Emergency Preparedness for Unitarian Universalist Communities of Faith Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

Emergency Emergency PreparednessPreparedness

for for Unitarian UniversalistUnitarian UniversalistCommunities of FaithCommunities of Faith

Rev. Aaron R. PaysonRev. Aaron R. PaysonThe Unitarian Universalist Church of WorcesterThe Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester


A Short History The Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry (UUTRM) was formed in 2002 to provide timely, multi-level, multi-faith and culturally sensitive spiritual care to survivors of mass disasters and other significant trauma. . . We take up this work in the spirit of our Unitarian Universalist faith, which calls us to respond in the spirit of respect and compassion for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin or sexual orientation.


UUTRM Ministries

•educating individuals, congregations and other groups on culturally and spiritually sensitive responses to trauma and mass disaster

•providing resources (including the deployment of critical incident stress management teams) to assist congregations and communities in the wake of mass disaster and other significant trauma;

•affiliating with local, national and international organizations that integrate spiritual care as a component of their disaster response efforts.

•deploying CISM teams and other spiritual care workers in coordination with local disaster response efforts.


Types of ResponsesTypes of Responses

•Traumatic death within congregations•Destruction of congregational property•Natural Disasters•Human-made•Technological •Preping/debriefing affected population and Mission Teams

DefinitionsDefinitions

• Crisis Crisis (Danger/Crucial moment)(Danger/Crucial moment)

• TraumaTrauma (shock – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) (shock – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual)

• Critical IncidentCritical Incident (overwhelm normal coping (overwhelm normal coping mechanisms)mechanisms)

• DisasterDisaster (larger scale trauma/critical incident (larger scale trauma/critical incident impacting whole systems)impacting whole systems)

Emergency Planning & Faith Emergency Planning & Faith

CommunitiesCommunities


Family Planning

CongregationalPlanning

Community Advocacy

Denominational Planning


Family PlanningFamily Planning

1. Get informed

2. Make a plan

3. Assemble a kit

4. Maintain your plan and kit


Prein

ciden

t

Warn

ing

Imp

act

Ho

neym

oo

n

Rescu

e/Hero

icDisillusionment Recovery

Life-Cycle of a Disaster

EmotionalResponse

Time


Disaster: Mitigating Circumstances

•Intensity of the eventIntensity of the event•Proximity to the eventProximity to the event•Relationship to EventRelationship to Event•Duration of EventDuration of Event•Extent of Damage Extent of Damage •Normal psycho-emotional thresholdsNormal psycho-emotional thresholds•Functionality of SystemsFunctionality of Systems•Duration of ReconstructionDuration of Reconstruction

Community of Survivors and “Sacred Ambiguity”

Layers of Community

Stories

Meta-Narrative




Family Planning


Community Advocacy



Congregational PlanningCongregational Planning

• Awareness of (1) the kind of natural and human-caused hazards faced by the community (2) the community’s vulnerability to disaster

• Adequate insurance on buildings and contents

• Protection of vital records from fire and water damage

•Decision-making / Communication Plan

• Arrangements to make church facilities available for shelter or other uses through the American Red Cross and/or other care-giving agencies.


• Nature of the congregation’s people resources—how can members serve in an emergency

• Telephone tree or system to check on member needs

• The community’s disaster plans and local emergency management leadership

• The religious community’s disaster plan that encompasses activities of individual congregations/regional judicatories/conferences/synods in cooperative, collaborative, and coordinatedprograms

Congregational Planning (cont.)Congregational Planning (cont.)


• Training opportunities for people in the community in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, first-aid, light search and rescue, emotional/spiritual care

• Telephone numbers/addresses or need-to-know contacts such as out-of-town family members, judicatory staff, other support people and agencies

Congregational Planning (cont.)Congregational Planning (cont.)

Evacuation PlanningEvacuation Planning

Safety PlanningSafety Planning

• Building Access Issues/Moderating FlowBuilding Access Issues/Moderating Flow• Communications/Call Out ProceduresCommunications/Call Out Procedures• Evacuation vs. Lock DownEvacuation vs. Lock Down• Working with NeighborsWorking with Neighbors• Designated Meeting AreasDesignated Meeting Areas


Other EmergenciesOther Emergencies

• FireFire• R-A-C-ER-A-C-E• TrainingTraining

• MedicalMedical• 911 Protocol911 Protocol• TrainingTraining• SuppliesSupplies

• ThreatsThreats• Bomb ThreatBomb Threat• Death ThreatsDeath Threats


Bomb Threat ChecklistBomb Threat Checklist• BE CALM. BE COURTEOUS. LISTEN. DO NOT INTERRUPT.BE CALM. BE COURTEOUS. LISTEN. DO NOT INTERRUPT.• EXACT WORDS OF CALLER:EXACT WORDS OF CALLER:• QUESTIONS TO ASK?QUESTIONS TO ASK?

