ReadyCity

An online preparedness guide and consulting for city leaders. 

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The Emergency Pray-Care-Share (PCS) lifestyle principles are the foundation for effective community outreach in crisis and disaster response and are essential to the City Emergency Team (CET).

Having the right leadership in place is vital for the success of any endeavor. The same holds true for the development of a ReadyCity. Christian Emergency Network (CEN) has found that a team approach is the most effective. We call this team the City Emergency Team (CET). The CET is made up of nine roles that work together to provide the infrastructure for the ReadyCity development process as well as the leadership for further response teams within the Christian community. Formulated after the Incident Command Structure (ICS) used by emergency responders, CEN has added the role of Prayer Officer, Share Officer, and Care Officer to meet the spiritual, emotional, and mental needs of the community in crisis.

By now, you understand the importance of upholding a strong Biblical Readiness Standard and are preparing to develop your City Emergency Team Leadership. You will need to ensure any CET candidates have completed the ReadyChristian training in order to ensure they are ready to lead others to follow.

What is expected of a ReadyCity leader?

What are the nine roles of the City Emergency Team?

What are the City Emergency Team’s roles and responsibilities? How do I select a City Emergency Team?

These are just a few of the questions that will be answered in this section.

Recruiting a capable leadership team is the first priority. Leaders of the City Emergency Team come from all sectors of the Christian community: public, private, business, non-profit, or government.

Only Christian leaders serve on the CET. While the ReadyCity may work in cooperation with other faiths on specific efforts, the ReadyCity is exclusively designed upon Scripture as a Christian biblical readiness and response group. ReadyCity applauds the work of others but finds strength in doctrinal clarity and unity based on the Lausanne Covenant.

ReadyCity Leaders should share the following suggested characteristics:

  • Previous professional experience in management or leadership roles
  • Great communication skills
  • Agreement from their church and family for their role in CEN
  • Able to work in an accountability structure and support team efforts ReadyCity Leaders should share the following required characteristics:
  • Well-respected and active in their church and community
  • Strong existing relationships with leaders in the community
  • Agreement with the ReadyCity Covenant
  • Willing to devote time and resources to maintaining biblical readiness in your community

City Emergency Team Overview

In a time of great vulnerability and openness, how would hurting people respond to the Christian who is ready to meet their needs and show them the way to God? What impact would this have? How would faith in action support the Word of God preached from the pulpit?

About 90% of people in crisis will ask: Where is God in this?

(According to a 2001 survey published in the New England Journal of Medicine) Consider that figure.

With an overwhelming number of people asking about God during a crisis, where should the Christian community be spending its outreach and evangelism energy?

How does the Christian community minister to those in crisis?

Have you encountered a person or family member who is facing a serious emergency like the loss of their job, loss of a home through a natural disaster, news of brain cancer, or the death of a child? All these are emergencies that are very painful to those experiencing them. Christians are needed to pray, care and share Christ with the hurting appropriately. These are the jobs of the City Emergency Team in a ReadyCity.

The City Emergency Team (CET) leads the Christian community to effectively pray for, care for and sensitively share the love of Christ with people in emergencies. These “emergencies” do not just refer to natural disasters, but also to daily disasters that happen in our communities, including the safety and security needs of our congregation. Disasters include divorce, first-time crime, job loss, violence, as well as man-made disasters. The Christian community is commanded and uniquely positioned to respond to the heart cry of his children.

Many Christian communities have a lot of experience in preparing for events. They plan an event around a holiday, an outreach objective, or a worship service. But what happens if something unexpected happens? The things needed to prepare for an event are the same things needed to respond to a crisis. The only difference is that a crisis happens without being scheduled. CEN has found that the roles used in developing a City Emergency Team can also be used in planning for events, effectively increasing the capacity of the Christian community in times of disaster while strengthening the team dynamics for events.

City Emergency Team Roles

There are nine main leadership roles in the ReadyCity that are compatible with the National Incident Command Structure (ICS). As the ReadyCity grows, additional roles can be added. The ReadyCity functions in what is called a Unified Incident Command Structure.

