Creating Stake & Ward Emergency Response Councils

1. San Diego Multi-Stake Emergency Response Training 2017 Creating Stake & Ward Emergency Response Councils

2. The Coordinating Councils, Multi-Stake Emergency Response Committee • Our mission is to unify and assist leaders and members of the Coordinating Councils in their stake and ward emergency preparedness and response planning.

3. The church Responded to over 100 disasters in 2012 in 52 countries Hurricane Sandy- Sister Missionaries on Staten Island

4. In 2015, Humanitarian Services provided assistance to 90.3 million beneficiaries in 136 countries. Aftermath of tornado in Windsor, Colorado

5. LDS Charities donated 11 million dollars this year to organizations providing assistance and Relief. Mudslides Freetown -Sierra Leone

6. Haitian refugees Crisis San Diego 2016

7. Hurricane Harvey September 2017 Houston Temple

8. southern coast of mexico earthquake September 7 2017 LDS Church news release. With the rest of the world, we are deeply concerned about the many natural disasters that have occurred around the globe in recent weeks.

9. Hurricane Irma – Florida Keys, Florida – Sept 9, 2017

10. Mexico City Earthquake sept. 19th 2017

11. Puerto Rico Plunged into Silence and Darkness19% Cell Telephone Sites Working 15% people have power Ham Radio Helps from San Diego – Force of 50

12. 33 member homes destroyed in Santa Rosa California Stake. 8 more were lost in the neighboring Napa California 4 LDS Church Bldgs as shelters..2 others used as staging areas

13. As part of stake, ward and personal planning we ask that you consider the following in order to be a ready asset, available to assist others who may look to you as leaders during an emergency. • Develop a testimony of preparedness; especially one relevant to current modern day scenarios. • Prepare yourself and family first! • Develop an Emergency Response Plan in which you • know the plan • keep it updated as frequently as needed, and • practice the plan. • Be prepared to stand on your own for a time until communication and help are restored and available. • Be prepared to help others. • Neighbors • Community • Local Leaders and Government

14. Response A Call to Action Other parts of our country and the world are affected with many different forms of emergencies, disasters and response situations. As a result your stake or ward could soon be called to help in a nearby area.

15. Stake & Ward Emergency Preparedness & Response Planning ( Handbook 1, 5.1.3., 5.2.11) In our area the San Diego Coordinating Councils are under the direction of our Area Seventywho is ElderMarc Davis,and with his approval, the Multi-Stake Emergency Response committee proposes that each stake and ward in these the San Diego and Carlsbad Coordinating Councils adopt the following in an effort to unify under the area plan in our language and efforts:

16. 1. Stakes & Wards:Create your Emergency Response Council Creating and developing your Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan is not a one or even two person job! This plan should be a carefully and thoughtfully coordinated effort between ward and stake leaders and their auxiliary leaders who would be involved and respond during a disaster. This council should be known as a stake or ward: Emergency Response Council

17. Emergency Response Council (A ward council should mirror the stake council. ) An Emergency Response Council would be under the direction of the Stake President or Ward Bishop and is coordinated by an “Emergency Response Specialist” (ERS) The ERS coordinates and facilitates meetings of the council. The first responsibility of the council is to create and then consistently improve and update the Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan as needed. Prayerfully considering the needs of the members and the community. Handbook 2: 6.3.2 / 6.2.2

18. Emergency Response Council Members The Stake/Ward Emergency Response Council is.. • Presided over by a member of the Stake Presidency/ Bishopric. • Chaired by an Emergency Response Specialist (ERS) called to coordinate and facilitate meetings. • Comprised of at least one leader from each auxiliary.

19. Emergency Response Council REsponsibilities • Plan for emergencies based on likely emergency scenarios common to your local area. • Assign areas of responsibility during an emergency for each auxiliary for possible tasks that may be required in order to carry out your Emergency Response Plan including. • Young Men • Young Women, • Primary etc., • Provident Living • Periodically review and update the Emergency Response Plan. • Contact information • Resources • Assignments • Communications Systems, frequencies, nets etc.. • Meet at least quarterly to update, members who may be moving in and out of callings, resources, make plan improvements, etc.

20. Emergency AssetsCompile and Maintain information • Contact information for all members and missionaries living within stake or ward boundaries • List of members with special needs • Disabled • Elderly • Young children • Large animals • List of members with special skills and equipment • Medical training • Ability to operate heavy equipment • Contact information for public safety agencies (e.g. police, fire, medical) • Contact info for community organizations (e.g. the Red Cross) that provide emergency services • Food • Shelter • Medical care. (See Stake and Ward Emergency Planning Guide)

21. 2. Stake and Ward Emergency Response Specialists Each stake and ward should establish an Emergency Response Specialist (ERS) and, where possible, an ERS assistant, (The name of this calling replaces previous calling titles such as preparedness coordinator, emergency preparedness leader, emergency coordinator, etc.)

