By Julia Menzo, Disaster Response Coordinator Southeastern PA, Liberty Lutheran
Lutheran Disaster Response – Eastern PA(LDR-EPA) is always working to help families through a disaster. Preparedness is a key component to minimizing danger to life, home and property. That’s why LDR-EPA sponsored “How to Prepare your Family, Community and Church for Disaster,” a free workshop a St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Glenside, PA on Saturday, September 7th.
The event drew more than 45 people, representing a myriad of communities from across the five county Southeastern Pennsylvania, to learn about the roles of emergency management, community organizations and the importance of having a plan for each of our own individual households. An important take-home message – If you want to be able to help in disaster, you have to be able to take care of yourself and home first. The workshop focused on essential disaster preparedness activities, such as storing important documents in weather proof containers and stocking enough food and water to last up to three days.
Steve Edwards from FEMA Region III valued some of the new topics that were discussed. “We especially appreciated (the) presentation on Landscaping to Keep Your Property Safer,” Edwards said at the end of the day. “What a unique preparedness perspective! This is an area of life safety that is often overlooked in advance preparation of weather related events. Great addition to the workshop!”
The workshop also covered How to Be an Early Response Volunteer, Building a Disaster Response Team, and Spiritual Resiliency and Caring for Pets. Speakers included experts from American Red Cross, Team Rubicon, FEMA, PEMA, Montgomery County Emergency Management, Christ Lutheran Church-Kulpsville, Al Cherry Tree Service, and Liberty Lutheran.
Liberty Lutheran was proud to host this event as part of the 25th Anniversary celebration of the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America (ELCA) under the banner of “God’s Work; Our Hands” and to celebrate the many ways individuals are making a difference in the communities they serve. Liberty and LDR-EPA were particularly pleased to offer this event during September, which is National Preparedness Month. To get more information on disaster preparedness, contact Steve Edwards, FEMA Region III at steve.edwards@fema.dhs.gov or visit readypa.org.
About Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA
Lutheran Disaster Response-Eastern PA (LDR – EPA) oversees disaster preparedness and response for Lutherans in 24 counties of Eastern Pennsylvania. LDR-EPA works with individual congregations and clusters of congregations, the district president, bishop and other leaders, as well as other denominations, government agencies and community organizations to help prepare for and respond to natural or human caused disasters. When a local disaster occurs, LDR – EPA partners with local and federal emergency management, the Red Cross, Salvation Army and faith-based organizations to assess the situation and respond.