Although a single Incident Commander normally handles the command function, an Incident Command System (ICS) organization may be expanded into a Unified Command (UC). The UC is a structure that brings together the "Incident Commanders" of all major organizations involved in the incident in order to coordinate an effective response while at the same time carrying out their own jurisdictional responsibilities. The UC links the organizations responding to the incident and provides a forum for these entities to make consensus decisions. Under the UC, the various jurisdictions and/or agencies and non-government responders may blend together throughout the operation to create an integrated response team.

The UC is responsible for overall management of the incident. The UC directs incident activities, including development and implementation of overall objectives and strategies, and approves the ordering and releasing of resources. Members of the UC work together to develop a common set of incident objectives and strategies, share information, maximize the use of available resources, and enhance the efficiency of individual response organizations.

Each Christian organization that is part of the ReadyCity will have redundant roles within their own Emergency Teams. As the response level rises to that of the City Response Team, the Unified Leadership Structure comes in to play.

Essentially, this happens when representatives from all participating Emergency Teams work together in a unified response

The nine roles that constitute a City Emergency Team are:

  • Administration Officer- Responsible for the leadership of the CET within a Christian organization, recruiting and training volunteers for activation, and for accomplishing the mission of the ReadyCity.
  • Operations Officer- Responsible for developing and maintaining the Community Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and ensuring support systems are in place for the implementation of an EOP.
  • Public Information Officer (PIO)- Responsible to communicate both internally and externally for the CET.
  • Logistics Officer- Responsible for acquiring the human and material resources needed to accomplish the EOP, maintaining relationships within the broader Christian community in order to connect them to the services of the members of the CET and others in their community, and connecting nationally with the Christian Emergency Network for supportive mutual aid.
  • Emergency Prayer Officer- Responsible for developing prayer networks within the Christian community and working with the PIO to develop and communicate prayer prompts during crises
  • Emergency Care Officer– Responsible for developing the emergency related compassionate care activities of the EOP and helping to connect with the Share Leader for transformational opportunities.
  • Emergency Share Officer– Responsible for developing the outreach related activities of the EOP.
  • Finance Officer– Responsible for ensuring funding and initiative alignment, models and leads in transformational giving and ensures all accounts are current.
  • Safety and Security Officer– Responsible to assess risks, mitigate risks, practice drills, establish security protocols, and conduct training of security team.

More detailed information about the roles can be found in the downloadable material, City Emergency Team Leadership Roles.

City Emergency Team Mission Process

The overall process that the CET is designed to facilitate includes the following steps:

  • Assessing Christian community readiness and capacity through the ReadyCity Capacity Assessment in order to meet specific needs
  • Partnering with other Christian organizations to prepare and respond
  • Committing to meet specific needs in crisis and disaster with unique services
  • Maintaining the Biblical Readiness Standard
  • Conducting the ReadyChurch and ReadyChristian Campaigns to build capacity
  • Training in emergency Pray-Care-Share and safety and security
  • Planning for emergencies
  • Conducting response drills
  • Managing Emergency Pray-Care-Share Teams and stations during incidents large or small

CET Functions - Overview

The CET prepares to respond to spiritual, emotional, mental and physical emergencies. Its first responsibility is the safety and preparedness of the Christian community it serves, and then the support of the local ReadyChurch.

The CET is trained to:

  • Handle the safety and security needs of the Christian community
  • Create a Ministry Continuity/Emergency Operations Plan for the Christian community
  • Assess Christian community capacity and capability to serve the community in crisis
  • Set up and run an emergency operations center in the Christian community when needed
  • Set and manage emergency response procedures
  • Manage God-glorifying communication with the public during a crisis or disaster
  • Connect members and others in crisis to the services of the Christian community or other organizations in the area
  • Help members get personally prepared spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically
  • Show people where to volunteer to serve in emergencies and get trained
  • Train Christians to effectively pray, care and share their faith with the 90% of people in crisis who ask: Where is God in this?
  • Mobilize trained, certified and recognized volunteers capable of helping the community and responders in a crisis and disaster.

ReadyCity CET’s play a unique role in crisis and disaster response by providing:

  • Prayer Station- A prayer center where survivors can seek God’s provision and grace and receive prayer from clergy and Christian community members.
  • Care Station- A program providing comfort, respite and relief, shelter, food, and services.
  • Share Station- A crisis-counseling center providing emotional and spiritual guidance.