22. Emergency Response specialistMain responsibilities • Coordinate the Emergency Response Council. • Helps facilitate the development and maintenance of Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. • Coordinate emergency response plans with local emergency response and relief organizations. • Gather community and member resource information. • Promote other stake and ward activities to encourage preparedness and response efforts..

23. 3. Stake and Ward Emergency Communications Specialist Each ward and stake should also put in place an Emergency Communications Specialist (ECS) And where possible an ECS assistant Area Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide Stake Communication Specialist Guidelines At least one or both should be trained and licensed in ham radio or be willing to learn and become licensed in ham radio. It is essential that the ECS and the ERS are not the same person.

24. Ham Radio Classes, Testing and training are on going in all three counties. Many people are willing to be an “Elmer” or personal helper to encourage and help develop the skills and equipment necessary to maintain a means of communication for your ward and stake when all other forms of communication suddenly become unavailable.

25. Emergency Communications In the event of a major emergency normal communication methods most likely will be unavailable. Priesthood leaders should consider: • How to contact missionaries and members following a disaster, • How to communicate the status of missionaries, members, buildings, and other necessary information to area leaders; • Mobilize available communications personnel and equipment. (See Guidelines for Emergency Communications)

26. 4. Have a current Plan! In preparation, stakes and wards should develop and maintain a simple written plan called an Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan This plan should also be coordinated with plans in the community. The most effective plans are brief and not overly complex. Stake and Ward Emergency Preparedness Guide –providentliving.lds.org

27. 5. Provident Living & Preparedness • Personal and family preparedness education falls under Provident Living. • Provident Living falls under Relief Society. • Not all wards and stakes have Provident Living leaders. Where possible, we encourage wards to consider calling a Provident Living Leader to be the preparedness arm and helper to the Emergency Response Specialist. • Some stakes and wards have found success in calling couples to be Provident Living Leaders together to disseminate and teach preparedness and other self reliant principles to both Priesthood and Relief Society thereby unifying the message within the families. • Preparedness is for every member, male or female not just Relief Society. • Provident Living Leaders should work with the ERS and be a part of the Ward and Stake Emergency Response Council.

29. Public Affairs and Emergency Response The Multi-Stake Public Affairs Director, Becky Davies and your Stake Director of Public Affairs (DPA) have great responsibility to coordinate the church’s interaction with public entities and others who will respond during a time of disaster. These include working and volunteering with the County VOAD (Volunteer Organizations Active in Disasters). Because of these responsibilities Public Affairs is essential in helping to coordinate both internally and externally with the church and community during an emergency. The Stake ERS calling is part of the Stake Public Affairs Committee and will be an essential resource in times of an emergency due to the relationships they build within their community. Attends Stake Public Affairs Monthly Meetings.

30. In the event of an area wide disaster • Multi Stake Public Affairs Director, Becky Davies, • PAER Logistic Coordinator, Stephen Egbert, and • PAER Coordinator, Terri Sorensenwill assist our • Area Seventy Elder Marc Davis and Welfare Services to coordinate the San Diego, Imperial and S.W Riverside counties multi-stake response effort. • Assistance includes communications and logistics with access to regional church resources and volunteers.

31. Communications Flow Chart

32. What do we do now?

33. 6 Steps to Emergency Preparedness and REsponse • Emergency Response Council • Emergency Response Specialist and Asst. • Emergency Communication Specialist and Asst. • Emergency Preparedness & Response Plan • Provident Living Specialists – Couples (Preparedness) • Resource Survey – Gather Critical Information Build your testimony of Emergency Preparedness & Response. Be an asset to your family, ward & stake members, neighborhood and community. If you are not prepared yourself you will not be able to help when you may be most needed.

34. Become familiar with Church Resources Efforts to help us understand what we need to in order to • Prepare • Respond • Recover • Mitigate The Church has prepared great materials where answers to questions can be found. • lds.org • Emergency Response • Emergency Preparedness • Providentliving.lds.org • Stake and Ward Emergency Preparedness Guide • Area Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide • Ldscharities.org • Emergency Response

35. LDS Emergency Response Resources for Coordinating Councils Multi-Stake Public Affairs Emergency Response, Operations, Logistics • Terri Sorensen – • Emergency Response Coordinator • 858-688-3061 (Local VOAD Rep) • Stephen Egbert – • Emergency Operations/ Logistics • 858-945-6035 (Local VOAD Rep) • ldsersd@gmail.com • Sdpreparedness.com