Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program (FSCPP)

Building a Resilient New York City

Faith communities are vital to building a resilient New York City through the dissemination of important information in the event of natural disasters or public health emergencies. In 2017, NYDIS and the New York City Department of Health and Mental Hygiene’s (DOHMH) Office of Emergency Preparedness & Response (OEPR) partnered to assess the resilience of the NYC Faith Sector. Based on the data collected, NYDIS and the DOHMH created the NYC Faith Sector Community Preparedness Program (FSCPP).

The FSCPP hosts citywide trainings and risk communication exercises for House of Worship (HOWs) and faith-based organizations to increase community resilience and build the Sector’s capacity to prepare for and respond to emergencies through planning and the provision of relief and recovery support. HOWready Partners are New York City congregations, faith-based organizations, and religious judicatories located in all five boroughs.

Trainings

NYDIS’ FSCPP has a wide range of FREE trainings that are offered on a regular basis.

Register for the NYDIS’ Newsletter, Social Media and Eventbrite page to learn more about upcoming trainings

Register for HOWalert

House of Worship Alert System

HOWalert

NYDIS House of Worship Alert (HOWalert) is a free emergency notification system for all NYC religious leaders. Only used during emergencies and two optional annual exercises, HOWalert sends emergency information to registrants by text, email or voice messages.

NDIN Resources

Disaster Tips Sheets for U.S. Religious Leaders | National Disaster Interfaiths Network

In May 2011, the National Disaster Interfaiths Network launched its Be A Ready Congregation campaign. Key to this campaign are the NDIN “Disaster Tip Sheets for U.S. Religious Leaders.” Each Tip Sheet offers religious leaders in the U.S. all-hazards best practices and resource links about disaster mitigation, preparedness, response, and recovery – specifically of relevance to religious leaders, faith communities and faith-based organizations.

A free resource, the Tip Sheets have been developed to assist American faith communities as they seek to provide mitigation education and preparedness training or when they respond to crises and activate their congregations to coordinate volunteers, manage donations, provide mass care, attend to spiritual and mental health needs, and continue their many religious and social services post-disaster.

Because religious leaders are among the first and most trusted sources of risk-communication and leadership in the houses of worship, neighborhoods, and faith communities where they serve, they have an important role when disasters strike. These Tip Sheets aim to educate and assist religious leaders and their congregations, as they prepare to serve and respond in effective, inclusive, and compassionate ways.

As part of the Be A Ready Congregation campaign, NDIN will regularly release new Tip Sheets and other best practices and resource tools. Please monitor our website or register for iNET, our free monthly e-newsletter, to learn more about new releases. NDIN also offers a Tip Sheet Orientation as well as other trainings designed to orient religious leaders and their emergency management or disaster public health and mental health partners to faith-based disaster human services best practices. For more information, contact us at [email protected].

Click Here For the Resources

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Disasters & Religions App

In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic and unprecedented hurricane and wildfire seasons, a new app will help first responders, disaster response professionals and voluntary organizations better serve America’s diverse religious communities and build partnerships with religious leaders.

The Disasters & Religions App presents easily accessible religious literacy and competency information on 27 unique religions, from Baha’i to Zoroastrianism, including 12 Christian denominations.

“Three quarters of U.S. residents are people of faith. Yet, as a country, we often struggle to understand the unique religious beliefs, practices and day-to-day needs of each person,” said Peter B. Gudaitis, M.Div., Executive Director & CEO of New York Disaster & Interfaith Services (NYDIS) and President of the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN). “In times of crisis, this app will equip responders with resources to feed, shelter, counsel, bury or provide emotional and spiritual care to the diversity of people of faith, among many other unmet needs, during disasters and public health emergencies that face our country.”

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Now available for Download on App Store and Google PlayStore:

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ResilientVille NYC:

New York City’s diverse neighborhoods each face unique challenges during extreme weather emergencies. Major disasters have shown that government agencies can quickly become overwhelmed, resulting in delayed rescue efforts, strained services, and uneven recovery. In these moments, local resilience depends heavily on neighbors who support one another. When communities build connections before disaster strikes, they are far better equipped to respond and recover.

The ResilientVille NYC role-play exercise brings these lessons to life by highlighting both the challenges and the possibilities of community-driven preparedness. By stepping into different neighborhood roles and imagining how residents might react in a crisis, participants gain a deeper understanding of the importance of planning and collective action.

NYDIS was founded to facilitate disaster preparedness, response, and recovery among New York City’s diverse religious communities. We believe that community-led preparedness not only strengthens recovery and resilience but also advances social justice. We hope your ResilientVille NYC event sparks stronger relationships among neighbors and inspires collaboration long before the next emergency.