Faith in Disaster Preparedness - Religious Institutions Prepare for Disaster Scenarios

February 9, 2007

Author: Michele De Meglio

Source: Brooklyn Heights Courier

http://www.brooklynheightscourier.com/site/tab8.cfm?newsid=17834712&BRD=2384&PAG=461&dept_id=552854&rfi=6

They’re a huge part of people’s lives, so why not involve churches, synagogues, mosques and other houses of worship in disaster preparedness?

Such thinking spurned the creation of a Web site devoted to providing religious institutions, schools, and service providers with information about how to aid congregants in times of crisis and offer assistance during rebuilding efforts after a disaster.

“This technology will build untold capacity for changing the way faith-based disaster planning and recovery management is done,” Peter Gudaitis, CEO and executive director of New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS), said at a press conference at Borough Hall to announce the opening of www.howcalm.org.

The HOWCALM site, which is free, also offers details about evacuation zones and will gather information about which houses of worship maintain facilities that could accommodate evacuees if there is a full-scale emergency.

See also: Interfaith, Civic