EMERGENCY PLANNING GUIDE FOR WARDS AND STAKES

“Be thou prepared, and prepare for thyself, thou, and all thy company that are assembled unto thee, and be thou a guard unto them.”.

(Ezekiel 38:7).

The ward and stake council can use this planning guide and its attached worksheets to create or update emergency response plans. The stake and ward plan may include initiatives that the community offers in an emergency. ---The most effective plans are brief and not complex, when preparing the emergency plan consider the following points: 1. Identify natural disasters. 2. Collect information. 3. Define actions and assignments. POINT 1: IDENTIFY NATURAL DISASTERS Identify and list possible disasters that could occur in your area and put a check in the boxes of those services or activities that may be suspended after a disaster.

WARD / BRANCH STAKE / DISTRICT DATE CONTACT

SUSPENDED SERVICES OR ACTIVITIES EMERGENCY OR DISASTER. (Example: earthquake, hurricane, cyclone, fire, flood, tornado, pandemic disease, civil unrest, and other disasters).

EMERGENCY PLANNING GUIDE FOR WARDS AND STAKES

POINT 2: COLLECT INFORMATION The following four tables are used for: • Identify the activities that must be carried out to respond in the short, medium and long term to the needs identified in each suspended service or activity.

SERVICE OR ACTIVITY

SHORT TERM NEED (FROM 0 TO 72 HOURS)

MEDIUM TERM NEED (FROM 1 TO 2 WEEKS)

LONG TERM NEED (MORE THAN 2 MONTHS)

• Identify members of your ward or stake who have special needs, such as; wheelchair assistance, oxygen use, special medications, disability, etc.

SPECIAL NEED MEMBER’S NAME MEMBER’S CONTACT INFORMATION

EMERGENCY CONTACT NAME & NUMBER

• Identify members of your ward or stake who have skills that can be useful in disaster situations, such as; health personnel, security agency, emergency operations centers, etc.

SKILLS MEMBER’S NAME CONTACT INFORMATION

EMERGENCY PLANNING GUIDE FOR WARDS AND STAKES

• Create a list of resources offered by the community and the state in case of disasters, which could include; shelters, churches and other emergency services.

NAME OF THE ORGANIZATION SERVICES PROVIDED CONTACT INFORMATION

WHO WILL CONTACT THE ORGANIZATION

POINT 3: DEFINE ACTIONS & ASSIGNMENTS Use this table to list the actions and assignments your emergency plan generates.

ACTION ASSIGNMENT (Person or group responsible)

DUE DATE COMPLETED YES / NO

For more information, visit the website caribbean.churchofjesuschrist.org