Preparing for disasters

A special training to prepare for disasters will take place from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Saturday at Saratoga Town Hall.

The training is known as “Mobilizing Faith-Based Community Organizations in Preparing for Disaster.” This 8-hour planning and management level course trains faith-based community organization (FBCO) representatives, management-level emergency managers, and first responders from small and rural communities to strategically mobilize and engage members of VDBO’s, including religious charities, nonprofits such as the Salvation Army, the American Red Cross, churches (both affiliated and unaffiliated), temples, synagogues, mosques, NGOs, etc., in a reciprocal approach to disaster planning that is integrated into current local and statewide emergency management efforts.

The course emphasizes grassroots mobilization and coordination efforts as a means of engaging all faith communities, thereby reaching those marginalized communities most vulnerable to disaster, most frequently excluded from the planning process, and ultimately, most difficult to aid in recovery. This course introduces vital emergency management concepts to FBCO leaders, many of whom will have had no prior experience with emergency management, and also seeks to educate emergency managers and first responders about the critical role FBCOs can play in strengthening preparedness.

This class addresses the gaps in emergency preparedness that often exist in low-income, marginalized communities by utilizing the assets of faith-based community organizations FBCO as trusted institutions in their communities.

This course trains FBCO leaders in how to prepare their members and facilities for disaster; trains emergency management personnel on the value of FBCOs in disaster preparedness; and encourages partnerships between faith community leaders and local emergency management.

Call John Zeiger with Carbon County Emergency Management at 307-321-1514 to register.