Your own Christian community may or may not be ready to provide this level of service to the nearby community, but ask yourself this: What can you do? What will your emergency focus be? How will you organize to reach out to people in crisis? What is the emergency in your community right now? How prepared are you for upheaval in their lives? Will you be prepared to give an answer as to why you have Hope when they are struggling with the question, Where is God in this?

The trained City Emergency Team (CET) has a plan for safety and security, preparedness and response, and is ready to lead your Christian community with intention: spiritually, emotionally, mentally and physically.

The CET ensures personal and Christian community support networks are in place. They have, along with local ReadyChurches, assessed and developed an emergency response focus for your Christian community.

The CET will lead the Christian community through:

  • Development of Ministry Continuity Plan, Emergency Operations Plan and Christian community Safety & Security Plans.
  • The Establishment and Training of Emergency Pray-Care-Share Teams
    • Emergency Prayer Team
    • Emergency Care Team
    • Emergency Share Team
  • Response Drills in the Christian community
  • Community Outreach:
    • Emergency Pray-Care-Share Team Deployment
    • Christian community Emergency Response Group
    • ReadyCity Community Response Group
    • Emergency Directory Research
    • Memorial Services

Further examples of functions a CET can do before, during and after an emergency can be found in the downloadable material in the document called: “City Emergency Team (CET) Example Functions Before, During and After Emergencies”

The City Emergency Team (CET) Recruits Biblically Ready, Gifted Leaders

Trusted City Emergency Team (CET) leaders are vital to the readiness of any church. In this section you will learn how to determine trusted leaders. Many gifts are needed to have a successfully mobilized CET.

CET Leaders need to be hand-picked by screening for leaders who are spiritually, emotionally, mentally, and physically ready to respond.

CEN has provided a document in the downloadable material called “Profile and Responsibilities of a City Emergency Team Leader” that provides suggested characteristics for the CET Officers as well as a summary of their responsibilities.

Once you’ve learned the basic role descriptions and responsibilities for the different team members, complete the following tasks to build your team.

  • Write down two names for each CET leadership role.
  • Write a short letter of invitation, attach the overview, and ask for a 10-minute meeting to discuss the opportunity.
  • Describe the evangelistic outreach opportunity of the ReadyCity and the chance to meet the needs of people in crisis and disaster.
  • For each leadership role. ask one person to prayerfully commit to the responsibility
  • Get started on the ReadyCity Training.

City Emergency Team (CET) Training

Training the CET for its responsibilities in safety and security and emergency preparedness, including emergency Pray- Care-Share (PCS) response, is an important part of the CET development process. The CET trains to handle community safety and security issues and to mobilize Christians in response to emergencies. Emergency Pray-Care- Share (PCS) Teams receive ongoing training on how to pray for people, meet urgent needs, counsel and guide survivors into recovery programs, thus giving Christian leaders more time to focus on leadership and ministry while the CET handles most crisis needs.

Over time, the CET develops the spiritual, emotional, physical and mental resilience of the church.

  • Spiritual resilience is the ability to stay true to our relationship with Jesus Christ under all circumstances and to following the leading of the Holy Spirit.
  • Emotional resilience is the ability to stay calm under pressure and to manage our fears. Emotions tell us if things are going well or not. In times of stress or high performance (like a crisis or disaster), our emotions can overwhelm us if we are unprepared.
  • Mental resilience is the ability to know what to do and how to make good choices in difficult situations.
  • Physical resilience is the ability to stay alive in difficult situations and to maintain health during normal times.

As you learn how to operate your CET, think about the people in your church and community. How will their lives be improved through the efforts of your team, even if they were never to face a crisis or disaster?

Define your City Emergency Team’s (CET’s) Response Group Area

This is a zip code in your city to which you will give special attention toward understanding the needs of the people, and then will prepare to meet them in any crisis. If an organization within your zip code has conducted a demographics study, share that with your area’s Christian community.

  • Assemble your CET for a planning meeting.
  • Get a local map and draw a circle around your zip code.
  • Mark out the main neighborhoods.
  • Describe the kind of people living there and answer the following questions:
  • What crises do they currently face? Divorce? Job loss? Violence? Crime? Flood zone? (See ReadyCity Capacity Assessment for ideas that fit your local area)
  • What is God calling the Christian community to do about it? What can you do right now to help?
  • What kind of natural or man-made disasters are possible in your response group area?
  • How is God calling your Christian community to prepare? When the unthinkable happens, what will you be prepared to do for your city?

