NYDIS' 9TH ANNUAL NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH ISSUE

FAITH SECTOR RESLILIENCE RESOURCES

National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder that all faith communities and our partners have a civic and moral obligation to plan, practice, and prepare, take action during any and all crises that will affect us where we live, work, learn, and worship. Building a culture of preparedness is essential to our resilience as a nation, city and her neighborhoods – and, especially to those most vulnerable people and their pets who live on the margins of our society. Those who will always need our help each and every time there is a disaster or public health emergency. #OneNYC #CityOfFaith

LEAVE A LASTING LEGACY

National Preparedness Month serves as a reminder to take action to prepare now and throughout the year for the types of emergencies that could affect us where we live, work, learn, and worship. With all of the challenges New Yorkers have faced.

The 2022 National Preparedness Month theme is "A Lasting Legacy: The life you've built is worth protecting. Prepare for disasters to create a lasting legacy for you and your family."

Use the National Preparedness Month Messaging Toolkit to coordinate messaging for your community, house of worship or organization. Share the weekly themes, graphics, and links on your social media channels and with your contacts to spread the message of preparedness. 

Leave a lasting legacy – prepare for emergencies today! Check out NYC.gov/npm for events, preparedness guides, and more.

THE BEST WAY TO ENSURE YOUR LASTING LEGACY IS TO PREPARE

YOUR FAMILY, AND YOUR COMMUNITY FOR EMERGENCIES

Week 1: Make A Plan - Talk to your friends and family about how to communicate before, during and after emergencies. Utilize the Ready NY My Emergency Plan Guide: NYC.gov/myemergencyplan

Week 2: Gather Supplies - Ensure your lasting legacy for yourself and your family by gathering emergency supplies that can help you whether you stay or go.

Week 3: Plan for Hazards - Prepare to protect yourself and your family by planning for hazards that may affect you and your community.

• Prepare for Coastal Storms and Floods - Make sure you know your ZONE. Use the Hurricane Evacuation Zone Finder or call 311. Have the right Flood Insurance to protect your home. Visit Floodhelpny.org and floodsmart.gov for more information about the National Flood Insurance Program. 



• Register for a free FloodHelpNY Flood Insurance Webinar on September 13, 2022 with Housing Counselors here.

Week 4: Help Your Families and Neighbors Prepare - NYC Emergency Management’s Community Preparedness program offers local community and faith-based networks and organizations the tools they need to prepare for, respond to, and recover from emergencies. For more information, visit www1.nyc.gov/site/em/ready/training-resources.page  

2022 NATIONAL PREPAREDNESS MONTH EVENTS:

NYDIS FALL 2022 FREE TRAININGS FOR NYC RELIGIOUS LEADERS

• Mental Health First Aid (MHFA) Training: Free one-day MHFA training certifications for community & faith leaders to learn how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Offered in collaboration with The Salvation Army, the training uses role-playing, videos, discussions, and games to equip participants to address mental health challenges.

• Writing a Continuity of Operations Plan for Your Congregation: Free 3-hour Continuity of Operations Planning (COOP) training for clergy and lay leaders. Have you ever wondered how your house of worship or faith-based organization will continue to fulfill its vital role in your community post-emergency? This training includes interactive tabletop activities and instructional guidance in writing a plan for your house of worship or faith-based organization.

• Writing an Emergency Communications Plan for Your Congregation: Free 3-hour training for congregation and faith-based organization leaders to learn how to e­ffectively communicate with sta­te, congregation members, and clients in an emergency setting and share critical information immediately after a crisis when lives and safety are at risk.

Questions? LCUMMINGS@NYDIS.ORG

FALL 2022 PREPAREDNESS SUMMIT FOR NYC FAITH COMMUNITIES:

Register for the FREE Fall 2022 NYDIS Preparedness Summit: “Climate Change, Disasters, and the Vulnerable Communities We Serve.” September 28^th; 9-3pm; In-person; lunch included

CLIMATE RESILIENCE CAPACITY BUILDING PROGRAM:

"PREPARING NYC RELIGIOUS LEADERS TO WEATHER THE CLIMATE STORM"

In 2022, NYDIS launched a capacity-building program to increase climate resilience for NYC clergy and religious lay leaders serving dis-invested communities. Drawing from existing NYDIS trainings and city-wide resources, the initiative will offer low-cost/no-cost climate resilience resources, trainings, & services to help NYC clergy and lay leaders make effective plans, harden facilities, and answer tangible questions for NYC communities especially vulnerable to the climate crisis.

