Be Ye Therefore Prepared

Since I am a safety person, I thought my first mind-numbing blog should have to do with my craft and livelihood. The following is an explanation of safety preparedness and a project I worked on some while ago. I tried to make it entertaining as well as informative.

BE YE THEREFORE PREPARED!

As a twelve-year-old Boy Scout, I learned the Boy Scout motto, “Be Prepared.” Also, my mother taught me “an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure.” Even then, I think I appreciated, as well as a very young man can, the value of such ideas. But as a post-September eleventh 50-plus-year old with a family, I am able to recognize more fully the necessity of thorough preparation and planning for the unexpected. Emergencies come in all shapes and sizes and planning for them will mitigate the potential suffering (physical, financial, and emotional) that may be the natural consequences. This is true for any business, organization, or family group.

Where I lived, in Kansas, tornadoes carry, perhaps, the most likely catastrophic threat. As a teenager in 1966, I witnessed the destruction of much of the city of Topeka by the “June 8th Tornado.” Though it was a boon to my father’s roofing business and provided good summertime work for me, it was devastating for many Topeka families, homeowners, business owners, and churches, totaling more than $5 million, in 1966 dollars.[1] There was also a major flood in Topeka—much of northeastern Kansas fell victim to it—the year before I was born, 1951, which caused similar devastation. Half of the city of Topeka was deluged.[2] Also, a huge fire in 1976 gutted the beautiful Grace Cathedral in downtown Topeka. Entertainer Bob Hope came to town to do a benefit show to help raise money to repair the structure.[3] In 1988 while we lived in Tennessee, a tornado struck the community of Franklin on Christmas Eve causing $8 million in property damage and one death.[4] Though not completely destroyed, our local church building’s brick structure was moved off of its foundation. For several months we were unable to use the building because of building and safety codes and had to share another congregation’s facilities until repairs could be made.

But, as I mentioned earlier, in our post-September 11th world, the possibilities of physical disasters have gone beyond the common “acts of God” such as storms, floods, and fires. The World Trade Center, Pentagon, and Oklahoma City terrorist bombings are also serious threats to be considered in our efforts to plan for disaster preparation. Even bomb threats issued as pranks can disrupt business and cause serious stress in people’s lives. Threats must be taken seriously and treated similarly to a fire alarm, with plans for safe evacuation and prompt reporting to professional response teams. Panicky evacuations have the potential to cause serious mishaps. How we plan for disasters and deal with their aftermath will likely prevent unnecessary damage or suffering.

A few years ago, the leadership of the local stake presidency of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon), of which I am a member, requested that the University Branch, of which I was an ecclesiastical leader, put together an emergency preparedness plan for our unit. We were to present it to the stake along with the other ward bishoprics and branch presidencies in the stake so that we could coordinate our plans and share ideas, to develop the best possible response. Preparedness has been a major tenet of the Church, worldwide, for generations. Bishop Victor L. Brown, the Presiding Bishop of the Church stated in a welfare session of conference, October 4, 1975, “All levels of the Church organization must be prepared—individuals, families, wards, stakes, regions, and areas—to respond to the demands of life, so that we as a united people ‘may stand independent…beneath the celestial world.’”[5] For many years, the Church has been at the forefront in providing welfare, financial aid and medical aid to stricken people around the world from earthquake disasters in Guatemala and Turkey to flood and weather disasters in Europe, Polynesia, and Africa. But though the Church has sufficient resources to insure itself, Church leaders stress the importance of local units being prepared and self-sufficient, to be proactive—not just reactive—to not depend significantly on outside local city and state emergency response organizations. And so, we have tried to comply.

Our unit, the Topeka University Branch of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, served college students and unmarried adults who lived in the Topeka area. It was one of five church units in the city of Topeka proper and one of nine units of the Topeka Stake (geographical area) at large. At that time, we had two buildings or chapels in Topeka, which were shared by the five units (4 wards and 1 branch). Our branch, which consisted of nearly 100 members, shared our building with two “wards” (larger units with set geographical boundaries under the direction of a bishopric) of about 600 members each. Attendance for our meetings averaged around 50 persons for our gatherings while the wards average around 200 each. We staggered our meeting times during Sunday meetings and other meetings during the week to avoid overcrowding so that no more than 400 people are likely to be in the building at a given time. Our building was located in a residential area of town, conveniently within 100 yards of a fire station.

