Your church can be of assistance with preparation, rescue and evacuation. Possible facilities can be provided as well as volunteers put into action with the help of supplies, shelter, etc. as well as spiritual counseling.

Other opportunities for churches to minister during a disaster are to:

• Finance gift cards for supplies or gas needed.
• Secure clean up or repair products.
• Locate people to care for children, elderly, ill and disabled who need special facilities, diets, transportation and pets.
• Locate members who will provide temporary housing for victims.
• Participate in ministries such as the receiving, sorting and distributing of clothing, bedding, bulk food, clean-up and household supplies.
• Provide food, housing, communication and other needs for out-of-town volunteers who come to help with the disaster response.
• Cooperate with other agencies in times of disaster for relocating and rebuilding.
• Develop a database of cars, vans, pickup and dump trucks, boats, planes, and such that might be available for use during a disaster.
• Organize clean-up, salvage, security or repair crews, as well as help victims clean their homes and furniture, install temporary roofing or board up windows and doors or remove household contents for safe storage.