NYC EMERGENCY MANAGEMENT COMMUNITY PREPAREDNES: 

COASTAL STORMS & FLOOD AWARENESS PREPAREDNESS WEBINARS

FOR COMMUNITY AND FAITH LEADERS 

As we are currently in the Hurricane Season, which began June 1st, other ways to prepare for Coastal Storms, Hurricanes and Floods are to view webinars the Community Preparedness Team at NYCEM facilitated. 

Coastal Storms and Hurricane

·   See the full webinar here

·   Full list of resources download this PDF.

·   Downloadable PDF of the presentation.

Flood Awareness 

·   See the full webinar here.

·   Full list of resources download this PDF.

Downloadable PDF of the presentation. 

MONKEYPOX RESOURCES

Monkeypox is a rare, viral infection that does not usually cause serious illness. However, in rare cases it can result in hospitalization or death. That’s why health officials in New York, the U.S., and around the world are monitoring cases of monkeypox in areas that do not usually report monkeypox infections, including in New York State.

More resources on monkeypox updates can be found here

COVID-19 VACCINE EQUITY

NYDIS is part of New York City’s effort to promote vaccine equity and reduce health disparities throughout the city. Between October 2021 and March 2022, with funding from the Federation of Protestant Welfare Agencies (FPWA) and the Hispanic Federation, NYDIS undertook outreach and engagement activities with faith communities across NYC to listen to community concerns and address misinformation to promote uptake and reduce access barriers that leave Black and Hispanic New Yorkers vulnerable to the life-threatening impact of COVID-19. 

Shareable Covid-19 Vaccine Equity resources, including bookmarks, newsletter inserts, flyers, are available at NYDIS' Vaccine Equity page

NYDIS COVID-19 RESOURCES

2020 Mental Health Toolkit & Panel Discussion Webinars

• Mental Health Toolkit & Panel Discussion for African Diaspora Leaders
• Mental Health Toolkit & Panel Discussion For Buddhist and Hindu Leaders
• Mental Health Toolkit & Panel Discussion For Jewish Leaders
• Mental Health Toolkit & Panel Discussion For Muslim Leaders Webinar

2020 Pandemic Grief Webinars

• Pandemic Grief & Clergy Self-Care Toolkit Webinar
• Pandemic Grief & Trauma Toolkit & Panel Discussion Webinar

COVID-19 Pandemic: Crisis Spiritual Care For Congregations NYDIS hosted a free two-hour webinar which off­ered an overview of crisis spiritual care best practices – including, general crisis spiritual care principles and interventions, disaster mental health & caregiver self-care. The webinar explored the unique challenges to providing spiritual care facing clergy and lay caregivers during the COVID-19 pandemic.

COVID-19 Pandemic Virtual Exercise: Testing Your COOP or CERC Plans

Free 2-hour Pandemic Virtual Exercise for congregations and faith-based organizations to discuss their upcoming plans using a pandemic scenario. This exercise was specifically designed to troubleshoot and find solutions for the unique obstacles facing congregations and organizations during a pandemic. Participants wrote portions of their congregation’s plan during the COOP workshop and discussed their upcoming COVID-19 plans during the virtual exercise.

COVID-19 Plan Writing: Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP)

Free 2.5-hour virtual COOP writing workshop for congregation decision-makers tasked with writing an emergency plan. This workshop was targeted specifically towards congregations that do not have an emergency action plan or COOP in place.

Visit https://nydis.events/WebinarRecordings to view recordings of NYDIS' COVID-19 webinars.

NYDIS in partnership with the National Disaster Interfaith Network (NDIN), The Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School, and the USC (University of Southern California) Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) developed an app to help first responders, disaster response professionals and voluntary organizations better serve America’s diverse religious communities and build partnerships with religious leaders

The Disasters & Religions App presents easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions, from Baha’i to Zoroastrianism, including 12 Christian denominations.

“Three-quarters of U.S. residents are people of faith. Yet, as a country, we often struggle to understand the unique religious beliefs, practices and day-to-day needs of each person,” said Peter B. Gudaitis, M.Div., Executive Director & CEO of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS) and President of the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN). “In times of crisis, this app will equip responders with resources to feed, shelter, counsel, bury or provide emotional and spiritual care to the diversity of people of faith, among many other unmet needs, during disasters and public health emergencies that face our country.”

The information in the app is adapted from resources created by NDIN, NYDIS, The Martin Marty Center for the Public Understanding of Religion at the University of Chicago Divinity School and the USC (University of Southern California) Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC), leaders in the field of religious literacy and competency. The partners have built partnerships between religious actors and government agencies, and NDIN and NYDIS have decades of experience in providing disaster human services. Tools developed by NDIN and USC CRCC are used by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security, the Federal Emergency Management Agency and the American Red Cross.   

“This app is filling an important need. People turn to and trust their faith communities in times of trouble, and this app will improve the understanding between first responders and people of faith that can only be a help in disasters,” said Dr. Lucy Jones, seismologist and founder of the Dr. Lucy Jones Center for Science and Society, which has the mission of creating more resilient communities through the understanding and application of scientific information. 

On the app, users—including religious leaders, chaplains, first responders, government workers, disaster and public health emergency professionals, and volunteers—will be able to navigate information by either religion and see tips by topic areas.

In partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s Office of Emergency Preparedness and Response, NYDIS was contracted as the Sector Lead Agency to develop the FSCPP to increase and sustain the resilience of New York City congregations and faith-based nonprofits through all phases of the disaster life cycle.

The FSCPP is currently in year 5 of 6 years of implementation. The program is guided by a stakeholder Advisory Board and is a model for city-wide engagement between faith communities and government in disaster and public health readiness. The program is managed by NYDIS’ Senior Manager and supported by paid internships throughout the year. The FSCPP offers preparedness trainings, conferences, and the Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) tool HOWalert to NYC religious leaders and faith sector decision-makers. For information about upcoming trainings, conferences or HOWalert visit our website here.

Are You Interested in Serving on the FSCPP Advisory Board? The FSCPP Advisory Board is made up of senior religious leaders from across the city, who help develop initiatives to increase the disaster and public health emergency resilience of all faith communities in our city. If you are interested in serving on the Advisory Board contact Lucy Cummings, Senior Manager, FSCPP: lcummings@nydis.org

HowReady — House of Worship Ready Tip Sheets for NYC Religious Leaders:

Continuity of Operations Planning for Congregations and FBOs

Your plans should include provisions for your personnel to work remotely, including creating systems for computers, office equipment, and other technology necessary to have remote access. Consider plans to conduct remote or live-streamed worship services and alternatives to congregation rituals in the event that mass gatherings become inadvisable. Review and practice your Continuity of Operations Plans (COOP) and Crisis and Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Plans in the context of a pandemic. Advise your staff, personnel, and congregants to review their family emergency plans.

Disaster & Crisis Spiritual Care (English/Español)

During disasters and times of crisis, a diverse cross-section of people seek spiritual care. Religious leaders will be challenged to support and offer an open environment with respect to religious diversity, social diversity, and unfamiliar cultural and mass care settings. These tips can guide you as you help your congregants and the broader community during relief efforts and as they recover from the impact of a disaster. Pay attention to self-care as you care for others.

Faith Communities & Disaster Mental Health (English/Español)

Natural or human-caused disasters are, by definition, disturbing and unexpected. Most people respond to a perceived threat with stress reactions. A variety of stress reactions are normal in most cases but their intensity may differ depending upon the severity of the situation. This Tip Sheet includes guidance on identifying and coping with normal and abnormal stress reactions and making mental health referrals.

Spiritual Care and Mental Health for Disaster Response and Recovery

Spiritual Care and Mental Health for Disaster Response and Recovery is a comprehensive resource tool that enables NYC religious leaders to best serve their congregations and the public as they respond to and recover from disasters. Its 19 chapters were written by 16 disaster mental health and spiritual care experts. Organized in three sections, Preparation & Mitigation, Response & Recovery, and Reference & Resources, the manual offers an overview of the lifecycle of disasters, discusses the role of faith leaders throughout these phases, and provides information on skill sets, training resources, and effective clinical and pastoral best practices.

