wfn.org | Lutherans Mark September as 'National Preparedness Month'

[<NEWS@ELCA.ORG>]

Title: Lutherans Mark September as 'National Preparedness Month'
ELCA NEWS SERVICE

>September 16, 2008  

Lutherans Mark September as 'National Preparedness Month'
08-156-FI

CHICAGO (ELCA) -- Lutheran Disaster Response (LDR) and
several other Lutheran organizations have joined a coalition
of almost 3,000 organizations to promote September as "National
Preparedness Month."  The coalition is working with the U.S.
Department of Homeland Security to increase public awareness
about emergency preparedness through a variety of activities.

"After a recent storm, I realized that despite my years
of work in the area of disaster response and as a hospital
chaplain, I didn't have a disaster kit or preparedness plan
in my own home," the Rev. Kevin A. Massey, LDR director, said
in a special video message, "Are you prepared?"

"Our staff has been so busy helping congregations to
become better prepared for disaster that we hadn't even done
enough to prepare our own homes and families," he said.

"Studies show that the main reason why most people do
not plan for natural disasters and other emergencies is
anxiety.  It's just not fun to think about or plan for bad
things that may or may not happen," Massey said.

"Natural disasters and other emergencies can happen to
anyone, in any place, and at any time, often without
warning," he said.  "Those who have effectively prepared are
not only better equipped to help themselves and others --
they also feel a greater sense of calm about the things which
they cannot control."

Massey encouraged Lutherans to have a personal or family
disaster plan, especially during National Preparedness Month.
He recommended http://www.ready.gov/ as a Web site providing
a "step-by-step process of preparing for an emergency."

"While you're at it, talk to your church council about
whether your congregation has a disaster plan," he said.
LDR produced "Preparing for Disaster," a guide for Lutheran
congregations to use in preparedness planning.

"Next time an emergency happens in my community, I'll
be prepared, and I encourage you to be prepared too," Massey
added.

LDR is a collaborative ministry of the Evangelical
Lutheran Church in America and the Lutheran Church-Missouri
Synod.
-- -- --

The video message, "Are you prepared?" is available at
http://www.ELCA.org/disaster on the ELCA Web site.

Information about National Preparedness Month and the
U.S. Department of Homeland Security's Ready Campaign is at
http://www.ready.gov/ on the Web.

The home page for Lutheran Disaster Response is at
http://www.ldr.org/ and "Preparing for Disaster: A Guide
for Lutheran Congregations" is available at
http://www.ldr.org/prepare/ on the Web.

For information contact:

John Brooks, Director (773) 380-2958 or news@elca.org
http://www.elca.org/news
ELCA News Blog: http://www.elca.org/news/blog