August 26, 2009

Gov. Nixon meets with religious leaders from across Missouri on volunteer disaster response

JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. - Gov. Jay Nixon today met with a large and diverse group of religious leaders and emergency management officials from across the state to advance Missouri's disaster response efforts, partner with local faith groups and coordinate preparedness efforts.

The conference was part of Missouri's Faith-Based Organization Disaster Initiative, which is designed to get more assistance to disaster survivors more quickly through greater collaboration between faith-based organizations, local emergency managers and other community groups across Missouri.

"Our faith communities are one of Missouri's greatest assets," Gov. Nixon said. "They have a long tradition of helping not only their own members, but all those in their communities who are less fortunate and in need of assistance. Following this winter's devastating ice storm and again, after tornadoes and severe weather hit Missouri in the spring, I witnessed faith groups selflessly assisting the survivors of those disasters. It was vital and important assistance. I want our state disaster response agencies to do everything they can to empower these faith groups and partner with them to provide the best assistance possible to Missourians whenever a disaster strikes."

Missouri is considered to be one of the leading states in partnering with faith-based groups to coordinate charitable assistance in the wake of disasters. David Myers, director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Faith-Based & Community Initiatives, participated in the conference to learn more about the Missouri model.

The Faith-Based Organization Disaster Initiative is working to increase Missouri's disaster sheltering capacity and to strengthen other areas of emergency response. Faith groups are encouraged to choose external ministries in key areas of emergency response: disaster volunteer management, debris removal, bulk distribution of relief supplies, survivor case management, long-term survivor recovery and multi-agency relief center management.

At the conference today, a Southern Baptist group provided a hot lunch with the dual purpose of providing nourishment and demonstrating their highly successful mobile kitchen operation. The group chose "mass feeding" as one of its specialized disaster missions. 

The initiative also teaches:

• Individual and family preparedness, including Missouri's "Ready in 3" campaign
• Continuity of operations planning for faith organizations in the event of a disaster

"Because of geography Missouri will always be susceptible to disasters," Gov. Nixon said. "But that doesn't mean we have to be vulnerable. By assisting our faith groups to prepare, by strengthening the lines of communication between religious organizations and local emergency managers and state agencies, and by uniting to face the challenge, we can help more disaster survivors and help communities recover more quickly."

The event was held at the First Assembly of God in Jefferson City. Today's statewide conference will be followed with regional presentations that will provide hands on training, tools and other resources for local community efforts. Here is the calendar for the regional conferences: