Stake Emergency Response
Introduction
Stake Response to Emergencies
All members of the Stake are encouraged to take direction from civil authorities during emergencies. After ensuring that family members are able to care for themselves, the Stake President and stake council members should convene to:
- Review any counsel or instructions from civil authorities and the Stake Presidency.
- Determine an initial course of action.
- Confirm overall responsibilities, making sure that the bishops and others he may direct are available to minister to members.
- Make an initial assessment of the condition of families and individuals.
- Set the time and method for follow-up communications, using the internet, text messaging, amateur radio, or personal contact via foot, bicycle, etc. if normal communications methods are down. (See Stake Emergency Communications Plan.)
Stake leaders will convene at the Mount Vernon Virginia Stake Center to establish a Stake Command Center. If the Stake Center is unavailable then the home of the Stake President will be used.
The Stake direction of emergency response will follow this order:
- Stake President
- 1st Counselor in Stake Presidency
- 2nd Counselor in Stake Presidency
- Senior member of the High Council
Stake Priority of Response
- Assist those who are injured or in danger.
- Inform the Church regional authorities of conditions in the Stake and request assistance as necessary.
- Account for all families, individuals and missionaries within the Stake, assisting in reuniting as needed.
- Arrange for shelter and other selected services – keeping people as close to their property as possible – in the homes of relatives, friends, and neighbors before sending them to public shelters or establishing a shelter in a Church meetinghouse.
- Assess damage to Church property and take steps to protect it as necessary.
- Review damage to homes and determine ways members can assist one another.
- If necessary, establish a shelter at the Stake Center.
Refer to Church Welfare Resources, pp. 16-17, for more information on first-aid assistance, food preparation, housing, recreation, sanitation, child supervision and communication.