assistance, food preparation, housing, recreation, sanitation, and child supervision. The assignments
for these activities in the Bessemer Stake are:
· First Aid Assistance Medical Professionals (using Church guidelines covering liability)
· Food Preparation Homemaking Counselor in Relief Society
· Temporary Shelter Education Counselor in Relief Society
· Clothing Stake Relief Society Presient
· Recreation Activities Committee
· Sanitation, fuel, transportation MPH Quorum/Group
· Drinking water MPH Quorum/Group
· Child Supervision Primary Presidency
· Logistics MPH Quorum/Group
· Security Stake Emergency Preparedness Coordinator (coordinating with local law enforcement and fire department)
Stake Emergency Response Center
The Bessemer Alabama Stake Center located at 831 Briarwood Drive, Bessemer, Alabama (GPS coordinates latitude 33.383699, longitude -86.9810789 N33degrees 23.0219 min., W086 degrees 5.8647 min.) will be designated as the stake's Emergency Response Center in the event of a stake wide emergency. The following selected services will be assigned in the stake center (see attached sketch) as follows:
· Operations center High Council room
· Coordination center Stake President's office
· Communications Stake Clerk's office, Ward Clerk's office & Family History Center
· First Aid Assistance YW's rooms
· Food Preparation Kitchen and RS room
· Supply storage Primary rooms and all storage closets
· Housing Cultural hall, over flow, other available class rooms
· Trauma Counseling Bishop's office
· Recreation & Child Superv. TBD
· Sanitation Rest Rooms (showering facilities to be obtained as soon as practical after the center is established)
· Fuel & transportation Parking lot
· Security MPH office
Pre-disaster list of supplies in Stake
· Medical supplies Members first aid kits
· Food supply Member food storage and emergency purchases
· Water suppy Member puification equipment and storage
· Shelter Stake Center, meetinghouses, local shelters & member homes
· Clothing Member provided items
· Personal Hygiene Items Member provided or local purchase
· Sanitation Church buildings and member homes
Bessemer Stake Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 5
Post-disaster list of supplies in Stake
· Medical supplies Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
· Food supply Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
· Water suppy Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
· Shelter Stake Center, meetinghouses, local shelters, local schools, Bessemer Civic Center, FEMA locations, local hotels & member homes
· Clothing Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
· Personal Hygiene Items Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
· Sanitation Red Cross, FEMA, Church HQs
Other Situations
The Stake Presidency will approve any other decisions/actions affecting the membership in an emergency situation. This may include but is not limited to long term housing, Church liability and Public Affairs issues, and assistance to neighboring Stakes and local communities.
Bessemer Stake-Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 6
Tab A
Bessemer Stake Center
Emergency Center
Bessemer Stake-Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 7
Tab B
Bessemer Stake Membership List
Bessemer Stake-Emergency Preparation and Response Plan page 8
Tab C
Bessemer Stake Leadership Directory
Bessemer Alabama Stake (515760)
North America Southeast Area (790087)
CALLING NAME PHONE NUMBER
Stake President Smartt, Philander Knox, III (205) 621-9852
First Counselor Archibald, Blake Dean (205) 333-7224
Second Counselor Green, Robert Ranchel, Jr. (205) 424-6800
Executive Secretary Atkinson, Jeffrey Larry (205) 422-3331
Stake Clerk Thompson, Gregory Bruce (205) 553-9135
Stake Assistant Clerk Acker, Ronald Wayne, Jr (205) 477-5307
Stake Technology Spc Hearle, Thomas Herbert (205) 938-9675
Stake Patriarch Rose, Reginald Fred (205) 822-5768
Secretary to Patriarch Rose, Janet Carol (205) 243-4852
Stake High Councilor Acker, Ronald Wayne (205) 426-5257
Stake High Councilor Bethers, Daniel Dale (205) 914-6164
Stake High Councilor Champion, Herbert Arnold (205) 758-2578
Stake High Councilor Dyer, Jack (205) 339-2977
Stake High Councilor Elmore, Horace
Stake High Councilor Hanson, Tod Chandler (205) 612-7524
Stake High Councilor Huff, James Francis (205) 685-8881
Stake High Councilor Knight, Kelly (205) 999-6294
Stake High Councilor Robison, James Joseph (205) 914-0940
Stake High Councilor Ware, Stephen Martin (205) 497-5102
Stake High Councilor Wells, David Robert (205) 981-0383
Stake Relief Society President Spencer, Susan Gay (205) 663-1435
Stake Relief Society 1st Counselor Cook, Jennifer Kuulei (205) 330-0922
Stake Relief Society 2nd Counselor Dillard, Jacqueline (205) 733-9281
Stake Relief Society Secretary Howard, Nancy Ann (205) 620-3348
Stake Sunday School President Robison, James Joseph (205) 914-0940
Stake Young Men President Stevens, Jason Howell (205) 310-1173