Emergency Team Role Training and Biblical Readiness

Once you’ve selected your City Emergency Team, we strongly recommend they take the CEN Role trainings available on our site. We’ve developed (or are in the process of developing) specific training for each role. You can get more information on these trainings at http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/resources.

  • Administration Officer
  • Operations Officer
  • Public Information Officer
  • Logistics Officer
  • Emergency Prayer Officer
  • Emergency Care Officer
  • Emergency Share Officer
  • Finance Officer
  • Safety & Security Officer

It is so important that as your CET focuses on crises, their faith be strengthened in an ongoing effort. This is called Biblical Resilience. CEN has developed a checklist evaluating 4 key aspects of life that, if proactively sought after, will impact and strengthen Biblical Resilience. The areas that are addressed are Spiritual, Emotional, Mental and Physical components. Look at each item on the download “CET SEMP Survey”, and see how you can integrate the checklist into your efforts to becoming a ReadyCity.

ROLE OF A CITY EMERGENCY TEAM

The following are guidelines for creating a Community Incident Response Team within your congregation should you deem it necessary. The Community Incident Response Team is part of the City Emergency Team responsible for the Church building and properties during a crisis and disaster. The positions listed are recommendations and can be adapted to the needs of your particular site. We recommend that several people be designated and trained for each position and that each position be represented at every possible worship service or event.

The Community Incident Response Team prepares to respond to threats against the church or congregation when on-site or at Christian community-sponsored functions. Responsibilities include:

  1. Training and maintaining a Community Security Team

  2. Enacting the church’s policies on Use of Force, Use of Firearms, Use of Non-lethal Weapons, Use of Restraints.

  3. Dealing with:

    1. Dangerous person on site

    2. Unruly people

    3. Suspicious people

    4. Suspicious package/item

    5. Telephone threats

  4. Building Emergency Procedures

Training is available for the setup of the Community Incident Response Team and Community Security Team.

Building Coordinator

A building coordinator is a staff member or volunteer trained to know the floor plans of each building and the emergency evacuation procedures for any emergency—medical, fire, tornado, etc. The building coordinator may be involved in long-range planning. (Your Community disaster response coordinator or building trustee might be appropriate for this position.)

A building coordinator may be responsible for:

  • Receiving status reports from the Incident Coordinator.
  • Relaying status report information to the emergency agency/agencies involved (e.g., fire department, police, paramedics, emergency management, etc.).
  • Coordinating with the emergency agency/agencies any needed evacuations or other emergency actions.

A building coordinator may work with the emergency response team to:

  • Coordinate emergency planning activities.
  • Assist with recruiting team members.
  • Schedule training.
  • Communicate ongoing plans.

Incident Coordinator

The incident coordinator on duty assumes responsibility for implementing the local Community emergency plan at the time of the incident, providing leadership until personnel with more experience arrive on scene. (Greeters, ushers, or other Community leaders might be appropriate for this position.) Responsibilities may include the following:

  • Ensuring that all emergency response team members are assigned duties and understand all emergency procedures.
  • Working with other emergency response team members to evaluate an emergency.
  • Ensuring proper emergency communication.
  • Delegating needed emergency actions.

The incident coordinator may also be called upon by the emergency agency/agencies involved to aid in crowd control and building evacuation. The incident coordinator should immediately identify her/himself as such to maintenance personnel and emergency agency personnel responding to an incident.

Medical Response Team Members

Medical response team members are members of the emergency response team who have been trained in medical emergencies. Responsibilities may include the following:

  • Providing “first responder (medical) service” to those incurring a medical emergency until medical personnel with higher training arrives on scene.
  • Conducting a primary assessment of the medical emergency situations and reporting this assessment to appropriate personnel.
  • Participating as emergency response team members in emergency situations when their medical expertise is not required.
  • Providing medical assistance and support until professional help arrives.
  • Remaining “in charge” of a medical emergency situation until professional help arrives.

Medical response team members should immediately identify themselves as such to any personnel responding to the incident.

