By Rev. Michael Dack
In recent days, wildfires across the Los Angeles area have killed at least 27 people, destroyed more than 14,000 structures (including the historic Altadena Community Church UCC), and charred more than 60 square miles. The fires are still burning and weather conditions remain extreme – posing the danger of new fires.
At a time like this, our hearts go out to our southern neighbors, we lift up our prayers for everyone who is impacted, and we look for concrete ways to respond. As the NCNC Disaster Response Coordinator, I want to share some resources and information that I hope you will find useful.
As we think about what to do, I think many of us may react to this situation in three ways:
- One: What can we do to help the people, and our sister churches in the LA area?
- Two: What if something like this happened to our church and our community?
- Three: What if something like this happened to my family?
So, first, if you can make a donation I encourage you to give through UCC Disaster Ministries. https://support.ucc.org/california-wildfires-2025
These funds will be made available as Solidarity Grants to the Southern California Nevada Conference, and its Associations, and Churches as they are actively engaged in response to the fires and their aftermath. Long-Term Recovery and Repair Grants (which is the primary focus of UCC Disaster Ministries) will be available in the months (and possibly years) to come.
Many agencies and organizations are already involved in short term hands on response, but if you’re drawn to support those efforts, please check out L.A. Works https://www.laworks.com/2025fires
Second, many of our communities may be just as vulnerable to wildfires as those in LA; or we may live near an active earthquake fault; or our community may be vulnerable to flooding. Does your congregation have a plan?
UCC Disaster Ministries has prepared an excellent tool to help congregations prepare for a wide variety of natural and unnatural disasters. https://www.ucc.org/disaster_index/disaster_resources/ This is a tool to use before a disaster strikes, so that if and when that happens, your congregation will be ready to respond.
Third, disasters like the LA fires remind us that our own homes may also be vulnerable to earthquakes, fires, or floods. Do you have a plan? How will family members communicate and find each other if separated? If you have to leave your home, where will you go and what will you take with you? If you can’t leave your home, what will you need to shelter in place for several days – possibly without water or electricity?
- A good place to get started is the Make a Plan page from the Dept of Homeland Security https://www.ready.gov/plan
- You can sign up for emergency alerts thru the Red Cross https://www.redcross.org/get-help/how-to-prepare-for-emergencies/mobile-apps.html or with your city/county https://www.listoscalifornia.org/alerts/
- There are many websites with information on what to include in a “Go Bag” including the Make a Plan page above, but frankly I find most of them to be way too complicated and confusing. I plan to offer perhaps more user friendly information in a future issue of Upwellings.
In the meantime, please contact me if you have any questions about all of this.
Michael Dack
mbdack@gmail.com
And if, perchance, you discover that you would like to get personally involved in Disaster Ministries (O joy of joys), please check out https://www.ucc.org/seven-ways-you-can-get-involved-in-disaster-ministries/
