Disasters can occur at any time and polls show that in times of crisis two-thirds of Americans turn to their religious leader for comfort and guidance. Emergency preparedness is now an integral part of community planning and New York City is planning borough conferences specifically to equip faith-leaders with skills in disaster response and recovery initiatives.
To help strengthen and localize existing preparedness and collaborative efforts, The New York City Citizen Corps Council, chaired by the Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the American Red Cross of Greater New York, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the City’s Borough Presidents” Offices, is planning an emergency preparedness conference in each Borough devoted specifically towards houses of worship and their congregants.
These conferences will focus on equipping faith-leaders to skillfully lead disaster preparedness, response and recovery initiatives. Participants will engage in scenario exercises, workshops, and panel discussions. Most importantly, by providing progressive steps for leaders to best prepare for all emergencies, the conferences will help empower NYC’s local faith leaders and congregants to better understand their communities’ vulnerabilities and ensure ongoing engagement with disaster preparation.