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Disaster Ministry
The UCC Florida Conference Disaster Ministry Team, consisting of local church leaders and congregants, work to facilitate the denomination’s response to natural disasters. Together, we focus on preparedness, identifying, and meeting unmet needs, as well as providing spiritual and emotional support. If you would like to get involved, all are welcome!
For more information, email: JohnRistow@disasterservices.org
What to Do in the Event of a Disaster!
- Ensure all members of the congregation are safe and accounted for. Some may be staying with family or friends out of town, some may be in a shelter, and some may be at home but may need support.
- Contact your Conference Disaster Response Coordinator to discuss your needs. They are often connected to volunteer organizations active in disasters in your area and can serve as liaisons. Please Contact the Florida Conference Disaster Response via email at: JohnRistow@disasterministries.org
- Apply for a Solidarity Grant: The Global HOPE team at the United Church of Christ provides $3,000 grants to churches that have recently experienced a disaster and need additional support or are providing additional services in their community because of it.
- If the disaster has received a federal disaster designation, contact the Federal Emergency Management Agency and refer to this page for information on how to access services: https://www.fema.gov/node/what-houses-worship-need-know-about-fema-disaster-aid-process
UCC Disaster Preparedness Guide for Local Churches
The Disaster Preparedness Guide for Local Churches recognizes that all disaster responses happen locally. Church leaders are the experts in your local community, and this guide provides an overview of disaster preparation and serves as a framework for creating your own disaster resources.
Get Ready Program
Launched in February 2003, Ready is a National public service campaign designed to educate and empower people to prepare for, respond to, and mitigate disasters. The goal of the campaign is to promote preparedness through public involvement.
Church World Services
https://cwsglobal.org/learn/disasters
Church World Service programs help people prepare for natural disasters by making plans and gathering appropriate supplies. Whether the disaster is natural or humanitarian, we team up with other responders to meet immediate needs. When the time is right, we shift our focus to long-term recovery.
Florida Volunteer Organizations Active in Disaster
https://voadflorida.wpengine.com
Recognizing that all members of society must work together to foster more resilient, self-reliant communities. National VOAD facilitates partnerships with federal, state, and local emergency management as well as for-profit corporations, foundations, and educational and research institutions. The UCC Florida Conference is a member of the Florida FLVOAD.
The Florida Conference United Church of Christ is a community of congregations around Florida that partner in covenant to engage in the ministry of Jesus Christ to be the Church in the 21st century. In the power of the Holy Spirit, the congregations of the Florida Conference UCC join together to be a prophetic voice of the Good News of God’s love for all and to work for peace and justice for all.
