The National Disaster Interfaiths Network has launched its Be a Ready Congregation campaign.  Key to this campaign are the NDIN "Disaster Tip Sheets for U.S. Religious Leaders." Each Tip Sheet offers all-hazards best practices and resource links about disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery – specifically of relevance to religious leaders, faith communities and faith-based organizations.

A free, downloadable resource, the Tip Sheets have been developed to assist American faith communities as they seek to provide mitigation education and preparedness training or as they respond to crises and activate their congregations to coordinate volunteers, manage donations, provide mass care, attend to spiritual and mental health needs, and continue their many religious and social services post-disaster.

Because religious leaders are among the first and most trusted sources of risk-communication and effective support in the houses of worship, neighborhoods, and faith communities where they serve, they have an important role when disasters strike. These Tip Sheets aim to educate and assist religious leaders and their congregations as they prepare to serve and respond in effective, inclusive, and compassionate ways.

As part of the Be a Ready Congregation campaign, NDIN will regularly release new Tip Sheets and other best practices and resource tools.   Please monitor our website or register for iNET, our free monthly e-newsletter, to learn more about new releases. NDIN also offers a Tip Sheet Orientation as well as other trainings designed to orient religious leaders and their emergency management or disaster public health and mental health partners to faith-based disaster human services best practices.