• Spiritual Care
• Reception & Triage
• Victims & Families
• Health & Welfare Inquiries
• Resources & Referrals

In times of disaster, individual and mass events require the full attention of police, fire and emergency personnel. Whether there is one or one hundred hurting people, they each have immediate needs and their families want to know where and how they are.

Disaster Chaplains create stability on-the-scene as they assist victims with crisis management, spiritual care and contact with loved ones. They are trained to quickly assess a situation and provide an effective plan of action.

Disaster Chaplains establish a "Comfort Zone" and receive, research and disseminate health and welfare inquiries to locate and reunite families. They are in touch with police, fire and coroner to connect families, whether living or deceased, and provide support through the identification process when necessary.

Disasters are sometimes seen as short-lived events, but in reality, they are longer term, inflicting significant impact on individuals and communities. Of all the immediate and long-lasting effects disaster imposes on its victims, trauma and PTSD can linger and hold back individuals and entire communities for years to come. When all of the helpers have gone, people are soon left to initiate and energize major projects when most of them are still too exhausted and traumatized.

After the initial spiritual assessment is made, Disaster Chaplains, together with each disaster victim, determine the need and desire for further spiritual support provided by a Disaster Chaplain, or if another community resource is appropriate. Disaster Chaplains provide specific faith community referrals that correspond to the victim's faith for continuing support and involvement. Either they can contact the group, or if the victim agrees, the faith community will contact them. If a victim would like to work further with a mental health worker (MHW), they are supplied with a particular name and phone number. The MHW is also given the name and contact information of the disaster victim who is assessed for, or expresses desire for mental health support.

Disasters, large and small, have a big effect on everyone. Most people are in need of spiritual and/or mental health care after experiencing a disaster. Everyone functions better immediately and in the long run, if they have effective debriefing and help with grief and anxiety as soon as possible. Triage and treatment must take place spiritually, physically and mentally. Traumatic events change lives. It can be a well-managed and effective change.

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