On this page you will find links to documents and resources on disaster mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery.  

September Disaster Preparedness Month 

The theme of this September’s National preparedness month is: Disasters Happen.  Prepare Now. Learn How.  Now is the time to think about our parish preparedness, our personal preparedness, while as Christians, we plan to help others protect their lives, property, and belongings in advance of a disaster. 

Now is also the time to expand our preparedness thinking to include becoming financially ready for the unexpected costs associated with disasters.  Public and federal assistance are never enough.  Adequate insurance coverage and learning a life-saving skill like CPR can make a significant difference when disaster hits.  Each week of National Preparedness Month, we will emphasize a unique aspect of preparedness:

• Week 1: Sept 1-8 - Make and Practice Your Plan
• Week 2: Sept 9-15* - Learn Life Saving Skills  September 15 is a National Day of Action
• Week 3: Sept 16-22 - Check Your Insurance Coverage
• Week 4: Sept 23-29 - Save For an Emergency

Prepare for Flooding:

Stay prepared for possible flooding throughout hurricane season. Whether you live in a hurricane-prone area or not, heavy rains or flooding may still affect you.   Flooding can happen during any season. Some areas of the country are at greater risk at certain times of the year. While coastal areas are at higher risk for flooding during hurricane season, the Midwest is more at risk in the spring and during heavy summer rains. Ice jams occur in the spring in the Northeast and Northwest. Even the deserts of the Southwest are at risk during the late summer monsoon season.   The FEMA 2016 National Household Survey reports that 4 in 10 emergency plans include an evacuation plan. Make sure you and your family prepare with these tips from Ready.gov/Floods: Know your flood risk. Familiarize yourself with local emergency plans. Know where to go and how to get there should you need to get to higher ground, or to evacuate. Make a flood emergency plan for the relevant type of local flood risk with plans such as evacuation, shelter, and locations for high ground. Build or restock your emergency kit, including a minimum of three days of food and water, flashlight, batteries, cash, prescription medications and first aid supplies. Consider buying flood insurance. Homeowners insurance and renters insurance do not typically cover flood damage. Stay tuned to your phone alerts, TV, or radio for weather updates, emergency instructions, or evacuation orders.   For more flood safety information, download the How to Prepare for a Flood guide and watch the When the Clouds Form video.

Important items you should have on hand are: 

• Insurance Policy. 
• Home ownership documents.
• Property Inventory and similar documents needed to help replace flood damage property
• Medical records and Prescriptions.

If you are not already part of your parish’s or community’s flood response program, contact your local officials to find out how you can help.  Hopefully, you will have a Communities Active in Disaster (COAD) organization in your area.  Again, check with your local officials, or United Way, Chamber of Commerce, or county emergency manager for information.

Governor declared 27 counties eligible for disaster assistance:

Diocesan Support Day - Preparing for Disasters

• General Disaster Guidebook (4.3MB)
• General Disaster PowerPoint (4.7MB)
• Flooding Disasters PowerPoint (3.7MB)
• Tornado Disasters PowerPoint (4.6MB)
• Fire Disasters PowerPoint (900KB)