Pre-Disaster Recovery Checklist
 

• Assess what skills and trades exist in the church that could help with recovery.
• Evaluate the church facility and parking lot to determine if it is a good site for a point of distribution (POD), emergency shelter, or a location that offers public services, such as a warming station or a cellphone charging station.
• Look for ways to be involved during the disaster that align with the mission, vision, and capacity of your church. Refer to FEMA’s “Sequence of Delivery” for how the church fits into the recovery process for unmet needs.

• Learn the emergency plans for debris removal and volunteer management.
• Get involved in local and state Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD). 

• Host congregational insurance informational sessions, especially for flood insurance.
• Create a plan for mitigation and preparation against damage to the church property and assets.

• Decide whether your location will accept certain donations and what the plan will be for their appropriate management and stewardship.
• Clearly communicate to the public whether you’ll be servicing the need, connecting to local partners, or making referrals.

• Become familiar with the FEMA Public Assistance Process for houses of worship.

Navigating Long-Term Recovery

Recovery looks different for every disaster because no two disasters are the same. One tornado is not the same as the next one. As the saying goes, “If you have been a part of one disaster, you have been a part of one disaster.”
 
In nearly all disasters, a percentage of those impacted (10-15%) struggle to recover due to a lack of resources. Long-term recovery is needed to help them reach their new “normal.”
 
Involving individuals in their own recovery affirms their worth and dignity. Explore avenues for how your church can help meet needs in the disaster recovery process.

Long-term recovery involves assessing the needs and connecting those needs to identified resources. Watch the video to find out about the “three Ms” and how churches can get involved in local recovery initiatives.

Be it a disaster or community in a distressed economy, the essentials of everyday life are sometimes taken for granted. Churches and companies around the country are partnering with Convoy of Hope to make a variety of kits. Through our programs, we distribute them in a timely manner to those who are going through a season of great need.

Help us build: 

• Hygiene kits.
• Family hygiene kits.
• Baby care kits.
• Cleanup kits (buckets).