Pay it Forward Ministries, a non For Profit, faith based community action group located in both Henderson and Warren County in Illinois, attended the Illinois Faith-based Emergency Preparedness’ Initiative meeting in Springfield Illinois on Tuesday May 26th. The purpose of this meeting was to offer a community forum for understanding the impact of disasters such as Hurricane Katrina. The guest speakers were Mayor Ray Nagin, Mayer of New Orleans, Louisiana,. Alphonso Jackson, Director, Center for Public Policy and Leadership, Distinguished University Professor Hampton University, and former U.S. Secretary of HUD. David Roth, chair, Executive Committee IL VOAD, and Co-Coordinator Lutheran Child & Family Services of Illinois, and Susan True Associate Vice President/Meta Leadership Summits for Preparedness Centers For Disease Control Foundation.
The objectives of this meeting included, but were not limited to, Instilling a culture of preparedness within our local communities. Identifying and addressing gaps in preparedness. Being educated on the basics of risks associated with pandemic influenza. Learning to Assist in building community resource capacity. Supporting and facilitating relationship-building and cooperation between private and public sectors. Empowering our communities to prepare together. Knowing how to protect yourself, and your community. Understanding the importance of cooperated leadership among emergency management, voluntary organizations, public health and faith-based entities and understanding the needs of the vulnerable populations.
Collectively it was stated by all guest speakers the importance of recognizing the role of Churches and Faith based agencies play in any disaster. It was noted that open lines of communication need to open by local governmental bodies to these volunteer organizations. As learned after Katrina, as well as many other disasters around the globe. Faith based agencies are not only there from the beginning but are still there after the disaster. It is not the disaster itself that matters but what is learned from it and what is done because of it. Also noted was the importance of not only planning what to do if a disaster hits your local communities but the importance planning a way to put it in practice and identifying the committed resources to do this. It is important the we remember that being PROACTIVE leads to the means to respond.
After the meeting Jamison Moede, Special Operation Manger and Case Manager for Pay it 4wrd, Shawn Moede Chair person and Case Manager for pay it 4wrd and Tina Waterman Disaster Coordinator and Case Manager for Pay it 4wrd, met with Dr. Damon T. Arnold, MD, MPH Director, Illinois Department of Health and Mayor Ray Nagin, Mayer of New Orleans. This open line of communication was established and will be a blessing for future meetings in the future. This will aid them in the continued relief efforts needed after the flood of 2008 in the “Forgotten Strip” of Illinois (Henderson County) as well as future disasters that may arise.
Pay it Forward Ministries has and will continue to share knowledge and resources throughout the disaster cycle, preparation response and recovery to help disaster survivors and their communities. Shawn Moede stated “We respond to disasters and the needs of those we serve in our communities as part of our Mission. Together we foster a more effective service through communication, coordination, cooperation and collaboration-by providing convening mechanisms and outreach to all people involved in disasters. Our members are all volunteers that come from diverse background and share a common goal. We currently have two Free distribution centers , and in addition offer several other programs to the counties we serve. We are currently members of Voad and have affiliations with several other organizations.”
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