Issue #48 | March 2017
A Note from the Team
Hi All!
The new hip word in disaster response and trauma studies is “resilience.” The term is tossed around in think pieces and headlines so frequently it is easy to lose sight of its meaning.
Resilience is an individual or community’s capacity to survive, adapt, grow and, if needed, transform when conditions require it.* It includes infrastructure, pollution, food security, education, racial and national animus, employment and much, much more. In fact, Michael Berkowitz, President of 100 Resilient Cities, likes to say “resilience is everything.”
Viewed through a resilience lens, we can see that disasters expose and amplify the problems that are already present in the community.
The good news is that churches are (and have been) deeply involved in building resilience. All of the outreach ministries and relationship building that we do can dramatically affect how our communities experience and recover from disasters. Everything from bringing casseroles to sick people to hosting addiction recovery groups in our parish halls helps to improve resilience.
Disaster preparedness is more than having a plan for what to do when bad events happen. It is about being present with our neighbors and building strong communities ahead of time.
So, go beyond the plan. Find ways to reach out, connect with vulnerable people and try to lift up everyone in your community.
Faithfully yours,
Katie, Lura, Sara, & Tamara
Simple Ideas for Resilience-Building:
- Volunteer with an anti-poverty organization
- Make sure all of the members in your congregation know how to text message
- Hold church dinners and invite local first responders
- Participate in your local interfaith network
- Test your fire alarms
- Plant or tend your church garden
- Advocate for disenfranchised people in your town
- Reduce your carbon emissions
- And more!
*Adapted from 100 Resilient Cities’ definition.
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Georgia and Mississippi Respond to January Tornadoes
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In late January 2017, an outbreak of nearly 80 tornadoes hit across the southeastern US. The cities of Albany, GA, Hattiesburg, MS, and Petal, MS, were particularly hard hit during this outbreak, and thousands of homes and structures were destroyed or damaged during the storms. At least 20 people died across several states as a result of the storms.
The Diocese of Georgia is responding in Albany through several local Episcopal churches. St. John & St. Mark’s Episcopal Church, which sustained damage in the storm, has extensive programs and connections in its community that are enabling the church to identify people in need of assistance. Two other local Episcopal congregations, St. Paul's and St. Patrick's, are utilizing their existing food ministries to meet increased needs.
The Diocese of Mississippi is responding to needs in Hattiesburg and Petal following the storms. Two local Episcopal churches, Ascension and Trinity, are utilizing their relationships in the community to help uninsured and underinsured residents with housing repair and rental costs as well as case management for affected families. Volunteer teams from across Mississippi have hosted several work days in the affected areas. Local churches are also assisting displaced students from William Carey University and supporting local nonprofits in recovery work.
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Fallen Tree Over Labrynth in Albany, GA
Photo Courtesy of Episcopal Relief & Development
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Episcopal Asset Map Celebrates 99 Dioceses, Expands
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The Episcopal Asset Map, an online platform showing the location and ministries of Episcopal churches, schools and other communities, is now officially active in all 99 dioceses in the US states. Map participation will expand to Episcopal Church dioceses in US territories and internationally, beginning with pilot programs in Colombia and the Dominican Republic. All Episcopalians are invited to take part in populating the map with information about their congregation, institution or ministry by suggesting updates through an easy online form.
As the Asset Map expands to dioceses outside the 50 US states, upgrades will continue to improve functionality and user experience. In November 2016, the site switched to a mobile-responsive layout that allows users to interact easily with the site on any device or tablet. Future upgrades will continue to improve the process for updating profile information and searching across networks to connect with ministries throughout the Church.
Read more about the Episcopal Asset Map's expansion here, read a reflection about Asset Mapping from The Rev. Canon Jason D. Lewis here and fill out your Asset Map survey today!
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