Communication in Disaster
If your church is damaged by disaster: |
Contact your District Superintendent Contact Ministry Protection |
Activate your Church Disaster Plan (a blank Church Disaster Plan can be found here) |
Contact your District Disaster Response Coordinator |
If your community is affected by disaster: |
Contact your District Superintendent Contact your District Disaster Response Coordinator |
Volunteer teams self-deploy per the Church Disaster Plan and their training (only if the community your church is in is affected by disaster, and emergency personnel have given clearance) |
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If another community in your district is affected by disaster: |
Contact your District Superintendent Contact your District Disaster Response Coordinator |
Check The Disaster Recovery Ministry website for updates and instructions Contact the Conference Call Center (855-CAT-FUMC) to offer assistance (supplies, volunteers, etc.) |
If members of your church are trained and registered with the Conference, they will receive email updates and instructions from The Disaster Recovery Ministry |
If another district in our Conference is affected by disaster: |
Contact the Conference Call Center (855-CAT-FUMC) to offer assistance (supplies, volunteers, etc.) |
Check The Disaster Recovery Ministry website for updates and instructions |
If members of your church are trained and registered with the Conference, they will receive email updates and instructions from The Disaster Recovery Ministry |
Ham Radio Operators
The primary mission of this group is to develop an effective emergency communications team to support the churches and people of the Florida Conference of The United Methodist Church during times of disaster.
Ham radio is well known as a reliable form of communication in emergencies when all other forms of communication may be down. The ham radio in the conference center in Lakeland was a vital communication link during the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
Florida UMC hams currently host a Florida Disaster Recovery Net every Wednesday evening at 8:30 pm and Saturday morning at 8:30 am on 3.941 MHZ. When band conditions are not good, the Florida Disaster Recovery Net will switch to 7.242 MHZ. Only switch to 7.242 when the band conditions are not good on 3.941.
Participants can also check in at Echolink node 311633.
Ham operators who are interested in joining the conference network may contact Trish Warren at 800-282-8011, extension 148, or pwarren@flumc.org.
Ham radio is well known as a reliable form of communication in emergencies when all other forms of communication may be down. The ham radio in the conference center in Lakeland was a vital communication link during the hurricanes in 2004 and 2005.
Florida UMC hams currently host a Florida Disaster Recovery Net every Wednesday evening at 8:30 pm and Saturday morning at 8:30 am on 3.941 MHZ. When band conditions are not good, the Florida Disaster Recovery Net will switch to 7.242 MHZ. Only switch to 7.242 when the band conditions are not good on 3.941.
Participants can also check in at Echolink node 311633.
Ham operators who are interested in joining the conference network may contact Trish Warren at 800-282-8011, extension 148, or pwarren@flumc.org.
Helpful Websites
Ready (US Government Site for Disaster Preparedness)
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Preparing for Disasters in Your Home: What to Buy, What to Skip
Emergency Preparedness and Pets
Important Legal Documents for Disaster Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
How to Organize and Prepare for Disasters
Tornadoes: Being Prepared
15 Tornado Safety Tips
Homeowners Guide to Lightning Safety
Federal Emergency Management Administration
Disaster Assistance
Information on flood insurance and flood Assistance
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Mobile application showing open emergency shelters in Florida and around the nation
Find a friend or relative who may have been affected by disaster
National Traffic and Road Closure Information
National Weather Service
The Weather Channel
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Federal Alliance For Safe Homes
Preparing for Disasters in Your Home: What to Buy, What to Skip
Emergency Preparedness and Pets
Important Legal Documents for Disaster Preparedness
Emergency Preparedness for Seniors
How to Organize and Prepare for Disasters
Tornadoes: Being Prepared
15 Tornado Safety Tips
Homeowners Guide to Lightning Safety
Federal Emergency Management Administration
Disaster Assistance
Information on flood insurance and flood Assistance
Florida Division of Emergency Management
Mobile application showing open emergency shelters in Florida and around the nation
Find a friend or relative who may have been affected by disaster
National Traffic and Road Closure Information
National Weather Service
The Weather Channel
National Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Florida Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster
Hurricane Preparation
Pre Storm Check List For Buildings and Structures
Local Church Disaster Ministry Planning Guide
Disaster Response Front Team
Local Church Disaster Ministry Planning Guide
Disaster Response Front Team
Disaster Response Front Team
The Disaster Response Front Team (DRFT) is a specialized team trained to go into a disaster area and support the response of the local church. The DRFT works with the District Disaster Response Coordinator, the District Office and the local United Methodist Church to assess the size and scope of the disaster, who’s responding, how they’re responding and what resources – financial, material or volunteer – are needed to support the response. DRFT deployment is coordinated by the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator working with the District Disaster Response Coordinator, the district office and their churches.
As the DRFT gathers and communicates information to the conference, the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator works collaboratively with other responding organizations to coordinate the delivery and distribution of urgently needed resources. The DRFT ability to serve as “boots on the ground” in support of our local UMC response, improves our ability to get the right resources to the right place at the right time.
As the DRFT gathers and communicates information to the conference, the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator works collaboratively with other responding organizations to coordinate the delivery and distribution of urgently needed resources. The DRFT ability to serve as “boots on the ground” in support of our local UMC response, improves our ability to get the right resources to the right place at the right time.