Disaster Ready Church

We have a responsibility to help others in need. Serving our community in practical and effective ways is ADRA, Adventist Development and Relief in ACTION!

The frequency and intensity of disasters and adverse weather events is increasing.

Being part of meaningful conversations with others in your church community/region through a Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Workshop will allow you to be better prepared for future disaster situations.

A team with an effective plan is far more resilient than individuals working alone. 

The Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Initiative is a community-focused programme that equips churches to prepare for, respond to, and recover from disasters while serving their local communities with compassion and practical support.

Through awareness training, workshops, and planning tools, DRC helps churches strengthen connections with neighbours, build partnerships with local emergency services and organisations, and develop practical response plans such as Church Emergency Management Plans (ChEMPs).

The programme encourages churches to become safe, trusted community emergency hubs that are ready to support people before, during, and after emergencies, while also reflecting Christ’s love through service, care, and community resilience.

The Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Programme workshop helps equip churches, families, and local communities with practical tools and knowledge to better prepare for disasters. Through interactive discussions, local hazard awareness, and practical preparedness activities,

participants learn simple steps to prepare their homes, support their neighbours, and strengthen community connections before an emergency happens.

Stage One of the DRC Programme focuses on preparing hearts and homes for disasters through a sermon and practical workshop experience. Participants are encouraged to think about how churches can become places of hope, support, and resilience within their communities.

As churches continue their DRC journey, ADRA provides ongoing guidance and support towards developing a Church Emergency Management Plan (ChEMP), building community partnerships, and exploring how churches can serve as community emergency hubs during times of need.

Workshop sessions are flexible and can be tailored to suit the needs of each church and community.

Anyone can attend a Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Workshop. It is especially great for passionate people who want to help drive the DRC journey within their church, however the workshops are flexible and can also include neighbours, local groups, and wider community members.

The aim of the DRC programme is to equip church members, neighbours, and communities to become more prepared, connected, and resilient before disasters happen. A strong focus is placed on building relationships, strengthening community connections, and encouraging people to work together so they are better able to support one another during times of emergency or crisis.

Not every church will have the capacity to provide an immediate community response. There may, however, be opportunity for your church members to volunteer in cooperation with another larger church in your region and/or be part of a regional church emergency management plan.

DRC Workshops that involve multiple churches in your region may be an opportunity to explore potential partnerships and consider activities that are within your capacity to contribute to.

A key strength of the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) programme is that it is designed to support churches, not add to their workload. We recognise that most church leadership teams are already fully committed to ministry and pastoral care, which is why DRC is structured to be shared across the wider church and community rather than managed by the Pastor alone.

Instead of requiring extra burden on leadership, the programme helps churches identify and empower a broader team of people who can carry different responsibilities. Through the workshop process, roles and skills are mapped so that practical tasks—such as coordination, communication, community engagement, and emergency response planning—can be distributed among capable and willing members. This leads to the formation of a Emergency Response team or Church Emergency Management structure that operates alongside existing church leadership.

In this way, participation becomes sustainable and manageable. It allows pastors and leaders to remain focused on their core pastoral responsibilities while still enabling the church to

grow in preparedness, strengthen community relationships, and be better equipped to respond effectively when a disaster occurs.

The link below will take you to the Civil Defence website for information about preparing for natural disasters. Scroll down to find information for your state or territory through links to relevant authorities.

You can take time to review the Civil Defence Website.

Your local council will also have helpful information. You could visit their website, give them a call, or visit their office to ask someone.

Being prepared as an individual and making action plans ahead of time for you and your family is very important! Consider talking to your neighbours and friends about it. Sharing the preparation journey with others is a good way to keep you accountable.

The overall focus of the Disaster Ready Church (DRC) Programme is to prepare hearts and homes, churches, and wider communities to become more resilient, prepared, and connected in the face of disasters. At its core, the programme is about more than planning for emergencies. It is about genuinely showing care for your neighbours and building meaningful relationships before a crisis happens. By equipping churches to engage with their local communities, DRC encourages practical preparedness alongside a strong culture of compassion, service, and mutual support, so that when challenges arise, people are already connected, supported, and ready to respond together.