El Niño Preparedness | Fire Preparedness | Disaster Planning
El Niño Preparedness
With the high probability of significant rainfall and accumulation, the EDSD Property Committee is providing the following information to facilitate planning and preparation for the predicted Super El Niño season.
Based on all state and city authorities, it is becoming apparent that the El Niño that has been brewing for months will be one of, if not the, most powerful on record. This type of event will likely cause torrential rains and flooding throughout California starting this calendar year. Weather of this magnitude demands we collectively take a look at our preparations to prevent damage to church campuses, our homes, and potential injuries.
The links below are not an endorsement for any specific product, but are representative of what’s available, they are for your consideration.
Mitigate Water-Related Issues:
- Check all installed campus drain lines to ensure they are clear and fully functional. This includes checking adjacent municipal storm drains as feasible to ensure they aren’t clogged with large debris. Municipalities are doing this a matter of course, but it’s helpful to double check.
- Ensure all rain gutters are clear so the water has a clear path to the expected drainage area. Confirm the drainage area is fully functional and able to handle large amounts of runoff.
- Resolve all known water intrusion sites. Carry out repairs, as feasible, but have barriers readily available as backup. If barriers aren’t an option, know where to pick up and fill free sandbags. Sand bag sites are well publicized prior to a major weather event, and can be located on community awareness sites. Keep in mind that authorities may limit supplies by individual, therefore plan accordingly.
- Obtain portable flood barriers to protect vulnerable entryways from water intrusion.
- Purchase submersible pump (s) and discharge hoses if deemed necessary to help control potential flooding. See pumps readily available from Home Depot.
- Hire a roof inspector to avoid possible water intrusion into buildings
- Clear debris/vegetation from any drainage channels, including swales and dirt/concrete lined ditches
- Rake/remove any loose material that could wash into and potentially clog catch basins
Emergency Preparedness:
- Establish an emergency action team that can respond to expected flooding. This team will install barriers, align pumps and associated discharge hoses, fill and deliver sandbags, and protect property. Rehearse associated tasks and positioning of resources, barriers, and pumps.
- Sign up for municipal and county alert systems.
( https://www.sandiego.gov/elnino)
( https://www.alertsandiego.org/en-us/preparedness/flooding/elnino.html )
( https://rivcoready.org/disaster-preparedness ) - Track impending dangerous weather via com, weather.gov , or other desired weather site.
If your parish has specific concerns, please contact Joe Lopez, Chair of the Property Committee at (619) 481-5452 or by email at jlopez@edsd.org.
Fire Preparedness
O merciful Father, who has taught us in your holy Word that you do not willingly afflict or grieve the children of men: Look with pity upon the sorrows of your servant for whom our prayers are offered. Remember them, O Lord, in mercy, nourish their soul with patience, comfort them with a sense of your goodness, lift up your countenance upon them, and give them peace; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Amen.
Book of Common Prayer, page 831
All churches, especially those in high-risk areas, must be prepared for fire danger. Here is an article about fire preparedness that the EDSD News published in August 2024. Ensure you have a full list of contact information for all parishioners (available somewhere other than the church), and have a plan to contact members in case of evacuations in your area.
Consider whether your church could serve as a temporary evacuation shelter if necessary and how you would get supplies to that shelter.
Episcopal Relief & Development offers the following fire preparedness resources and suggestions:
- Make sure everyone has a go-bag
- Churches should work through ERD’s disaster timeline preparedness activity.
- There are also congregational preparedness guides and other risk-reduction modules in ERD’s resource library.
For resources to prepare and respond to a fire:
For those in San Diego County click here
For those in Riverside County click here
For those in Imperial County click here
For those in Yuma County click here
Disaster Planning
Planning for a fire, earthquake, flood, tsunami, or other disaster is essential for all churches. We are hubs of human activity. Even if the plan is for handling a slip and fall, or a heat stroke, the basics remain the same and can be transferred to larger disasters. The basics include:
- The appointment of a disaster team. Each member should have a copy of the plan and should be familiar with its contents
- Day and night telephone numbers of the clergy, wardens, police, fire department, utilities and insurance company, and members of the disaster team.
- Evacuation procedures, including the location of emergency exits.
- Locations of fire extinguishers, fire alarms, sprinklers, and smoke and fire detectors.
- Instructions as to how to turn off gas, electric power, and water.
- A priority list and the location of items and records to be saved first, for the Fire Department.
- A list of emergency services, with names and telephone numbers.
- The location of emergency supplies.
Other helpful tips:
Conduct regular disaster drills and inform your local fire departments to encourage their participation and input. Keep original copies of insurance policies off-site. Keep offsite copies of all important computer files, including regular back-up copies of electronic data.