Emergency Response Team Members

The remaining emergency response team members are staff members or volunteers who are trained in evacuation techniques and use of fire extinguishers. Emergency response team members know the location of approved tornado shelter areas in the building. Responsibilities may include the following:

  • Building evacuations—responsible for reporting to the incident coordinator that their assigned section has been cleared during an evacuation.
  • Work in coordination with the building maintenance/trustees to minimize hazards.
  • If available, maintain hand-held radios to coordinate with incident coordinator or other team members.

Emergency response team members should immediately identify themselves as such to any personnel responding to the incident.

Profile and Responsibilities of a City Emergency Team (CET) Leader

Church Emergency Team Leader Profile

A CEN Leader knows what God’s word says:

I Thessalonians 2:4-12

Paul is talking about his ministry and what should characterize the disciple of the Lord

A CEN Leader asks:

  • Where am I going? Matt 25:23 (personal conviction)
  • Who is going with me? Phil 1-2 (those who unite around Gospel)
  • Why are they going with me? Matt 28:19-20 (PCS is Biblical response in disaster)
  • How do we do this? Book of Nehemiah (identify the problem, offer solutions, measure progress)
  • What am I supposed to do? James 1:17 (gifts, resources, and talents)

A CEN Leader has exceptional qualities:

  • Careful discernment
  • Exceptional attitude
  • Tactful diplomacy
  • Decisive under pressure
  • Unpretentious spirit
  • Respects what is biblical and right
  • Loves other people enough to sacrifice
  • Recognizes the difference between Thy Kingdom and My Kingdom
  • Serves people not programs
  • Relishes in true worship
  • Fellowships and works well within the body of believers
  • Nurtures friendships through partnership and kinship

A CEN Leader is teachable and grows.

Church Emergency Team Leader Responsibilities

The CET Leader Responsibilities:

  • Assemble a Church Emergency Team (CET). You may want to select the CET volunteer coordinator early in the process so they’re on board to help with the volunteer screening process and other projects.
  • Schedule meetings & trainings. Assist the Christian community to complete levels of desired preparedness.
  • Inform the participating Christian community and the local CEN ReadyChurches of emergency response needs and activities.
  • Represent the CET at citywide or emergency management meetings. (This is an opportunity to develop partnerships with other organizations such as the local Salvation Army and other groups.)
  • Establish a city disaster response inventory of human and material resources through the use of the City

Capacity Assessment (found in the Resources http://www.christianemergencynetwork.org/ resources).

  • Be part of a Community/County Activation plan. Use a process like a phone tree, etc. to activate team members.
  • Decide on Deployment outside local area once deployment training has occurred.
    • Deploy with the city’s response to emergencies/disasters to another ReadyChurch or ReadyCity.
    • Maintain a contacts/needs log for the team’s use only.
    • Establish meetings with the CET in the mornings during deployment. Facilitate/ delegate daily prayer/devotion time and brief your team. Debrief at the end of the day and conclude with prayer.
    • Function as the liaison between the CET and the Emergency Operations Center (EOC), the Incident Command Center (ICS) or any other body governing the situation.
    • For deployment with other Christian agencies, other training may be required. See CEN’s preferred agencies of those who meet the Biblical Readiness and Response Standard online at www.christianemergencynetwork.org.

The City Emergency Team has three goals:

  • Safety and Security
  • Biblical Readiness
  • Biblical Response

Once the Christian community determines their level of need and involvement by taking the ReadyCity, ReadyChurch and ReadyChristian Assessments, City Emergency Teams (CET’s) are selected by the ReadyCity leadership to provide guidance in the following areas:

City Safety and Security:

  • Protecting property
  • Responding to emergency medical needs
  • Providing security during services, events and church activities
  • Responding to threats of violence against members, staff or the property
  • Screening staff and volunteers
  • Mitigating internal and external risks
  • Reporting incidents to law enforcement or other authorities
  • Assessing state safety procedures and protocols

City Biblical Readiness:

  • Modeling Personal Biblical Readiness using the Biblical Readiness principles
  • Assessing the city’s own level of Biblical Readiness and desired response
  • Guiding congregations through ReadyChurch and ReadyChristian
  • Measuring the Biblical Readiness progress of the Christian community
  • Keeping Biblical Readiness Standards front and center with incentives
  • Ensuring the Christian community leadership is modeling Biblical Readiness
  • Designating Readiness leadership that is trusted and rotated

