SPDR: How Your Church Members Can Engage Local Resources for Disaster Preparedness

by Rev. Libby Janes

Director, Synod Partnership for Disaster Recovery

1) Donate Blood!

If it is medially safe for you to do so, consider donating blood! During September, American Red Cross had a partnership with Hello Kitty to give a plush doll to anyone who donated, so of course I couldn't resist! It was my first time donating, and felt really good to support someone I'll never meet with part of my own body. 

The current Red Cross blood drive initiative is: "FALL into the habit of donating blood! Receive a $15 gift card when you donate between now and October 18th."

To find an American Red Cross Blood Drive near you, click here: https://www.redcross.org/give-blood.html?srsltid=AU7gw4WmLzc1suL_tZYqwWD1C9Grwbj-hHCpZhbJN6i0HCYH4rvB3N2e

2) Get CPR/AED/First Aid Certified! 

Did you know your church can host a CPR/AED/First Aid training? The more people trained in your congregation, the better you will be able to respond in case of a medical emergency at your church. Contact your local disaster team to learn about training opportunities in your area, with your local Red Cross, Emergency Management, or EMS providers. Also, the Grace Presbytery Disaster Team also has CPR/AED instructors who can travel to your presbytery to provide this training at your church, if you're church will host them. Contact John Kusewitt (jpkusewitt@verizon.net) for more information!

3) Get CERT Certified! 

Your county or city Emergency Management program, or one nearby, probably offers a training in CERT: Community Emergency Response Team. It's a free training where local Emergency Managers, Firefighters, EMS, and other leaders will provide the most comprehensive civilian training available. The training is free and open to the public, and there is an opportunity to join a CERT civilian team after training, to support your local first-responders during disasters or with community-wide needs. 

SPDR Director Libby Janes recently became CERT-trained by the City of Austin! Libby is bringing this information to the Synod of the Sun and encourages anyone interested to take this training!

Libby Janes and Melinda Hunt forgot to take a picture in their CERT helmets, backpacks, and safety vests but wouldn't it be great if we had? Get yourself trained and we'll all take a picture together with leaders across the Synod who are CERTs!

4) Google "[Your city or county] Emergency Management" and look at their website and facebook updates and resources. There are more updates and resources in your local community than you may have known! Share updates and resources with your own congregation!

Together, our churches can join with one another, and with our local communities, to engage the collective ministry of disaster preparation, response, and recovery.