The Role of the Church in Disaster Management

Good intentions are not enough

 By Michael Barrick 

Note: Before getting to the subject matter, a brief note to emergency managers/responders who don’t necessarily think of the Church as an Emergency Support Function – please read this anyway. There are two reasons: churches, denominations and ministries have and can play a critical role in Disaster Management activities; and, the challenges I’ve outlined below to the Church are applicable also to the entire field of Emergency Management.

The lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina continue to fill volumes of After Action Reports. In reviewing the activities of local, state and federal government disaster management agencies and hospitals, it is clear that “mistakes were made.” Yes, heroic efforts by individuals, responders and receivers saved many lives and comforted the afflicted. Still, as emergency managers and congressional committees have reviewed the response to this national disaster, it is clear that many of those responsible for protecting the lives and property of citizens could have done a better job. 

The same is true for the Church. 

Responding out of the compassion that is natural for Christianity, churches and ministries rushed to the Gulf Coast region in response to the suffering caused by Hurricane Katrina. It is true that some of the more experienced ministries were of tremendous benefit to the people devastated by the storm. However, many were also in the way. In short, good intentions were not enough. 

The Church can – and must – do better. We are in an age of increasing mass casualty incidents. Some are caused by shifting of populations into areas where natural hazards are common. Others are the result of man-made events, such as mass murders on college campuses. And, of course, the threat of terrorism looms ever-present. So, there is no question that the Church – whether through parachurch ministries, denominational response groups, or individual congregations – will continue to have more opportunities than any of us would wish for to offer assistance to those affected by disasters. Consequently, it is time for the Church to honor Christ by committing itself to improving its knowledge of Disaster Management. In doing so, it will be more effective in not only providing appropriate care, but will also earn the right to share the love – and everlasting hope – of Jesus. 

First, the Church must understand the basics of disaster management – Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery. Mitigation is taking steps to prevent disasters or reducing their impact. Preparedness is identifying the tactics and tools that will be needed to respond to disasters and making sure the resources and people are trained and in place to implement them. Response is the dispatching and application of resources and people during a disaster. Recovery is the process of rebuilding and mending people and communities following a disaster. It is essential to remember that this is a cycle that is constantly evaluated and is not necessarily perfectly chronological. In short, some or all four phases can be in process at one time. 

For mitigation, the Church should start with learning and applying the all-hazards approach to its planning. This way, ministries could identify how their mission fits with potential threats and hazards so that they could work with other non-governmental organizations (NGOs), as well as community responders and receivers in looking for ways to prevent or mitigate the impact of natural hazards, terrorism or man-made events. For instance, a ministry that operates on college campuses could play a vital role in working with university officials to develop methods for identifying students who might present a threat to the university community and offer counseling or other appropriate services. 

Regarding preparedness, the first step that a ministry can take is learning the National Incident Management System (NIMS) and applying it as its Command and Control philosophy and structure. By completing at least four NIMS courses (ICS 100, ICS 200, ICS 700 and ICS 800) offered by the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA), ministry leadership would be familiar with the Incident Command System (ICS) being used by first responders with whom they will be working. This would include specific training for each position in the Command Staff – Incident Commander, Safety Officer, Liaison and Public Information Officer. It would also allow ministries to begin organizing themselves according to the General Staff structure – Planning, Logistics, Operations and Finance/Administration. By taking these steps, ministries would not only be much more versed in how others operate, they would be implementing a system that has been tested and proven through time and countless disasters. 

Having completed these first two steps, ministries will have established the necessary relationships and knowledge to effectively and appropriately respond to disasters. For instance, during Katrina, many churches self-dispatched, having no idea how they would help; so, they were in the way and actually ended up reflecting poorly upon the Church. Most of us have also heard of the well-intended but poorly-planned sheltering activities which resulted in churches and homes receiving people without giving any thought to the consequences. Understanding response would also force ministries to identify their mission within the context of a disaster. It also means participating in “hot washes” (After Action Reviews) to identify mistakes, strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats, as well as developing Corrective Action Plans to improve future response efforts. It would also include extensive training and drills. 

Recovery is the area where the Church is probably at its best right now, as this is generally where the Church is used to having a role. And it should. But until a ministry truly understands the first three areas of disaster management, it will not know its role in recovery. Too many churches rush to an area to “witness.” Well, disaster victims need physical, financial and emotional needs addressed before they will ever listen to a “sermon.” 

Additionally, ministries should also become familiar with the National Response Framework. As such, they could understand the interoperability of different levels of government, as well as the various agencies and functions. As a volunteer agency, a ministry can play a role as an Emergency Support Function (ESF). By understanding its role within this framework, it is much more likely to be welcomed by the person(s) managing a disaster. 

It has been said that mediocrity and complacency are twin brothers. As we review the response to Hurricane Katrina, it is evident that these twins were present. While that is unacceptable in any area of disaster management, it is certainly not reflective of the excellence for which the Church should be known. So, it is time for ministries to adopt a teachable spirit and seek those who can help them become trained in these four critical areas of disaster management. In doing so, it will not only reflect favorably upon the one for whom its faith is named, but it will be playing a key role in improving and saving lives. I can think of no greater mission for the Church. 

© The Barrick Report, 2008. Send questions or comments to mbarrick@charter.net