City Biblical Response:

  • Utilizing the city’s own Emergency Operations Plan (EOP)
  • Networking with other local Christian organizations
  • Providing community wide memorial services
  • Ensuring city response group is posting up to date information
  • Ensuring a Pray-Care-Share approach to all responses
  • Rotating leadership to avoid attrition
  • Celebrating an obedient, loving Christian community that responds in the community

City Emergency Team (CET) Leadership Roles

Administration Officer - Responsible for the leadership of the CET within a Christian community, recruiting and training volunteers for activation, and for accomplishing the mission of the ReadyCity. The Administrator is also the liaison with the local ReadyChurches. The Administrator leads any city emergency response and is the incident commander unless otherwise designated. The EOC Administrative Officer heads the EOC with overall management responsibility for the incident. The Administrative Officer is a decision maker and is recommended to meet with their Emergency Response Team leaders hourly during the first days of incident. The Administrative Officer also handles the planning component of ICS. The Administrative Officer collects and analyzes all data regarding emergency operations, develops alternatives for tactical action plans, conducts planning meeting and prepares the Action Plan for emergencies requiring extended operations. Team can be sub-divided into several groups and augmented as deemed necessary by the Administrative.

Operations Officer - Responsible for developing and maintaining the ReadyCity Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) and ensuring support systems are in place for the implementation of an EOP. The Operations Officer shall be responsible for coordination and management of all Operations teams. In government this section includes Police, Fire/Rescue, Medical, Public Works, Utilities and Coroner. Normally field operations (incident command) and multi- purpose staging areas for resources are also under the management of this section; although the staff responsibility for the establishment and provision of support of staging area lies with Logistic Section. This could include pastors and ministries as part of field operations.

Public Information Officer (PIO) - Responsible to communicate both internally and externally for the CET. The PIO guides the emergency prayer response and works with the Emergency Prayer Team Leader. The PIO is responsible for interfacing with the public and media and/or with other agencies that require incident-related information. The PIO will develop and release information to the media, incident personnel, and other agencies as appropriate and will monitor public’s reaction to information.

Logistics Officer - Responsible for acquiring the human and material resources needed to accomplish implementation of the EOP, maintaining relationships within the broader Christian and church community in order to connect them to the services of the members of the CET and others in their community, and connecting nationally with the Christian Emergency Network for supportive mutual aid. The Logistics Officer is responsible for assessing the logistical needs of the operations, to include the needs of supporting organizations and agencies and the acquisition and distribution of said resources. Include procuring equipment and supplies, providing food and medical support to incident assigned personnel, and meeting the transportation requirements of the field elements. Logistics Officer may be augmented by representatives of other sections when deemed appropriated.

Emergency Prayer Officer - Responsible for developing prayer networks within the Christian community and working with the PIO to develop and communicate prayer prompts during crises. The Prayer Leader assists the care and share leaders. The Prayer Officer is responsible for developing prayer networks within the church and working with the PIO to develop and communicate prayer prompts during crises. The Prayer Officer assists the care and share officers.

Emergency Care Officer – Responsible for developing the emergency related compassionate care activities of the EOP and helping to connect with the Share Leader for transformational opportunities. The Care Officer is responsible for developing the emergency related compassionate care activities of the EOP and helping to connect with the Share Officer for transformational opportunities.

Emergency Share Officer – Responsible for developing the outreach related activities of the EOP. Coordinates closely with the Prayer and Care Leaders; ensures worship services have a Gospel-sharing component, assimilates seekers in crisis, and ensures the overall mission is celebrated within the Christian community. The Share Officer is responsible for developing the outreach related activities of the EOP.

Finance Officer – Responsible for ensuring funding and initiative alignment, models and leads in transformational giving and ensures all accounts are current. The Finance Officer is responsible for the financial needs of the emergency response elements and supporting organizations and agencies. Includes purchasing and billing, personnel accountability, time-keeping functions and claims management.

