Disaster Preparedness and Response Resources
Disaster Ministries of the United Church of Christ helps congregations to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters. In addition, Disaster Ministries is called to respond to both natural and human-caused disasters, providing physical, financial, emotional, and spiritual care to those affected.
UCC Disaster Ministries
UCC Disaster Ministries seeks to serve the most vulnerable populations, focusing on disaster preparedness, identifying and meeting unmet needs, and spiritual and emotional support.
Within Disaster Ministries there is a network of Conference Disaster Response Coordinators (CDRC) whose role is to help churches, associations, and conferences to prepare for and respond to natural and human-made disasters locally.
The CAC CDRC is Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel. Barbara has more than 30 years of leading disaster response trips, serving with local emergency management groups and as chaplain for a local fire company. Please contact her for more information about disaster preparedness work and how your congregation can respond to disaster. In this role, Barbara works with Rev. Palmer to provide information to our churches when a disaster occurs and how a local churches can respond – this includes inviting people to pray, how to donate funds, prepare Church World Service kits, and if and when work groups are welcome.
How to Contact Barbara:
Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel
CAC Disaster Response Coordinator
bkdaniel@cacucc.org
Recording of Lunch and Learn with Disaster Response Coordinator Rev. Dr. Barbara Kershner Daniel
Rev. Dr. Kershner Daniel led a dynamic hour intended to introduce you to Disaster Ministries in Central Atlantic Conference. She provided an introduction to disaster ministries and discuss available resources for churches in disaster preparedness -- fire drills, active shooting training, first aid preparedness, etc, as well as shared more about the past and future mission work trips in CAC.
The recording can be found here.
Here are some resources for local congregations in preparation and recovery:
1. Preparedness Document Checklist for Personal and Congregational Preparedness
This document provides a checklist for documents that should be kept in a secure location to be easily accessible in the event of an emergency. There is one document intended for personal preparedness, and a separate document for congregational preparedness.
2. Disaster Preparedness Guide for Local Churches: A Workbook (Revised October 2024)
This guide recognizes that all responses to disasters happen locally. You are the experts in your local community, and this is intended to be used as a framework for creating your own disaster resources. This workbook has been designed to be placed in a 3-ring binder and was created as a Word Document so you can edit it as you see fit.
3. The UCC Insurance Board provides information on how to prepare for various emergencies.
Following domestic and international disasters, the need to distribute specific material aid is often crucial to the recovery process. UCC Disaster Ministries, UCC Conferences and congregations support these efforts by assembling Church World Service Hygiene Kits, Kids Kits, Period Packs (Menstrual Hygiene Kits) and Clean Up Kits that are stored and can be shipped at a moment's notice. In an effort to support Church World Service in restocking these kits, UCC Disaster Ministries is offering matching grants of up to $250 per congregation on a first-come, first-serve basis to qualifying applicants.
5. Service Learning/Mission Trip Opportunities
High Country UCC in Vilas, NC (outside of Boone) is open for groups to come and assist with Helene recovery. This ministry offers lodging, hospitality, and support to groups (ages 13 and over) assisting local rebuilding and recovery efforts following the devastation of Hurricane Helene. Visit the church website for more information and to schedule a visit.