• 1. When is the bomb going to explode?1. When is the bomb going to explode?• 2. Where is the bomb right now?2. Where is the bomb right now?• 3. What kind of bomb is it?3. What kind of bomb is it?• 4. What does it look like?4. What does it look like?• 5. Why did you place it?5. Why did you place it?• 6. Where are you calling from?6. Where are you calling from?

• CALLER’S VOICECALLER’S VOICE

• MALE FEMALE ADULT JUVENILEMALE FEMALE ADULT JUVENILE• ACCENT WELL SPOKEN IRRATIONAL INCOHERENTACCENT WELL SPOKEN IRRATIONAL INCOHERENT• FOUL CALM ANGRY EXCITEDFOUL CALM ANGRY EXCITED• SLOW RAPID SOFT LOUDSLOW RAPID SOFT LOUD• LAUGHTER CRYING NORMAL SLURREDLAUGHTER CRYING NORMAL SLURRED• NASAL SPEECH IMPEDIMENT UNUSUAL BREATHING RASPYNASAL SPEECH IMPEDIMENT UNUSUAL BREATHING RASPY• CLEARING THROAT DEEP HIGH DISGUISEDCLEARING THROAT DEEP HIGH DISGUISED• CRACKING VOICE FAMILIAR TAPED OTHERCRACKING VOICE FAMILIAR TAPED OTHER• MESSAGE READ BY THREAT MAKERMESSAGE READ BY THREAT MAKER• If voice is familiar, who did it sound like?If voice is familiar, who did it sound like?• Did the caller indicate knowledge of your facility? Yes NoDid the caller indicate knowledge of your facility? Yes No• If yes, explain:If yes, explain:

• BACKGROUND SOUNDSBACKGROUND SOUNDS

• STREET NOISES DISHES VOICES PA SYSTEMSTREET NOISES DISHES VOICES PA SYSTEM• MUSIC HOUSE NOISES MOTOR AIRCRAFTMUSIC HOUSE NOISES MOTOR AIRCRAFT• QUIET OFFICE MACHINERY ANIMAL NOISES LONG DISTANCEQUIET OFFICE MACHINERY ANIMAL NOISES LONG DISTANCE• STATIC FACTORY MACHINERY OTHERSTATIC FACTORY MACHINERY OTHER• Name Dept. PhoneName Dept. Phone• Date received Time received Time endedDate received Time received Time ended

• Call 9-911 immediately after the caller hangs up.Call 9-911 immediately after the caller hangs up.• TAKE THIS CHECKLIST WITH YOU AS YOU EVACUATE THE BUILDINGTAKE THIS CHECKLIST WITH YOU AS YOU EVACUATE THE BUILDING




Family Planning


Community Advocacy



• Do a hazard analysis for your area. • Network with community agencies/groups•Help identify and advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable•Work to implement and enforce land-use planning, controls, and sound flood plain, seismic zone, and beach front management practices.•Support programs aimed at eliminating hunger and poverty and advancing human rights.• Advocate respect for the environment—recycling programs, water and energy conservation, etc.

Community AdvocacyCommunity Advocacy


Denominational PlanningDenominational Planning

•AssessmentAssessment•Advocate/education for local planning effortsAdvocate/education for local planning efforts•Develop comprehensive district planDevelop comprehensive district plan•Test/evaluate planTest/evaluate plan•FundingFunding


First StepsFirst Steps

•Begin small – don’t get overwhelmedBegin small – don’t get overwhelmed•Research areaResearch area•Educate membersEducate members•Protect property / recordsProtect property / records•NetworkNetwork•Decide what you want to doDecide what you want to do•Create a planCreate a plan


ResourcesResources

•Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry (www.traumaministry.org)(www.traumaministry.org)

•Church World Service Emergency Response ProgramChurch World Service Emergency Response Program (www.cwserp.org)(www.cwserp.org)

•American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)American Red Cross (www.redcross.org)

•Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov)Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov)


Rev. Aaron R. PaysonRev. Aaron R. PaysonUUTRM Response CoordinatorUUTRM Response Coordinator

The Unitarian Universalist Church of WorcesterThe Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester90 Holden Street90 Holden Street

Worcester, MA 01606-3411Worcester, MA 01606-3411(508) 853-1942 / (508) 963-5959 (cell)(508) 853-1942 / (508) 963-5959 (cell)

[email protected]@charter.netwww.traumaministry.orgwww.traumaministry.org

ContactContact

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Emergency Preparedness for Unitarian Universalist Communities of Faith Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester