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http://www.vancouver.anglican.ca/News/tabid/27/ctl/ViewArticle/ArticleId/347/mid/486/Default.aspx
Posted On: Thursday 15 Jun, 2006, 03:04 PM Last Updated On: Thursday 15 Jun, 2006, 03:04 PM
Emergency group to plan for disasters
What to do in case of earthquake, flood, pandemic

The Diocesan Emergency Preparedness and Response Task Force was given the go ahead by Diocesan Council this month to continue work on plans for the diocesan response earthquakes, floods, pandemics, and other disasters.
Following a presentation to the 40-member council meeting at St. Helen’s, Surrey, the task force was authorized to help a parish create a disaster plan this fall, expand the planning to cover one of the diocese’s ten deaneries – probably South Fraser - and prepare a Church Depot session for all parishes in the spring of 2007.
The task force was set up following reports about the difficulty dioceses and parishes in the Episcopal Church, USA, had following Hurricane Katrina on the Gulf Coast.
Bonnie Fulton of Christ Church Cathedral, the task force chair, said that the Diocesan Synod Office should immediately devise a way to continue operation in case its downtown office is closed or heavily damaged due to fire or earthquake. She said an alternate site should be designated, and ways found to ensure that services, such as payroll, could continue if disruption occurs.
Computer backup records are currently kept offsite, but there needs to be a plan to determine how to restore the system, she said.

New Westminster - ChurchResponse
Diocesan Council at St. Helen's Surrey.

Eventually, each parish should have a plan as to how they will continue to operate without their buildings. She said that in the case of a major earthquake, many church buildings would be declared unsafe. Those remaining would likely be taken over by the provincial emergency services as community resources.
She said it is crucial that parishes located close to each other plan together, on the deanery level, because it is likely resources would have to be pooled.
Another potential disaster, the task force found, is a possible flu pandemic. “All structures will remain standing,” said Greg Kennelly of All Saints, Burnaby, a committee member. “But public meetings will be banned.”
A pandemic could cause a dramatic need for pastoral leadership,” he said, with many sick and higher than normal death rates. “But how will we meet that need?”
Ian Robertson of St. David’s, Tsawwassen, Delta, said that the dioceses of Toronto, Huron, and Niagara, are developing a template for response to a pandemic which should be available in September, which the Diocese of New Westminster should be able to adapt.


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