Unmet Needs Roundtables (UNR) Program Manual Set

Since 9/11, NYDIS has convened all Unmet Needs Roundtables (UNR) in NYC. With a total disbursement of over $21M, the UNR is a multi-agency collaborative, including donors, case management, legal aid, volunteer rebuild, and long-term recovery groups. The UNR utilizes diverse networks of city-wide and neighborhood-based disaster case management or legal aid agencies to meet the needs of any and all New Yorkers, with a focus on the most vulnerable and under-resourced households. An advisory board offers guidance on identifying resources for emerging unmet needs, overseeing the UNR process, and supporting the staff’s work. We are currently working on a new manual set for the UNR. If you want to learn more about the UNR model read the program profile here.

Volunteer Group Housing Program Manual Set

When NYC is impacted by disasters that damage or destroy homes, volunteer groups come from across the region and nation to help us rebuild. Most of the time these volunteers need housing. Following Hurricane Sandy, NYDIS developed a Host Site Manual and a Volunteer Group Handbook. The Host Site Handbook and the Housing Form-Set gives host sites a comprehensive introduction to living in and managing a volunteer group site. The Volunteer Group Handbook provides volunteer groups and their leaders with all the information (e.g. disaster history, area specifics, packing list, etc.) they need to know before arriving and while deployed in the U.S. or its territories.

1.  Host Site Handbook

2.  Volunteer Group Housing Form-Set 

3.  Volunteer Group Handbook

Through the NYDIS’ Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program (FSCPP), NYDIS provides free, online trainings for congregation decision-makers. Learn more about NYDIS’ upcoming fall webinars and workshops for NYC religious leaders here and/or sign up for NYDISnet to receive information on upcoming trainings and events.

Active Shooter in a House of Worship Training

Active shooter situations are unpredictable, evolve quickly, and vary greatly. Knowing how to respond appropriately is an important skill for faith & community leaders alike.

Module 1 - Presented by the NYPD Counterterrorism Bureau, this module will explore recommendations to mitigate the risks from active shooter attacks. The NYPD developed this program based on the analysis of past active shooter incidents and careful reviews of previous studies.

Module 2 - Presented by the National Disaster Interfaith Network, this will include instruction and resources to prepare religious leaders and their staff for an active shooter, armed intruder, or emotionally disturbed person, including:

• Creating an Emergency Action Plan (EAP) and its essential components
• How to lead and debrief an Active Shooter Training Exercise 
• Additional ways to prepare for an Active Shooter Situation
• Safest actions to take during an active shooting

Crisis & Emergency Risk Communication (CERC) Exercise

In cooperation with the DOHMH and the FSCPP Advisory Board, NYDIS offers online and in-person emergency communication exercises for religious leaders and decision-makers from NYC congregations, religious (judicatory) bodies, and faith-based nonprofits. Based on NYDIS’ HOWalert system, the virtual part of the exercise was developed to test the Faith Sector’s ability to rapidly communicate with congregants, staff, and clients during a life-threatening public health emergency.

Community Outreach & Training

NYDIS offers mitigation education and preparedness training for religious and faith communities. By training religious leaders from all faiths in disaster readiness, NYDIS helps ensure that all New Yorkers have access to knowledgeable, culturally sensitive, disaster-trained leaders who can assist them through the different phases of the disaster lifecycle. Training Brochure & Overview

Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) Writing for Congregations

NYDIS provides a free 4-hour Continuity of Operations Plan (COOP) training for clergy, staff & volunteers from congregations & faith-based organizations - all training materials are included. Participants will learn COOP theory and concepts, and apply that knowledge in a series of custom worksheets. Participants leave the training with a backbone of their congregation or organization’s written plan.

Disaster Chaplain Training

In partnership with the National Disaster Interfaiths Network, this two-day (16-hour) training course prepares chaplains and credentialed religious leaders to provide spiritual and emotional care during deployment to disaster sites as well as within their own communities. The course comprises four 4-hour sessions covering disaster operations, disaster spiritual care, disaster mental health, and self-care for caregivers. Each registrant must be endorsed for this training and/or currently serve as a professional chaplain and/or credentialed religious leader. (Prerequisite: FEMA IS-100.C – a free online course on the Incident Command System).

Emergency Communications in Congregations Training

NYDIS provides a free 4-hour “Emergency Communications in Congregations Training” for clergy, staff & volunteers from congregations & faith-based organizations - all training materials are included. The training teaches best practices for how congregation or faith-based organization leaders can share critical information congregants, staff, and clients immediately after a crisis when lives and safety are at risk! Participants will also learn the components of a risk communication plan. Learn more here.

