Disaster Response Committee Report September 7, 2005 Dear fellow Chaplains: Thank you for your response and support, and God bless your efforts throughout the nation.  As we continue to receive your reports, we will use this web site to post information, insights, approaches, ideas, and solutions that may be of help to you.  Remember:  This is chaos.  We can manage it, not control it. Status: At present we have responded to requests from 10 major cities, with more requests being processed.  ICPC Chaplains are also staffing hundreds of local shelters and serving as local spiritual care leaders and volunteers.  Available, trained Chaplains are needed.  If you are trained and available call:  850-654-9736 or email them at icpc@icpc.gccoxmail.com. We are beginning to hear reports of exhaustion, stress, and emotional overload effecting local leadership. As this disaster progresses, personality issues are surfacing, political turf battles are being ignited, and the media is opening old scars.  Be on the lookout for leaders who are micromanaging volunteers, failing to delegate, and disregarding training and scheduling activities.  “I’ll have to do it myself!” is one of the phrases that will tip you off.  Try to provide rest and relaxation for leaders that are on the verge of loosing their effectiveness.  Organizational structure, providing rest periods and rotation of duty schedules, will go a long way in preventing this problem. A word about stress:  Stress is an equal opportunity danger.  It can get all of us at one time or another.  Pay attention to self care.  Monitor your symptoms.  Make sure you provide debriefing services for all volunteers – including yourself.  Many CISM teams are available to assist.  If they are available, us them.  If not, try to put a team together from local resources. Tips: Maintain a journal or log of activities.  A notebook will do.  Later when it all becomes a blur, it will help you collect your thoughts and feelings about the day and help you organize the facts and details you need to do your job and reflect on your experience.  It will also help you to recall important items for your After Action Report. After Action Reports Come back to this spot on the ICPC website for your After Action Repor t form.  Send it to us as soon as you are able.  It is through your report that we can understand the needs and demands you encountered and the services you provided.  Your feedback will help inform the next iteration of Chaplains. Many of the evacuees are deeply religious and have learned to trust their religious leadership. They will want to trust you too when they find out who you are.  If you come from a faith tradition where you are comfortable wearing appropriate clerical clothing such as a clerical collar, yarmulke, cross, etc. it may help persons of your faith group identify you and will help everyone identify who you are and why you are there. Idea to follow: Dan Schaefer of NJ has procured a number of seaside cottages and the services of CISM and Medical practitioners to provide a 3 to 4 day respite and debriefing opportunity for returning NJ Chaplains who have responded to the disaster. Warning: If you are using credit cards to finance your disaster response, do not be surprised if it is challenged.  Since the disaster began, credit card fraud has increased and the credit card companies are on “Red Alert” looking for anything unusual in card usage. Dr. Wayne Whitelock, CMC Chair ICPC Disaster Response Committee