Emergency Preparedness for Unitarian Universalist Communities of Faith

1. Emergency Preparednessfor Unitarian UniversalistCommunities of Faith Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

2. A Short History The Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry (UUTRM) was formed in 2002 to provide timely, multi-level, multi-faith and culturally sensitive spiritual care to survivors of mass disasters and other significant trauma. . . We take up this work in the spirit of our Unitarian Universalist faith, which calls us to respond in the spirit of respect and compassion for all people, regardless of race, color, creed, gender, religion, national origin or sexual orientation. Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

3. UUTRM Ministries • educating individuals, congregations and other groups on culturally and spiritually sensitive responses to trauma and mass disaster • providing resources (including the deployment of critical incident stress management teams) to assist congregations and communities in the wake of mass disaster and other significant trauma; • affiliating with local, national and international organizations that integrate spiritual care as a component of their disaster response efforts. • deploying CISM teams and other spiritual care workers in coordination with local disaster response efforts. Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

4. Types of Responses • Traumatic death within congregations • Destruction of congregational property • Natural Disasters • Human-made • Technological • Preping/debriefing affected population and Mission Teams Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

5. Definitions • Crisis (Danger/Crucial moment) • Trauma (shock – physical, emotional, mental, spiritual) • Critical Incident (overwhelm normal coping mechanisms) • Disaster (larger scale trauma/critical incident impacting whole systems)

6. Emergency Planning & Faith Communities Family Planning Community Advocacy Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester Denominational Planning Congregational Planning

7. Family Planning • Get informed • 2. Make a plan • 3. Assemble a kit • 4. Maintain your plan and kit Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

8. Life-Cycle of a Disaster Emotional Response Time Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester Impact Warning Honeymoon Preincident Disillusionment Recovery Rescue/Heroic

9. Disaster: Mitigating Circumstances • Intensity of the event • Proximity to the event • Relationship to Event • Duration of Event • Extent of Damage • Normal psycho-emotional thresholds • Functionality of Systems • Duration of Reconstruction Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

10. Community of Survivors and “Sacred Ambiguity” Layers of Community Stories Meta-Narrative

11. Emergency Planning & Faith Communities Family Planning Community Advocacy Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester Denominational Planning Congregational Planning

12. Congregational Planning • • Awareness of (1) the kind of natural and human-caused hazards faced by the community (2) the community’s vulnerability to disaster • • Adequate insurance on buildings and contents • • Protection of vital records from fire and water damage • Decision-making / Communication Plan • • Arrangements to make church facilities available for shelter or other uses through the American Red Cross and/or other care-giving agencies. Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

13. • Nature of the congregation’s people resources—how can members serve in an emergency • Telephone tree or system to check on member needs • The community’s disaster plans and local emergency management leadership • The religious community’s disaster plan that encompasses activities of individual congregations/ regional judicatories/conferences/synods in cooperative, collaborative, and coordinated programs Congregational Planning (cont.) Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

14. Congregational Planning (cont.) • Training opportunities for people in the community in disaster preparedness, fire suppression, first-aid, light search and rescue, emotional/spiritual care • Telephone numbers/addresses or need-to-know contacts such as out-of-town family members, judicatory staff, other support people and agencies Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

15. Evacuation Planning

16. Safety Planning • Building Access Issues/Moderating Flow • Communications/Call Out Procedures • Evacuation vs. Lock Down • Working with Neighbors • Designated Meeting Areas Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

17. Other Emergencies • Fire • R-A-C-E • Training • Medical • 911 Protocol • Training • Supplies • Threats • Bomb Threat • Death Threats Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

18. Bomb Threat Checklist • BE CALM. BE COURTEOUS. LISTEN. DO NOT INTERRUPT. • EXACT WORDS OF CALLER: • QUESTIONS TO ASK? • 1. When is the bomb going to explode? • 2. Where is the bomb right now? • 3. What kind of bomb is it? • 4. What does it look like? • 5. Why did you place it? • 6. Where are you calling from? • CALLER’S VOICE • MALE FEMALE ADULT JUVENILE • ACCENT WELL SPOKEN IRRATIONAL INCOHERENT • FOUL CALM ANGRY EXCITED • SLOW RAPID SOFT LOUD • LAUGHTER CRYING NORMAL SLURRED • NASAL SPEECH IMPEDIMENT UNUSUAL BREATHING RASPY • CLEARING THROAT DEEP HIGH DISGUISED • CRACKING VOICE FAMILIAR TAPED OTHER • MESSAGE READ BY THREAT MAKER • If voice is familiar, who did it sound like? • Did the caller indicate knowledge of your facility? Yes No • If yes, explain: • BACKGROUND SOUNDS • STREET NOISES DISHES VOICES PA SYSTEM • MUSIC HOUSE NOISES MOTOR AIRCRAFT • QUIET OFFICE MACHINERY ANIMAL NOISES LONG DISTANCE • STATIC FACTORY MACHINERY OTHER • Name Dept. Phone • Date received Time received Time ended • Call 9-911 immediately after the caller hangs up. • TAKE THIS CHECKLIST WITH YOU AS YOU EVACUATE THE BUILDING

19. Emergency Planning & Faith Communities Family Planning Community Advocacy Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester Denominational Planning Congregational Planning

20. Community Advocacy • • Do a hazard analysis for your area. • • Network with community agencies/groups • Help identify and advocate for the needs of the most vulnerable • Work to implement and enforce land-use planning, controls, and sound flood plain, seismic zone, and beach front management practices. • Support programs aimed at eliminating hunger and poverty and advancing human rights. • • Advocate respect for the environment—recycling programs, water and energy conservation, etc. Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

21. Denominational Planning • Assessment • Advocate/education for local planning efforts • Develop comprehensive district plan • Test/evaluate plan • Funding Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

22. First Steps • Begin small – don’t get overwhelmed • Research area • Educate members • Protect property / records • Network • Decide what you want to do • Create a plan Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

23. Resources • Unitarian Universalist Trauma Response Ministry (www.traumaministry.org) • Church World Service Emergency Response Program (www.cwserp.org) • American Red Cross (www.redcross.org) • Federal Emergency Management Agency (www.fema.gov) Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester

24. Contact • Rev. Aaron R. Payson • UUTRM Response Coordinator • The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester • 90 Holden Street • Worcester, MA 01606-3411 • (508) 853-1942 / (508) 963-5959 (cell) • arpayson@charter.net • www.traumaministry.org Rev. Aaron R. Payson The Unitarian Universalist Church of Worcester