Our response to the directive from Church leaders to be proactive in emergency management was to form a committee to discuss the possible emergencies, individuals with special needs, and the priorities of actions to take and to coordinate our efforts with the other units that meet in our building and throughout the city and stake.

The welfare committee, which consisted of the combined Branch, Elders Quorum (priesthood body), and Relief Society (a church women’s organization) Presidencies constituted the Emergency Response Planning Committee. In the committee, we analyzed not only the needs of our branch, but also the talents, skills, and abilities of individuals in the branch and the tools and equipment that were available for branch use. Our efforts resulted in the following document:
The Topeka University Branch Emergency Response Plan.
(Note: Names have been changed to protect the innocent and provide some levity to a serious theme.)

The Topeka University Branch Presidency is committed to protecting Church members’ lives, their property, and their resources, and to protect Church property and resources by planning for potential disasters and emergencies. Copies of this Emergency Response Plan are to be given to all members of the Topeka University Branch Welfare Committee.

Possible Emergencies (in the order of likelihood):

1) Ice/Snow Storm.
2) Tornado.
3) Fire.
4) Flash Flood.
5) Terrorism.
6) Nuclear power plant disaster.

Priority of Actions in an Emergency:

1) Contact all individuals in the branch and assess their personal safety
and needs. In the case of an ice or snowstorm, members must be notified of meeting schedule changes and hazard removal teams organized to remove the snow and/or ice from walkways.

2) Assist those who are injured or in danger.

3) Arrange for shelter and other selected services as necessary. If church property becomes unusable, arrangements for new meeting locations will be chosen and provided under the direction of the Topeka Stake Presidency.

4) Determine where additional needs are present and how to proceed in handling them. This may include coordination with other wards or branches for mutual help under the direction of the Topeka Stake Presidency.

Threats from tornadoes or nuclear fallout during times of church property usage require orderly movement of people to basement area of the building. A roll call of persons present will be initiated via priesthood and relief society assignments to determine that all are accounted for.[6]

Fires and bomb threats require orderly and immediate evacuation of the church building by the nearest and safest escape routes and notification of the police and fire departments. All persons will gather on the southern parking lot where an immediate roll call, via priesthood and relief society assignments will be held to verify complete evacuation.[7] Only professionals should handle suspected bombs.[8]

Branch members with special needs:

Individuals Needs

Dixie Chicks Judgment Disability (low priority)

Stephen Hawking Physical Disability (high priority)

(Note) All members are classified as either “High Priority” or “Low Priority.” Those classified as “High Priority” do not live with family members in a home ward or they are otherwise in need of special attention from the branch. Those who are marked with an asterisk on the branch roster are “High Priority.”

Branch members with special skills or equipment:

Special Skills Individuals
Medical (first aid/CPR, nursing, etc.) Randy Mundy, Clara Barton,
Hippocrates.

Carpentry (roofing, home repair, etc.) Randy Mundy, Joe Hammers,
Homer Depot.

Plumbing (any plumbing experience) Randy Mundy, Ima Flushing, and
Anita Waters.

Electrical (safe knowledge) Randy Mundy, Noah Wiring, Bill
Youbigtime.

Child Care (Multiple children care) Benjamin Spock, Randy Not.

Computer (professional experience) Bill Gates, Definitely Randy Not.

Tools/Equipment Owners
First aid kits Branch Office, Randy Mundy, and
Clara Barton.

Misc. Tools (hammers, saws, tools, etc.) Randy Mundy, Homer Depot.

Ladders Randy Mundy, Gwen Up.

Trucks/Vans Randy Mundy, Henry Ford, Chevy
Worship.

Camping Gear Randy Mundy, Bob Baden-Powell,
Bill Boyce.

