By Sharon Chiarucci | Special to the Herald
People in Hawaii are no strangers to disasters. Hurricanes, earthquakes, flash floods and fires may not be frequent events in our lives but they have occurred and have caused disruption to individuals and parish communities. How prepared are you if you had 30 minutes to evacuate your home? How prepared is your parish to notify or protect employees and to respond to the needs of the community?
Laurie Ecklund Long will offer daylong workshops — 8:30 a.m.-2 p.m., Jan. 10, on Oahu at St. Stephen Diocesan Center, and 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Jan. 13, on Hawaii Island at Annunciation Parish in Waimea — to help individuals and parish teams develop plans to be prepared in the event of an emergency.
Long’s “Life in a Box” workshop for Army and Air Guard families across the country has provided individuals with tools to deal with the unexpected. “Preparing for Disaster, An Introduction for Parishes” is her most recent product.
Long says, “In times of crisis, the Christian church has an opportunity to respond to disasters. It is often during these testing times that Christians can demonstrate the reality of God’s love and healing through a variety of outreaches to the community.”
Representatives from Civil Defense and the Red Cross will also share information about their resources. Parishes are encouraged to send a team to begin to develop a parish plan. Individuals are also welcome.
A $20 registration fee includes lunch and two workbooks: for individual planning and for parish planning. The workshops are being co-sponsored by the diocesan Offices for Affordable Housing, Social Ministry and Parish Resources.
The Office for Social Ministry will also host workshops by Long on bereavement, Jan. 14 in Hilo, and Jan. 17 at St. Stephen Diocesan Center at which she will present her workbook on death and dying, “The Next 48 Hours.” Hospice representatives will also provide information about their services.
Flyers and registration forms have been sent to all parishes in the diocese. For more information, contact Iwie Tamashiro, Office for Social Ministry at 203-6702, or itamashiro@rcchawaii.org, or Sharon Chiarucci at 203-6733 or schiarucci@rcchawaii.org.
Toll-free numbers for neighbor islanders are 1-877-263-8855, ext. 702 or 733.