Purpose

In the event of a widespread or large-scale disaster, a Church emergency operations center can be established to coordinate response and cleanup efforts, determine the safety and security of members, and minimize suffering of Church members and others in the community.

Location and Resources

An emergency operations center should be located (to the extent possible) in a place that:

  • Is easily accessible to volunteers.
  • Has functioning electricity, telephones, and other utilities.
  • Is far enough away from the disaster zone that relocation is not imminent.
  • Is separate from emergency shelter facilities.
  • Is on high ground for good communications (radio and cell phone).
  • Has land available for camping.

Resources to consider in setting up an emergency operations center:

  • Access to computers and phones
  • Availability of copier, office equipment, and supplies

Functions and Staffing

The following functions should be available at the emergency operations center (based on FEMA’s National Incident Management System [NIMS] guidelines). Assigned staff members are listed after each function.

FunctionResponsible
Designated Priesthood Leader
Assigned Area Seventy
or designated stake president
Planning for Response and Recovery
Assigned Area Seventy
or designated stake president
Liason with local
emergency management
VOAD representative
Internal Communications
Stake emergency
communications specialist(s)
Information gathering
and external dissemination
Stake Public Affairs Director(s)
Operations
Priesthood-assigned
volunteers and Welfare Services staff
LogisticsWelfare Services staff
Safety and SecurityPriesthood-assigned volunteers
  • Designated priesthood leader: Assigned Area Seventy or designated stake president
  • Response and recovery planning: Assigned Area Seventy or designated stake president
  • Liaison with local emergency management: VOAD representative
  • Internal communications: Stake emergency communications specialist(s)
  • Information gathering and external dissemination: Stake public affairs director(s)
  • Operations: Priesthood-assigned volunteers and Welfare Services staff
  • Logistics: Welfare Services staff
  • Safety and security: Priesthood-assigned volunteer

The designated priesthood leader may request from Welfare Services a trained Church-service missionary (CSM) couple to assist with the operation of the emergency operations center. If local members are assigned to operate the center, they should be trained in the following:

  • Assigning work orders and resources (number of workers, equipment needed, and so on)
  • Tracking work orders (new, in-process, partially completed, and completed)
  • Preparing necessary forms
  • Assessing needs
  • Ordering supplies