Chain Saws Randy Mundy, Ima Sawyer, Willie
Cuttit.
Emergency Response Team Heads (Organized by service responsibilities):
Services Assignment
First Aid assistance Clara Barton
Food Preparation Dave Thomas
Housing Bill Marriott
Sanitation Randy Mundy
Child Supervision Benjamin Spock
Communications Plan of Action in the event of a disastrous emergency:
· Any member of the branch can begin the communication process by contacting any of the three members of the branch welfare committee.
· A member of the welfare committee will contact the Branch President. If the Branch Presidency is not available, the Elders Quorum President should be contacted. If the Elders Quorum President is not available, then any member of the Branch Presidency should be contacted.
· The Elders Quorum President will contact all members of the branch via the quorum reporting system, using the current Home Teaching assignments.
· Time schedule for finding and reporting should be as follows: The Elders Quorum President should contact all home teachers within 30 minutes of the notification to start the process. The home teachers will contact their assigned families within 30 minutes and report back to the Elders Quorum Presidency within 45 minutes. The Elders Quorum Presidency must then report back to the Branch Presidency within 90 minutes of the initiation of the response plan.
· The Branch President will then report to the Stake President and the Stake Presidency will report up the chain of authority to the Presidency of the Church if necessary to petition any needed assistance.
· After all branch members are accounted for, the Branch Presidency will plan and coordinate further efforts.
· One member of the Branch Presidency will be designated to coordinate the Branch’s efforts with those of bordering units (wards and branches) of the Topeka Stake (see list of ward welfare specialists in the Topeka area). Needs that may be addressed by outside units will be brought to the attention of the coordinator by the Elders Quorum Presidency.[9]
· All members who are classified as "High Priority" will be contacted first. Visiting Teachers from the Female Relief Society may be called upon as back up contacts to assist the Home Teachers for hard-to-reach female members of the branch.
· All communication will be done by phone if possible. When phone lines are not available, Home Teachers will be sent to communicate by motor vehicles. When travel by road is unsafe, communication must be accomplished by traveling on foot. In such a case, contact assignments will be coordinated to meet geographic necessity (i.e. the member who lives closest will make the contact).

Branch Presidency:
George W. Schrub (Pres.), Randy Mundy (1st Counselor), Eduardo Consejo (2nd Counselor), Al Gofur (Executive Secretary), Will Dewitt (Br. Clerk).
Elders Quorum Presidency:
Anciano Viejo (Pres.), Designado Mejor (1st Counselor), Del Segundo (2nd Counselor).
Relief Society Presidency:
Neva Shirks (R. S. Pres.), Shees Competent (1st Counselor), Alice Well (2nd Counselor).
Updating and Testing of Emergency Plans:
The emergency response plan should never be considered complete. Due to the nature of the Branch with the constant changing of student members, updates and revisions to this plan on a regular basis will not only be helpful, but necessary. The Executive Secretary and Branch Clerk will be responsible for these updates and updates will occur quarter-annually in the months of January, April, July, and October. In addition to the updates, regular tests of the communication system and plan of action will also be held twice each year in the months of January and July, including fire and tornado drills. The Topeka Fire Department will inspect the church property each year to correct all fire safety oversights. These provisions will enhance the effectiveness of the plan.[10]

As eluded to in the afore mentioned plan, the Church units all have “home teaching”—directed by the priesthood quorum (men) –and “visit teaching”—directed by the Relief Society (women’s organization). In this program, two men/women are assigned to visit certain (4 to 6) member families on a monthly basis to present a spiritual message and assess spiritual and temporal needs. This organization provides the practical network needed to contact every member of the branch and report back to church leaders and then to address, under the direction of branch leadership, the various needs throughout the branch membership. Each ward and branch of our stake has produced their own similar version of an emergency response plan and has shared their ideas and coordinated their efforts to best achieve the directive from the Stake Presidency, “to be prepared.”

