Dayle Preparedness etc.

A checklist to help you learn about the possible hazards and assess your community's preparedness includes:
http://www.ucc.org/disaster/technology-disasters/community-preparedness-for.html

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Community Assessment and Preparedness

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Preparation for possible or probable technology-caused disasters includes three primary components:
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assessing the existing or potential hazards
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identifying the associated dangers
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building viable networks, partnerships, and resource assets

A checklist to help you learn about the possible hazards and assess your community's preparedness includes:

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Contact local emergency management agency officials (village, town, county or city) to learn about the Emergency Operations Plan (EOP). Become familiar with their plans for response to toxic material incidents relative to railroad right-of-ways, highways, manufacturing or research facilities, fuel or agricultural chemical storage, and fires.

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Contact state and federal environmental protection agencies (see Resource Appendix #3). Ask about currently active and formerly contaminated sites in your area, complaints about air or water quality in recent years, and new efforts on their part to ensure public safety.

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Call state and local health departments (see your local phone book). Ask about: air, water, and soil quality complaints; known clusters or outbreaks of asthma, cancer, birth defects, and undiagnosed maladies; and fish or bird kills. Ask about their registries of health issues, and if they have identified a "hot spot" or cluster of illnesses that may be environmentally related.

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Contact local chapters of state or national environmental groups (see a partial list in the Resource Appendix #3). Ask what they are tracking that may have an impact on your area. Remember to ask about upstream and upwind!

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Map your community. Identify business districts, residential areas, industries, houses of worship, and social service agencies. Identify hazards such as dumpsites, transportation routes for trucks/railroads/ships, and industrial or hospital incinerators. Identifying drinking water sources, water and sewage treatment facilities, and direction of prevailing winds and water flow.

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Identify potentially vulnerable neighborhoods, families, or individuals who should be contacted immediately following an incident. Also... invite their participation in planning, serving as a part of the network, and identifying resource assets as discussed in the next section. (See a section on vulnerability later in this guidebook)

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**** Building Networks, Partnerships and Local Resources ---
http://www.ucc.org/disaster/technology-disasters/building-a-community-based.html

Beginning to know the hazards in your geographical area is crucial, but just as important to the pre-disaster planning is establishing a strong community network to, at the least, convene early response coordination and, in the best case scenario, later provide leadership for long-term recovery. Having a directory of contacts is a vital first step.

A checklist for building a valuable directory of persons and agencies who can form a network, a response/recovery taskforce, or committee includes contacting:

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Representatives from groups identified in the previous Community Assessment and Preparedness section to be a part of your planning.

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Congregations and ecumenical/multi-faith groups, state councils of churches, seminaries, and faith-based organizations. Tell them of your intent, offer to send a speaker, and learn of their current work on environmental health concerns.

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Social service agencies and disaster service providers. They may provide rapid response and material needs as a part of their normal programs, and may be able to offer expanded services for technology-caused disasters whena part of your planning.

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Neighborhood, sub-division, or community associations that reflect the diversity of your community.

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Community leaders, formal and informal decisions-makers, and organizations that reflect the uniqueness of your community who will help ensure successful networking and planning.

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Labor unions and workers' rights associations with chapters or affiliates in your area. Forcus on industrial, health care, and agricultureal unions and tell them of your interests and ask if they are working on similar issues. Some will focus on the health and safety of their members.

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Local college departments in such areas as chemistry, engineering, environmental sciences, health, and agriculture. Ask not only what they might be working on that could provide beneficial expertise, but also discover the languages spoken by students and faculty that might be of use in reaching area residents.

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Newspaper and television reporters specializing in business, religion, and environmental or health concerns.

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Attorneys (local or nearby cities) who specialize or have experience in environmental issues, corporate liability, class action suits, etc.

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Local chapters of professional societies for waste management, agriculture, natural resources, environmental sciences, or associations of recreational groups such as spelunkers, fishing, or hiking.

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Local government officials especially county or city emergency response managers.

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Learning and Planning Tips for Local Congregations

Congregations have many opportunities to become prepared for response to a technology-caused disaster and help your community be prepared and respond effectively. But it will take some hard work, decision-making, and educational efforts on the part of the congregation.

Step 1: The Hard Questions

The mission style of the congregation is historically characterized by significant involvement in community problems and social justice issues

The congregation is comfortable working in an ecumenical or multi-faith setting

The congregation is adventuresome and willing to risk new behavior

The church governing body is willing to discuss and/or act on the disaster

Pastor and congregation have agreed that they have an active ministry to fulfill in the event of a technology-caused disaster in their community.

The congregation is willing to discuss putting its life/health "on the line" as it responds to a technology-caused disaster

The congregation is able to make decisions about leadership and level of involvement

Step 2: Learning More

Read more! Check out public and college libraries and various websites. (see Resource Appendix #3)

Learn some of the basic vocabulary of technology-caused disasters. Knowing some terms will support your informed decision-making. (see Resource Appendix #1)

Build your church library to reflect environmental stewardship concerns. (see Resource Appendix #2)

Sponsor informational activities such as forums, seminars, or community meetings that feature local experts, union and industry representatives, health and emergency management officials, waste management firms; invite the public.

Provide space for community group meetings that address the issues; even if the congregation isn't involved!

Work with American Red Cross, The Salvation Army, or other sheltering agencies to qualify as an emergency shelter.

Work with congregations in the community to plan for provision of appropriate spiritual care when a crisis strikes the comunity; seek training to support this effort (see section on spiritual care later in the guidebook as well as Resource Appendix #2)

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http://www.ucc.org/disaster/technology-disasters/resource-appendix-3.html