When a hurricane is almost on top of you, there are still a few things that religious professionals and lay leaders can do to make a difference for their congregations:

• Copy off a list of members’ phone numbers so you can reach them later. Ideally that list will include cell phone numbers. And ideally you’ve asked people previously where they might evacuate to in case of an emergency. That makes it easier to find them.

• Designate a member or a team to call or otherwise try to find people when the immediate crisis has passed. This could mean dividing up the congregational membership list beforehand.

• Send your own emergency contact information to members.

• Designate someone who lives near the congregation’s building to come check on it so that you will know as soon as possible how much damage has occurred. If streets are impassable, others may not be able to get there. Make sure the designated person can get into the building.

• Download and/or backup critical congregational files and copy important documents. Place them in a safe and secure location away from your building.

• Lay in emergency supplies, including water, food, batteries, and flashlights not only at home, but at the congregation’s building. Let members know what support will be available there when the storm passes.

• If your building site is in danger of flooding, move items of value to higher floors, if possible.

• Invest in a couple of blue roofing tarps so you can cover any damaged roofs, if necessary, before repair crews can get there.

And when the storm has passed, carefully read the UU Congregational Emergency Preparedness Manual. It includes information on advance planning for emergencies and what to do in the aftermath of one.

About the Author

Don Skinner

Don Skinner is editor of InterConnections and a member of the Shawnee Mission UU Church in Lenexa, Kansas.

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