ADRA’s evolving disaster response in WA
Disasters are messy, painful and humbling even to the most experienced emergency planners. They have the potential to impact communities in devastating ways. ADRA, as the humanitarian arm of the Seventh-day Adventist Church, has been helping people in Western Australia (WA) during disasters for many years, relying heavily on the work of volunteers who graciously give their time and expertise to meet the needs of those impacted. As we recover from COVID-19 and prepare for the increasingly frequent and severe weather events associated with changing climate, there is a need to build our volunteer capacity in WA. What follows is an overview of how ADRA has worked in WA in the past, and what ADRA Australia is doing now to prepare for future needs when disasters strike.
Since 2007, ADRA has been responsible for managing the emergency accommodation needs of evacuees and emergency personnel during large scale disaster responses. This was through a memorandum of understanding with the WA Department of Emergency Relief and Support (previously the Department for Community Development). The local WA Conference ADRA Director, with the help of dedicated volunteers, participated in handling over six major disasters during that time. The two largest of these were cyclone Seroja in 2021, and the WA bushfires of 2014. There is no doubt that this was important work, and ADRA wishes to sincerely thank both the volunteers and the WA Department of Emergency Relief and Support for the goodwill and opportunity to successfully execute this role so well!
After carefully considering the current volunteer capacity in WA, and consulting with ADRA Australia, the WA Conference recently made the decision to transition away from its current role in managing emergency accommodation. The reasoning behind this decision is essentially two-fold. Firstly, there is a need to grow and maintain the volunteer population in order to continue to meet the logistical demands of more frequent and severe natural disasters. Secondly, and most importantly, there is capacity to meet a broader range of needs through local Seventh-day Adventist Churches. Our churches are full of people who care deeply about their community and who have the capacity to help in ways they often haven’t thought of – ways that meet not only the immediate needs of people impacted by disasters, but also their longer-term needs. This also creates an opportunity for local churches to connect with their local community in an ongoing way, and to show Jesus’ love in tangible ways. ADRA remains committed to assisting our communities affected by disaster and is shifting its focus to support local churches as they build their capacity and prepare to respond.
Local people have a crucial role in times of disaster. It is local people who are likely to be the first on the scene, meeting needs until help arrives. Critical help from various government and non-government groups may last for a time, but it is the local people who will be there for the long haul. ADRA Australia, assisted by the local WA Conference ADRA Regional Manager, is partnering with local churches, and assisting them to be better prepared to help their community through a program called the Disaster Ready Church (DRC). As part of this program, ADRA Australia’s Emergency Management Team is facilitating a series of two-day workshops for local church groups in disaster prone regions. Participants at these workshops will engage in meaningful conversations, identify vulnerabilities in their local context, and begin planning for disaster response activities.
Imagine if Seventh-day Adventist Churches everywhere were pre-prepared with disaster response plans? Considering our local context and working in consultation with local government and other groups is crucial to effective disaster planning. In the wake of recent disaster events such as the Fitzroy Crossing floods and Cyclone Ilsa this year, the Eastern states Black Summer bushfires of 2019-2020, the NSW Northern Rivers flood events of 2022, and the global COVID-19 pandemic, there is growing recognition across all levels of government that community centered disaster responses are more effective and produce better recovery outcomes. Local governments are keener than ever to partner with local entities and include them in disaster preparedness planning. ADRA’s Disaster Ready Church workshops can help churches identify what their unique contribution could be to a community impacted by a disaster, allowing them to know what they have to offer when approaching their local council. Prior planning is the best way to reduce vulnerabilities, increase resilience, and streamline funding pathways for more effective disaster responses.
In February this year, volunteers from Bunbury, Manjimup, Busselton, Collie, Capel, and Maida Vale churches attended a Disaster Ready Church Workshop at the Bunbury Seventh-day Adventist Church. The South West is particularly prone to bushfires and storms, but other hazards can also strike unexpectedly. Bunbury and Manjimup are now forming teams within their churches to guide on a preparedness journey with the support of ADRA Australia.
Pr Ross Craig from Manjimup Seventh-day Adventist Church commented, “The way the workshop was presented was inspiring. The focus was on the strengths our church already has. When I went back to Manjimup Church and shared with the congregation, it gave us all a lift. We are now making plans for how we could help our community when a disaster strikes using what we already have.”
One of the most overlooked disaster resilience building activities is social connection. Building friendly connections within your neighbourhood before disasters will allow you to better identify those in need and support their recovery after a disaster. Are you making time to connect with your neighbours?
We don’t know when the next disaster will strike. The time to prepare is now.
If you would like to learn more about ADRA and its activities more information can be found at www.adra.org.au.
If you’re living in a disaster prone area and would like to host a Disaster Ready Church Workshop at your church, talk to your local WA Conference ADRA Regional Manager, Francis Ejones, or visit the following web page to express interest adra.org.au/disaster-ready-church/
