WASHINGTON DC STAKE WELFARE COMMITTEE DISASTER RESPONSE CO-ORDINATION PLAN
Definitions:
Family Objectives and Plan.
Each has filled out a emergency resource survey and has a first aid kit and training in First aid and CPR for emergencies; is prepared with a years supply of food, water and fuel; has a family disaster plan to contacting other family members; has a 72 hour emergency kit and an evacuation plan prepared for catastrophes. Families will respond as self- sufficient units. If overwhelmed, they contact other family members. If other family members are overwhelmed they contact home teachers or quorum leaders for assistance.
Ward Objectives and Plan
The Ward Welfare Service Committee: serves the Bishop with Communications, First Aid/CPR, Shelter, Transportation, Food and Counseling resources; has a resource survey on each family; Home teachers will determine status of assigned families and report to Quorum and Group leaders within 2 hours. Group leaders will report to Bishops within 3 hours. The Bishop will communicate the status of each family within 5 hours to the Stake President. Within moments of an emergency or disaster, home teachers should contact each assigned family to determine status and report to Quorum leaders. If the quorum is overwhelmed then the Bishop will respond, depending heavily on the Ward Emergency Preparedness Resource Coordinator (WEPRC). The Bishop and Ward EPRC may request the Stake President and the Stake EPRC for aid from other Ward EPRCs.
Stake Objectives and Plan
The Stake Welfare Services Committee mobilize to coordinate back up support for Wards and to communicate the status of each family within 24 hours to the Area President to request assistance from the Area Bishops Storehouse. The Bishops storehouse serves 100 Stakes, the earlier the Stake can make the request the more likely it will receive aid. Stake Disaster Operations Emergency Operations will be established immediately at the homes of the Unit Priesthood leaders and move to the church building as soon as practical. Ward EPRC's and Communicators locate Priesthood leaders and establish communications in a directed network using available media. Ward resource surveys will be the basis for response. In supplement to and if telephone circuits are unavailable, amateur radio operators will use the 146.955 repeater as a Mercury Amateur Radio Sub Network (MARA-DC) under the Montgomery County Amateur Radio Emergency Services (ARES) Network Control. Coordination of Assistance Aiding Ward EPRCs immediately establish communications to the Stake EPRC to indicate the state of readiness to respond. The stake coordinates responses when the affected Ward(s) request aid. In this way the Stake serves a logistical staging and coordinating function so as to not overwhelm the affected wards with offers of assistance while determination of needs are being accomplished. Stake teams provide: Communications, First Aid/CPR, Shelter, Transportation, Food and Counseling assistance while determination of needs are being accomplished. Repairs will be made to homes to enable families routines to be reestablished. Specific construction skills will be coordinated through Ward EPRCs and backed-up by other Ward resources (electricians - two -to- three deep) so that ward resources are not over burdened.
Shelter Policy
Families in unsafe dwellings will receive temporary shelter from families, wards or stake members or Red Cross in that order. Wards will provide needed an requested additional food and clothing so shelter providers are not overburdened. Church buildings will not be used as shelters except as directed by civil authority and under the management of the American Red Cross.
Coordination with Red Cross
The Stake EPRC will coordinate with County Emergency Management and Red Cross Disaster Managers to locate additional resources through Maryland Volunteers in Assistance to Disasters. Any direct requests for assistance to Wards should be directed to the Stake to aid in the coordination with other Church recovery resources.