Though Church leaders have long taught the importance of keeping food storage and money savings for long-term emergency use, it has also been advised throughout the Church that individuals and each family to be prepared to provide for their temporary needs in an emergency. To help our branch members become personally better prepared, our welfare committee planned a special meeting to instruct them in compiling “72 Hour Preparedness Kits.” During the meeting, instructors taught the importance of having necessary items gathered together in a convenient spot to be taken along at a moment’s notice in case of immediate emergency evacuation:
72 HOUR PREPAREDNESS KIT
Family Back Packs
Father’s Back Pack Mother’s Back Pack
Change of clothes (w/shoes and socks) Change of clothes (w/shoes and socks)
Toiletries Toiletries
Money (waterproofed) Money (waterproofed)
Sleeping bag, tent Sleeping bag, tent
Rain poncho Rain poncho
Matches and fire starter fuel Matches and fire starter fuel
Canteen, eating utensils Canteen, eating utensils
Shovel, hatchet, saw, rope, etc. Family first aid kit (w/ presc. meds)
Toilet paper, soap, wet wipes TP, soap, wet wipes, sewing kit
Flashlight Flashlight
Food (3 breakfast, 3 lunch, 2 family Food (3 breakfast, 3 lunch, 1 family
Dinner) Dinner)
Child’s Back Pack (age 6-18) Child’s Back Pack (age 3-5)
Change of clothes w/ shoes and socks Change of Clothes w/shoes and socks
Toiletries, TP, soap, wet wipes Toiletries, TP, soap, wet wipes
Sleeping bag, tent Sleeping bag, tent
Rain poncho Rain poncho
Flashlight Flashlight
Canteen Canteen
Food (3 breakfast, 3 lunch, 6 high Food (3 high energy bars)
energy bars)
Infants – All the infant necessities, formula, food, clothes diapers, blankets, etc. plus something to carry infant in.

Primary Rule: Only things you cannot do without for health and safety for 72 hours.
THINK LIGHT![11]

Willingness to implement such personal and family emergency preparedness is an important element of overall emergency planning and supports the church and community efforts to preserve lives and resources.

Life, of course, is a wonderful thing, but it can be very unpredictable, in the good and bad extremes. If we are to live and enjoy our lives to the utmost, we must anticipate the unthinkable and plan for it. Preparing for emergencies and acting upon well-planned contingencies will not only potentially save lives and mitigate potential suffering, it will also allow us the comforting knowledge that we are as safe as we can be, that we have done the best that we can. I am reminded of the words of James in the Bible, “But wilt thou know O vain man that faith without works is dead.”[12] We can go about our lives more secure in our future if we have done the necessary work and planning in the present. Clearly, the notion that if one fails to plan, one plans to fail is true. You can plan on it.


Sources
Brown, Victor L., “An Overview of Church Welfare Services,” The Ensign, (The Church
The Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints) November 1975. Retrieved Jan. 15, 2004
from http://library.lds.org/nxt/gateway.
Gustin, Joseph F., Disaster & Recovery Planning: A Guide for Facility Managers,
(2nd ed.). Lilburn GA: Fairmont Press Inc. (2002.)
The Holy Bible, (King James Version).
Kincaid, Patrick, The Thunderbolt—Weather History, Retrieved Jan. 15, 2004 from
http://http://www.wx1der.com/.
The Topeka Capital-Journal, CJOnline.com, “1976 was a time for Hope,” 5/30/03.,
In-Depth: 1951 Flood, and “Flood of the Century,” In-Depth: 1966 Tornado, “1966 Tornado.” In-Depth: Retrieved Jan. 15, 2004 from http://cjonline.com.
[1] Topeka Capital Journal, 1966, www.cjonline.com/indepth/66tornado.
[2] Ibid., 1951, www.cjonline.com/indepth/flood.
[3] Ibid., “1976 was time for Hope,” http://cjonline.com/stories/053003/loc-hope.shtml.
[4] The Thunderbolt Weather History, www.wxlder.com
[5] The Ensign Magazine, Church Publications, http://library.lds.org.
[6] These provisions coincide with suggestions for emergency preparedness for tornados by Joseph F. Gustin, Disaster and Recovery Planning: A Guide for Facility Managers, 2002, p. 64.
[7] Ibid. These provisions coincide with suggestions for evacuation,. p. 123-33.
[8] Ibid. p. 114.
[9] Ibid., These provisions coincide with Gustin’s observations about ‘Response Effectiveness and Leadrshp” and “The Chain of Command” in Emergency Preparedness. p. 44-6.
[10] The Topeka Student Branch of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints' Emergency Preparedness and Response Plan. Valued Customer

[11] This printout is given to all members in attendance at the branch welfare fireside meeting.
[12] James. 2:20.