Safety and Security Officer – Responsible to assess risks, mitigate risks, practice drills, establish security protocols, and conduct training of security team. The Safety & Security Officer monitors incident operations and advises the EOC Administrator on all matters relating to operational safety, including the health and safety of emergency responder personnel. The Safety & Security Officer provides 24-hour safety overview for the EOC, incident, and support facilities. Responsible to assess risks, mitigate risks, practice drills, establish security protocols, and conduct training of security team. They also work with the Administrative Officer to determine any security concerns and needs and work with the PIO to communicate as determined.

City Emergency Team (CET) Example Functions in Responding to Emergencies

Before an emergency the City Emergency Team (CET) gets ready to respond by completing the ReadyCity Training and maintaining a level of readiness by recruiting, training and certifying volunteers. Below are some examples of ways a Christian community can respond in an emergency.

During an emergency, the CET can mobilize the Christian community to respond using:

  1. Pray-Care-Share Teams and Stations
    • A prayer station where survivors can seek God’s provision and grace and receive prayer from clergy and church members.
    • A care station providing comfort, respite and relief, shelter, food, and services.
    • A crisis-counseling station providing emotional and spiritual guidance.
  2. Crisis Communications

The CET builds a database of Christian community members and their response capabilities with redundancy in case the data is lost in an incident, preferably off site and in multiple locations. During big emergencies, your local CEN ReadyCity can mobilize the resources of numerous Christian organizations, churches, businesses, media and Christian volunteers all at once through their list of CET’s. Crisis communications ensures all church members are accounted for, communicated with as able, and informed of changes in services and support. Through the use of the CEN online City Response Group, updated information and events are posted for Christian community members to stay informed through the recovery stage. The ReadyCity’s own Public Information Officer ensures the internal and public information is timely, accurate, and Gospel honoring.

Every member of the Christian community should be encouraged to sign up for CEN ALERTS online to receive up to the minute incident information; a Christian worldview; and a response to national, state or local events located at www.christianemergencynetwork.org. During an emergency, these alerts will be invaluable to communicate how Christians may respond together.

Referral Network

CET’s interact closely with and often are the guiding force behind the ReadyCity, a unified community effort. With a vibrant ReadyCity, not every Christian organization or ministry needs to be an expert in every kind of emergency response; each provides what God has uniquely called them to do in a city response effort.

Christian organizations can fill different roles in training, warehousing supplies or other efforts. During non- activation periods, the CET’s serve the ReadyCity as a referral network. They also resource meeting the needs of people at their point of crisis and helping them find a Christian fellowship where they can recover and find a new direction for their life. The CET’s are also in a position to potentially mobilize a response to attacks on Christian values or Christian organizations related to emergency responses of all kinds.

Sharing Resources

Christian organization “A” has a great career-counseling program. Christian organization “B” has a women’s shelter. Christian organization “C” has a food pantry. By assessing and sharing this data, Christian organizations A, B and C can respond together to meet needs. The CET is able to make these connections and provide a broader range of solutions to each crisis or disaster through the network on behalf of their own Christian organization as well as to reach the community with the Hope of Christ. CEN ReadyCity member churches, ministries and individuals can post their needs online and request support from other ReadyCity leaders to mitigate their incidents.

Broad Collaboration

As a ReadyCity grows as a beacon of light in the community, working alongside more CET’s, and more Christian organizations participate and the influence grows, a ReadyCity group develops. The ReadyCity engages in partnerships with government and non-governmental agencies as well as Christian agencies and networks to foster greater capacity and to expand the efforts of one local Christian organization into a greater impact in the community. In addition to the network of ReadyCities and the ReadyCity infrastructure, the CEN national network collaborates with ReadyCity leaders to further support local efforts. The CEN national network acts as a support behind the scenes to the local churches and local response where incidents are best managed.

Capable and Coordinated Biblical Response

The fully mature CET is relied upon for its ability to maintain a meaningful, biblical and sustainable contribution to the needs of people in emergencies. During disaster responses, the capabilities of a City Emergency Team (CET), working in a ReadyCity alongside a national network team, provides the complete infrastructure for a self-mobilized, self-organized, and self-sustained Christian response. This coordinated local to national network provides a “go to” partner for federal or local emergency managers that does not need to ever compromise on its spiritual values. The national CEN network supports the local Christian community by providing federal and state relationships, resources unique to the Christian readiness community, nationally recognized partners in readiness, and a response platform using all forms of media to assist in any incident response.

