In Irene's Wake, Diocesan Disaster Coordinators Play a Key Role

From PR News-

Millions of people were impacted by Hurricane Irene as it blasted up the eastern coast of the United States over the weekend of August 27-28. The storm caused at least 40 deaths and billions of dollars in damage along 1,100 miles of coastline, from North Carolina to New England. An estimated 2.4 million people were evacuated from areas where flooding and high winds threatened to disrupt infrastructure and destroy property.

Although major urban centers along the coast were largely spared, flooding in Vermont, Western Massachusetts and upstate New York has reached historic levels. Roads and bridges have been washed out, and this limited access has hampered efforts to repair electricity and other services.
Episcopal Relief & Development has been in contact with a number of dioceses along the East Coast, as communities begin to assess hurricane-related damage. Katie Mears, Program Manager for Episcopal Relief & Development's U.S. Disaster Program, first reached out to Diocesan Disaster Coordinators in affected areas in the days before the storm made landfall.

"The disaster coordinators are the first line of defense, in terms of disaster preparedness and response," said Mears. "These people are appointed by bishops to liaise with Episcopal Relief & Development and talk to churches about their needs and activities pre- and post-disaster. They're the ones encouraging congregations to create preparedness plans, which can help lessen the impact of a disaster, and following up when a disaster occurs, to get an idea of the level of damage and see what can be done."

More here-

http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/in-irenes-wake-diocesan-disaster-coordinators-play-a-key-role-128840413.html