Compiled under the direction of the Ward Welfare Committee of the Katy 2^nd Ward,
Katy Texas Stake of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (www.lds.org).
Maintained by Ed Sarlls (esarlls3@yahoo.com) for the Ward Welfare Committee.
Last updated 16 Mar 2001. Comments invited.

1. Introduction

This Ward Preparedness Plan is based on the basic principles set forth in Providing In the Lord’s Way and its supplement. The Ward Welfare Committee is responsible for implementing these principles in the ward. Ed Sarlls and David Bleazard compiled the initial version of this plan with input from Darlene Leyton and other ward members.

This document contains ward specific plans for responding to emergencies. It has a companion document Emergency Preparedness Information for the Houston Area, which contains specific preparedness information for families in the Houston area. Other related documents have also been collected at http://www.oocities.org/esarlls3/EmergencyPrep/.

1. Disclaimer

Emergency preparedness involves considering the worst possible outcome to a potential event and what steps can be taken in advance to avoid or reduce the undesirable effects of the event. With that in mind, here is our tribute to the society we live in:

These documents are intended to assist individuals and families in preparing for and responding to emergency situations. They incorporate information from a variety of sources and are provided for illustration and advice only. There is no guarantee that this information will be useful, helpful, or appropriate for your unique situation. No one knows your specific needs better than you do and no one else has responsibility for you or your family.

All final decisions on preparation and actions taken during an emergency are your responsibility. No liability is assumed by the authors or contributors to this document, the Katy 2^nd Ward, Katy Texas Stake or The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints for the use or misuse of any information in this publication.

Any errors or omissions in this document are unintentional. If you have suggestions for improvements or additional information to include or review, we will be happy to review your ideas. Send email to: esarlls3@yahoo.com with the subject: Emergency Plan.

2. Terms

The following terms are used in this document:

Term	Definition
Emergency Preparedness Information for the Houston Area	A companion document with preparedness information for families.
Ward Preparedness Plan	This document.
Ward Preparedness Committee	This committee is chaired by the Ward Preparedness Specialist and contains representatives from each Welfare Committee organization. This committee is responsible for preparedness plans, training, and information.
Ward Preparedness Specialist	A specialist called to chair the Ward Preparedness Committee. Reports to the Ward Welfare Committee.
Ward Preparedness Plan – Family Summary	A one-page summary of this Preparedness Plan.

3. Implementation

The Ward Welfare Committee is responsible to coordinate the ward response to temporal needs and preparedness within the ward. To assist in managing this responsibility, a Ward Preparedness Specialist is called to chair the Ward Preparedness Committee. The Ward Preparedness Specialist reports to the Ward Welfare Committee and attends Ward Welfare Committee meetings as needed. The Ward Preparedness Specialist is also directly accountable to their organization leader (Relief Society, high priest’s group, or elder’s quorum).

1. Ward Preparedness Committee

The Ward Preparedness Committee is chaired by the Ward Preparedness Specialist and comprised of representatives from each Ward Welfare Committee organization.

This committee is responsible for maintaining the Ward Preparedness Plan, the Ward Preparedness Plan – Family Summary, and the Emergency Preparedness Information for the Houston Area documents. The committee is responsible for making this information available to the ward, coordinating the annual Preparedness Fair, and other training or assignments given by the Ward Welfare Committee.

This committee meets as needed to complete the assigned tasks.

2. Distributing Information

The Ward Preparedness Plan – Family Summary is to be distributed to all ward families through their home teachers. Priesthood leaders are responsible for ensuring that each family receives this information. Where necessary, visiting teachers may be used to assist with this assignment. Home teachers will be asked to account for the delivery of this information to their families. The preferred delivery method is by personal visit with the family to emphasize the importance of preparedness. If this is not possible, the information may be mailed.

Families moving into the ward should have a Ward Preparedness Plan – Family Summary delivered by representatives of the responsible priesthood organization.

Additionally, the Ward Preparedness Plan, Emergency Preparedness Information for the Houston Area, Ward Preparedness Plan – Family Summary, and other documents are being stored on the internet under http://www.oocities.org/esarlls3/EmergencyPrep/ for general access.

1. Telephone/address listing of key personnel

The stake directory lists key personnel in each ward. The Ward Membership Clerk should provide updates of organization presidencies and ward telephone lists as needed.

3. Training

The Ward Preparedness Committee will review, assess, and arrange training on an ongoing basis to ensure that members have the opportunity to be properly prepared to respond to emergencies.

1. Training Opportunities

1. Preparedness Fair

Each spring the Ward Preparedness Committee will organize a Preparedness Fair. This event may be combined with other wards or with the stake if desired. Other churches or the general public may be invited to participate. The Preparedness Fair’s purpose is to encourage all families to be prepared and to provide information and training not normally available.

Suggested topics include: 72-Hour Kits, Home Production, Food Storage, Hurricane Preparation, Home Escape Plan, and Financial Preparedness. The Ward Welfare Committee or the Ward Preparedness Committee may assign other subjects to be addressed.

0. General Disaster Preparedness Materials for Children

1. Member Responsibilities

• Members are encouraged to have a year’s supply of food, clothing, and, where possible, fuel, including a portable generator.
• All members should have a 72-hour kit for each member of their family. This should be reviewed and restocked at least annually. This kit is for use in the event of immediate evacuation or extended utility outage. It does not replace the prophetic council for each family to have a year’s supply of food and other commodities available. Suggestions are included in Emergency Preparedness Information for the Houston Area.
• Members who are home or visiting teachers have responsibilities for distributing Ward Emergency Packets, assessing needs, and communicating between families and the ward leadership as outlined later in this document.

1. Priorities

After a disaster ward resources are used to respond to needs in the following order:

1) Assist those injured or in physical danger.

2) Account for all Ward families and individuals.

3) Arrange for shelter of all members of the Ward.

4) Provide for commodities and water for 48 hours to all members. (Preferably each family should have their own 72-hour kit to supply their needs)

5) Assess damage to homes of Ward members and respond to emergency needs.

6) Assess damage to homes of neighbors and respond to emergency needs.

7) Assess damage to Church property and report findings to the Bishop.

2. Responding to Emergencies

Members are encouraged to take direction from civil authorities during emergencies. The responsibility for the care of members during and following an emergency rests with the Bishopric and all efforts should be coordinated through established priesthood lines of communication. The Relief Society and visiting teachers provide an alternate communication path. By utilizing both home and visiting teachers to report, the possibility of missing information is minimized.

These lines of communication are responsible to contact members prior to a disaster to assess needs and update resources. Following a disaster they are used to report to the Bishopric, who in turn reports to the stake presidency.

In the event that the Ward cannot attend to the needs of their own, the Bishop will contact the Stake Presidency who will contact the multi-stake welfare committee for access to other resources.

1. Before the Storm

When an emergency is anticipated, the bishop activates the Ward Emergency Plan by contacting the high priest group leader, elder’s quorum president and Relief Society president. This action should be initiated a couple of days before the storm if possible. This is generally when the area is first mentioned in a storm WATCH.

Priesthood and Relief Society leaders contact their home and visiting teachers through established communication channels. Each home/visiting teacher contacts the families/sisters assigned to them to gather information about their status and emergency plans. Any needs or plan changes are noted.

For home teachers with wives at home, their wives could call their assigned families while they are at work. This would be appreciated when they return home from a hard day at work J . Of course, this works both ways.

If you have not been contacted, contact your home/visiting teacher and report your situation to them. The home/visiting teachers then report their findings to their organization leaders.

2. After the Storm