Emergency Rest Center Training

The Emergency Rest Center management training instructs staff and volunteers from houses of worship on how to self-activate as an Emergency Rest Center (ERC). ERC's offer hospitality, risk communication, and safe haven to the public during emergencies or mass evacuations. When taught in collaboration with a local office of emergency management, this course can also help develop a network of houses of worship that coordinate services with government, VOAD, or nonprofit human services providers. NYDIS is currently adapting this training for COVID-19 readiness.

Training Brochure & Overview 

Mental Health First Aid & Opioid Overdose Training for Faith Community Leaders

In partnership with the NYC Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, NYDIS, and The Salvation Army Greater New York Division offer Free one-day MHFA training certi­fications for community & faith leaders to learn how to help someone who may be experiencing a mental health or substance use challenge. Mental Health First Aid is a groundbreaking public education program that introduces participants to risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems, builds an understanding of their impact, and overviews common treatments. Mental Health First Aid is an 8-hour course, which uses role-playing and simulations to demonstrate how to assess a mental health crisis, select interventions, and provide initial help. Learn more here.

Visit https://nydis.events/WebinarRecordings to view recordings of past webinars.

For information about upcoming trainings follow us on Facebook or visit Eventbrite.

Active Shooter

• Department of Homeland Security: Active Shooter Preparedness Webpage
• Active Shooter Emergency Action Plan Template
• FBI Office of Partnerships: Active Shooter Incidents Resource Page
• NDIN Tip Sheet: Active Shooter in A House of Worship

Arson Prevention

• Disaster Resistant Communities Webinar: Fire Safety for Rural Churches
• USFA/FEMA Brochure: Protecting Houses of Worship Against Arson

Crisis and Emergency Risk Communications

• Islamic Society of North America Webinar: Masjid Crisis Communication & Response
• NYDIS Tip Sheet: Continuity of Operations Planning for Congregations and FBOs (March 2020)

Disaster Response and Management

• Institute for Social Policy and Understanding Case Study: How a Mosque Managed a Crisis: The ISBCC Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing

Safety Preparedness Webinars, Toolkits, and Resources

• Disaster Resistant Communities: Just In Time Disaster Training - Church Security
• Muslim Advocates Webinar: Improving the Safety & Security of Islamic Centers
• FEMA Guide: High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans for Houses of Worship
• FEMA Webinar: Federal Resources and Partnerships to Help Houses of Worship Develop High-Quality Emergency Operations Plans
• FEMA Webinar: State and County Government Partnerships with the Faith Community to Preparing Houses of Worship for Emergencies
• FEMA Webinar: Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnership Models That Increase Preparedness for Disasters and Emergencies
• FEMA Webinar: Guidance on Creating an Emergency Operations Plan for Houses of Worship with Schools and Getting Youth Involved in Emergency Preparedness

CDC EPIC (Emergency Partners Information Connection)

EPIC partners with a broad array of organizations to exchange information that helps people stay safer and healthier during a public health emergency. Through EPIC’s partnerships, CDC can more effectively reach some of the people most vulnerable to public health threats.

Vibrant Emotional Health

Vibrant Emotional Health’s groundbreaking solutions have delivered high quality services and support, when, where and how people need it for over 50 years. Vibrant offers state-of-the-art technology-enabled crisis care tools, local community service programs, and our advocacy and education work, we’re advancing access, dignity and respect for all.

• Disaster Distress Helpline In cooperation with SAMHSA (Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration) Vibrant’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-days-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.

• National Suicide Prevention Lifeline The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline is a national network of local crisis centers that provides free and confidential emotional support to people in suicidal crisis or emotional distress 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 1-800-273-8255 or chat with them through their website.

• NYC Frontline Essential Workers (FEW) Hotline Vibrant Emotional Health and The Coalition for Behavioral Health are teaming up to provide the NYC Frontline Essential Workers (FEW) Hotline. The hotline is free, confidential and available to all New York City community-based providers and essential workers in emotional distress Monday through Friday, 10am – 10pm. Call 866-565-7715 to connect with a trained mental health professional.

Notify NYC App: New York City's official source for information about emergency alerts and important city services

• Download the Apple iOS version
• Download the Android version

Ready NYC App: Based on the Ready New York campaign, Ready NYC is a mobile app that allows users to make an emergency plan.

