Disaster Recovery Uniting Church Style

It is without doubt that none of us wish for disasters be they natural or not in our lives. We all know that disasters can and do strike at any time and often unexpectedly.

For these reasons the Uniting Church Synod of NSW and the ACT have put in place strategies to aid in  effective and rapid recovery from disasters when they strike. It is impossible to to predict where and when disasters might happen and yet being prepared is one of the key strategies to creating resilient communities.

Briefly the approach we have taken is to oversee the creation of a network of interfaith Chaplains who minister in Disaster Recovery Centers, provide peer support for ministers who are working directly in a disaster zone and putting in place a system of disaster plans within our Presbyteries that cover the whole of NSW.

This week the Presbytery representatives and the peer support team gathered in Sydney to be trained and updated on our strategic response.

It was everybody's hope that we will never be called into action.

Kel Hodge