Church Safety and Security Response

Utilizing experts, the CET trains their leaders and congregation on how to handle church safety and security issues and to mobilize the congregation in response to emergencies. The ReadyCity Emergency Pray-Care- Share Teams (part of the CETs) receive ongoing training on how to pray for people, meet urgent needs, counsel and guide survivors into recovery programs; thus giving the Christian leaders more time to focus on leadership and ministry during a crisis while the CET handles most of the response needs.

City’s Own Capacity Focus

As the CET completes the City Capacity Assessment, they will identify their own capabilities as a Christian community. This will direct them on how they want to respond during a crisis. Before and during crisis, it is the responsibility of the CET to further develop the capacity focus of the Christian community and how they plan to engage in responding to crisis.

CEN Spiritual, Emotional, Mental and Physical (SEMP) Survey Spiritual

  • The Sermon Series, “ReadyChristian, ReadyChurch” is preached.
  • Volunteer leaders are trained in emergency Pray-Care-Share principles by applying the Together We Will Stand principles of Standing Strong In Crisis.
  • Additional Guiding principles are used with those in crisis or to expand spiritual resilience found in the book Lighting the Way
  • At least 25% of the church is committed to provide Pray-Care-Share efforts during and after crises or disasters.
  • Prayer for the church and the community is alive and well, via an Emergency Prayer Team approach.
  • Members practice sensitively sharing the love of Christ in preparation of a crisis or disaster and are led by a cadre of care leaders who cultivate transformation through loving acts of kindness and concern.
  • The church has come into agreement with the Christian Emergency Network’s Mission and it’s Statement of Faith.
  • The church is committed to recognize and respond to all people in crisis (large or small) regardless of race, religion, or beliefs so as to build a relationship pleasing to God.

Emotional

  • Members learn what it means to be emotionally ready and are in an accountability covenant partnership to ensure growth.
  • Members have identified a support structure and response plan with friends and family.
  • Leadership diligently maintains good relationships with its own volunteers and other networks helpful in all areas of ministry within the community.
  • Differences are dealt with according to Matthew 18, avoiding unnecessary conflict.      
  • At least 25% of members have participated in the ReadyChristian covenant response Together We Will Stand - Standing Strong In Crisis (TWWS) response and have an emergency partner.
  • Members trained in sound, biblically emotional response as explained in the Biblical Readiness Training.

Mental

  • Members understand the need, have clarity in mission, and have accepted the call to do their unique part in crisis and disaster.
  • Members know the officials to follow during an emergency and, in particular, understand that it is beneficial to obey the instructions of local Emergency Management officials.
  • Church leaders and members have an emergency plan that they have agreed to and practiced in peer groups.
  • Members are trained in readiness response principles and know where to go for information that is timely, accurate and Gospel-honoring.
  • Church has an Amateur Radio communication relay system, or other system, to keep in touch with the local CEN ReadyCity group of churches and other CEN-required working infrastructures.
  • Members are signed up to receive CEN News for timely, accurate information otherwise unavailable to the Christian community.

Physical

  • Christian volunteers and leaders are able to take care of themselves in emergencies.
  • Christian volunteers have practiced evacuation and emergency response drills.
  • City Emergency Teams (CET’s) are trained to identify leaders who have sustained Biblical Readiness as identified in the ReadyCity Biblical Readiness Assessment, to provide for the safety and security of the Christian community, and are working actively to improve their city’s overall readiness.
  • At least 25% of the Christian community is recruited as emergency volunteers and are trained in HURT (available online at www.christianemergencynetwork.org).
  • CET and the Emergency Pray-Care-Share Team leaders are trained in CEN’s basic Emergency Pray-Care- Share Training, CERT and the CEN/NIMS 100,300, and 700 series.
  • City Readiness Assessment scores track the progress of the Christian community and individuals participating in the ReadyCity.
  • Christian community understands the importance of and creates an Emergency Operations Plan that is shared with other organizations in the CEN ReadyCity.
  • Christian community maintains a capacity to help others in crisis and disaster.
  • ReadyCity partners with and serves with other CEN ReadyCity leaders, churches and non-religious city government or non-government organizations.