• Download the Apple iOS version
• Download the Android version

Community Preparedness Newsletter: Weekly community preparedness newsletter to receive information about preparedness initiatives, resources, and local events. During emergencies, the newsletter provides important alerts and updates. Subscribe here.

Know Your Zone: Everything you need to know about hurricanes in New York City. You'll find information about the city's hurricane evacuation zones, the hazards you may face from a hurricane, and what to do to prepare.

NYC Community Toolkit: Emergencies such as extreme weather, fires, building collapses, and terrorism make New York City communities vulnerable to the effects of disasters. Studies have shown that social capital – how connected a community is before an emergency – defines how quickly and successfully it recovers. A connected community better understands its physical and social environment, has established communication networks and knows how best to use existing resources. This toolkit provides the resources existing networks need to build an emergency plan to prepare their communities for a disaster. The toolkit provides New York City-specific guidance for emergency planning and includes a plan template and scenarios for communities to develop their own emergency plan.

Ready Kids Cartoons: NYC Emergency Management teamed up with campers at the Police Athletic League Beacon Summer Camp at the Goldie Maple Academy in the Rockaways to create two cartoons about emergency preparedness. The campers drew original cartoon characters, wrote scripts, and recorded voice-overs and songs for the cartoons.

• Ready, Set, Prepare
• Emergency Experts

Ready NYC - My Emergency Plan: My Emergency Plan is a workbook designed to help New Yorkers — especially those with disabilities and access and functional needs — create an emergency plan. The workbook guides users through establishing a support network, capturing important health information, evacuation planning, and gathering emergency supplies. First responders or caregivers can also use the workbook to help people with disabilities and access and functional needs during an emergency.

Available in English, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, Arabic, Bengali, French, Haitian Creole, Italian, Korean, Polish, Urdu, Yiddish, and audio format.

“What's Your Plan?” Video: Working with NYC Media and Next Millennium Productions, NYC Emergency Management has developed two Ready New York: What's Your Plan? videos that detail the importance of having an emergency plan. The short films have won recognition in the 35^th annual Telly Awards, as well as the 2015 Summit Creative Awards.

NY-Alert: New Yorkers can subscribe to NY-Alert to receive critical information and emergency alerts on what is happening in their area. NY-Alert contains critical, emergency-related information including instructions and recommendations in real-time by emergency personnel. Information may include severe weather warnings, significant highway closures, hazardous material spills, and other emergency conditions. Sign up here.

Are You Aware and Prepared? Think about what you would do if a bad storm, chemical spill, outbreak of flu, or an act of terrorism put you in danger. Would you know how to help yourself and your family? Each of us can take steps to reduce our risk in any kind of emergency. Plan to be prepared so you can stay safe. Use this website as a guide.

• Roll Up Your Sleeves and ServNY

For Families and Individuals: The Information for Families, Individuals, and Caregivers section provides information for parents, people with special needs, pregnant women and others. You can also find fact sheets about natural disasters, like floods or ice storms. You can find out what you need to know about man-made emergencies like a chemical spill or terrorist attack, too.

• Keep Kids Out of Hot Cars! (PDF)
• Spanish (PDF)

For Health Care Providers: If you are a health care provider the Information for Health Care Providers site has tools and resources to help guide your response to a health emergency. This includes information you can share with your patients as well as materials to help your practice or facility be ready for an emergency.

Weather Emergency Preparedness and Recovery

• Weather Emergencies: Storms, Floods, and Power Outages

FEMA CULTURAL AND RELIGIOUS COMPETENCY TRAINING & RESOURCES

People of faith, congregations, and faith-based organizations provide essential relief and recovery functions after disasters. Therefore, it is critical for secular entities, as well as government personnel and institutions, to understand the potential contributions and unique needs of America’s faith communities. The course and tip sheets below were written for FEMA by NDIN and USC CRCC.

FEMA IS-505: Religious & Cultural Literacy & Competency in Disaster

Religious and cultural communities are part of the whole community, and the DHS Center for Faith-based & Neighborhood Partnerships works to form partnerships between the Federal Government and faith-based and neighborhood organizations to more effectively serve Americans in need.

In partnership with the University of Southern California Center for Risk and Economic Analysis of Terrorist Events (CREATE), this course and its companion tip sheet resources where developed by University of Southern California Center for Religion and Civic Culture (CRCC) and the National Disaster Interfaiths Network.

