SWT Synod Disaster Preparedness and Response
How to Prepare:
- For households: 72-hour Lutheran English | Spanish
- Disaster Volunteer Sign up
Congregation Tools:
- Disaster Check-in English | Spanish
- Disaster Check-in Caller Script & Guide English | Spanish
- Know Your Members English | Spanish
- Red Cross/Synod Refuge Sign up
Who to contact:
Official local, state, federal sources, and synod
- Texas Division of Emergency Management
- Red Cross
- For your county, search for “your county name emergency management”
- To apply for financial assistance after a disaster: https://www.disasterassistance.gov/
- LDR Congregational preparedness book
FEMA Resources:
Pastoral, Spiritual, Compassion Care:
- Prayers and liturgies to use before/during/after a disaster
- Camp Noah
- Article from Pastor Judith Spindt “Reflections of a Disaster Pastor”
- LDR devotional series
Bryce Kennedy, Innovator for Resiliency and Preparedness
Training Options:
- Muck and Gut training
- Mental Health First Aid
- Community Preparedness Toolkit
Ways to assist:
- Make a Donation to the SWT Disaster Fund
- Make a Donation to ELCA Lutheran Disaster Response
- Synod work days (will be organized and promoted through eNews as needed)
- Spiritual/emotional support through on-site prayer, with comfort bags, etc.
- We understand you want to help, but there are common ways like sending clothes or stuffed animals that are less helpful.
How well is my congregation prepared for a disaster?
- Where are our legal documents and church records kept?
- Who knows where/how to turn off water/power to the building?
- What is the contact information for our insurance?
For more information and how you can help,
contact
Bryce Kennedy 830-379-9900 x14.