FEMA IS 505 Tip Sheets:

• Faith Community Engagement Resources & Tools Building religious literacy and competency is an ongoing process, with a wealth of both self-directed study resources and classroom trainings available. A good starting point is taking a religious literacy self-assessment. From there proceed with self-directed study with a focus on the religious traditions you may work with or care for in crisis settings. These educational resources and field tools are a great starting point. There is also a list of smartphone apps available for use in the field when scheduling meetings and for locating culturally-appropriate food vendors.

• Faith Community Engagement Guidelines The following tip sheets cover foundational information to help emergency management professionals interact with a variety of religious groups. Much of the information also can help students, researchers, government agencies, nonprofits, and businesses learn about and develop relationships with communities.
• Engagement Guidelines: Index
• Engagement Guidelines: Buddhist Leaders
• Engagement Guidelines: Christian Leaders
• Black Church Protestant Christian Leaders
• Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints (Mormon) Leaders
• Evangelical Megachurch Leaders
• Latino Protestant Christian Leaders
• Orthodox Christian Leaders
• Protestant Christian Leaders
• Roman Catholic Leaders
• Engagement Guidelines: Hindu Leaders
• Engagement Guidelines: Jewish Leaders
• Engagement Guidelines: Muslim Leaders
• Engagement Guidelines: Sikh Leaders



• Engaging Culturally Diverse Communities Cultural competence is the appropriate level of knowledge-based skills of individuals or organizations required to provide effective engagement and disaster human services to impacted individuals from a particular cultural group (e.g., racial or ethnic).

FEMA Online Training: You Are the Help Until Help Arrives

Encourage your faith community to take the You Are the Help Until Help Arrives training. There are new tools to help you host an Until Help Arrives training in your area including a new customizable poster, an updated instructor guide, and a fact sheet. You can find these new and updated resources in the same place that you can download instructor materials. Since the launch, more than 100,000 people have completed the training. FEMA reports that 98% of those trained said they are more likely to help because of what they learned. Providing help requires no special skills but it can mean the difference between life and death. Visit Ready.gov/untilhelparrives to download the materials.

FEMA Resources to Protect Your House of Worship

Across the United States, Americans congregate in faith-based venues to worship, learn, play, and bond as a community. However, public gatherings are vulnerable, and adversaries may perceive houses of worship as attractive targets where they can inflict mass casualties, cause substantial psychological impacts, and draw extensive media coverage.

Emergency Operations Planning Resources:

• Guide for Developing High-Quality Emergency Operation Plans for Houses of Worship The guide not only provides recommendations on the development of plans to respond to an emergency, but also outlines how organizations can prevent, plan for, protect against, mitigate the impact of, and recover from these emergencies.
• Engaging Faith-based and Community Organizations Planning Considerations for Emergency Managers The guide provides a foundation for emergency managers to engage with faith-based and community organizations that can be partners in building a culture of preparedness and enhancing the security and resiliency of their communities.

FEMA Emergency Management Institute Trainings

• FEMA EMI Courses The primary audience for the Independent Study Program is national emergency response and recovery personnel of the United States, as well as emergency management personnel of FEMA, and US citizens.

FEMA Online Courses of Relevance to Faith Communities:

• IS-907: Active Shooter - What You Can Do
• IS-909: Community Preparedness - Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone
• IS-26: Guide to Points of Distribution
• IS-368: Including People with Disabilities and Others with Access and Functional Needs in Disaster Operations
• IS-366: Planning for the Needs of Children in Disasters
• IS-360: Preparing for Mass Casualty Incidents: A Guide for Schools, Higher Education, and Houses of Worship
• IS-906: Workplace Security Awareness Course
• IS-914: Surveillance Awareness: What You Can Do
• IS-909: Community Preparedness - Implementing Simple Activities for Everyone

FEMA Playbooks: Writing and Testing Your Hazard Specific Plans

The following resources are designed to provide you with an approach to test and think through how you will respond to a natural or human-made emergency or disaster.

• Earthquake Preparedness Playbook
• Flood Preparedness Playbook
• Hurricane Preparedness Playbook
• Tornado Preparedness Playbook
• Wildfire Preparedness Playbook
• Winter Storm Preparedness Playbook
• FEMA's Emergency Planning Exercise Page

FEMA App

• Download the FEMA Mobile App