{"id":10256,"date":"2023-02-07T14:49:00","date_gmt":"2023-02-07T12:49:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/clone\/hurricane-ian-lessons-learned-after-disaster-strikes\/"},"modified":"2023-06-02T06:53:41","modified_gmt":"2023-06-02T04:53:41","slug":"hurricane-ian-lessons-learned-after-disaster-strikes","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hurricane-ian-lessons-learned-after-disaster-strikes\/","title":{"rendered":"Hurricane Ian: Lessons Learned after Disaster Strikes"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Hurricane Ian made landfall in southwestern Florida on September 28, 2022, as a dangerous, high-end Category 4 storm after plowing a path of destruction through the Caribbean. By wind speed, Ian was the fifth most powerful storm to ever hit the country. It was also among the costliest in American history, causing an estimated $67 billion<\/a> in privately insured property damage across five states ( The New York Times <\/em>, Dec 2, 2022).<\/p>\n\n\n\n

On September 28, Matt Newburg, evangelist for the Southwest Florida Church of Christ<\/a>, was exhausted.  As the flood waters were rising, the Newburg family headed to his father\u2019s house on Florida\u2019s east coast.  He was fielding calls non-stop from church members, people needing help and people asking how they could help. Photos from the storm wreckage flooded his phone; it looked like a bomb went off. \u201cI was just sick of thinking, trying to sort through all the details,\u201d Matt said. \u201cNo one in our church had experience with disaster relief or how to manage resources. At first, only first responders were allowed into the hard-hit areas, and they concentrated on search and rescue.\u201d Thankfully, none of the members of the Southwest Florida Church lost their life to the hurricane.<\/p>\n\n\n

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In the four months since Ian, Matt has taken stock and considered: What did I learn? How can my church be better prepared? What can I pass on to other congregations when a natural disaster knocks on their door?<\/p>\n\n\n\n

First, it\u2019s essential to know your church and understand how they are connected to one another. \u201cWe are a church of 125 members with 70 children; I like to say 200 souls,\u201d said Matt. \u201cAlthough we meet together as a big group on Sundays, we are really a church of close-knit family groups.\u201d Being close-knit is key, because by 11 AM on September 29, the day after the storm, all of the \u201c200 souls\u201d were accounted for. Matt knew the condition of the flock because all of the family group leaders called and checked in. Later, on a relief effort conference call, several astonished evangelists asked how Matt got this number so quickly, especially with power outages. \u201cIt\u2019s just how Matt builds his ministry,\u201d said Tony Fernandez, Broward Church<\/a> evangelist. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Secondly, Matt learned that leadership in a crisis is crucial. Dave Tomlinson, HOPE worldwide<\/em>\u2019s<\/a> senior director for disaster response, brought tremendous expertise and practical know-how to relief efforts. \u201cThere is no way I can put into words the relief I felt when Dave showed up. He knew what to do. He knew how to put a tarp on a roof, about removing wet personal items; he gave advice on leaving a dwelling because it was uninhabitable.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Initially, some of Dave\u2019s advice seemed counter-intuitive for disciples who were trying to be selfless and serve their community. Paul told the Galatians to \u201cdo good to all people, especially to those who belong to the family of believers\u201d (Galatians 6:10). Dave\u2019s advice: Take care of the family of believers first so they can then help their neighbors. \u201cDave taught me how to lead and process the constant barrage of incoming information, how to prioritize needs,\u201d said Matt. <\/p>\n\n\n

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Thirdly, Matt now understands what puts the \u201chope\u201d into HOPE worldwide <\/em>.  They met the greatest need in the Naples\/Ft. Myers area at that time \u2013 volunteers, resources and know-how. As a disciple, Matt\u2019s been giving to HOPEww for 27 years. When a disaster put his church and community on the receiving end of HOPEww\u2019s services, \u201cit was a big \u2018Aha!\u2019 moment for us,\u201d said Matt. \u201cOur church met together after Hurricane Ian, and when it came time for the HOPEww offering, our gathering was charged with this profound sense of gratitude.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Lastly, Matt witnessed the unity of the Florida family of churches and the powerful bonds of brotherhood. In 2010 Keith Davis, evangelist for Jax Church<\/a> (Jacksonville), experienced a \u201c1000 year flood\u201d in Nashville and learned first-hand what it was like to see your home flooded. Keith enlisted the help of a rehabilitation specialist; the two of them spent a whole week working in the hard-hit areas, taking on projects and saving disciples thousands of dollars in recovery and repair. The South Florida Ministries quickly marshaled supplies and generators to fill a 50\u2019 truck and delivered them just days after the disaster. A few weeks later, while the Southwest Florida Church gathered for worship, 40 Anchor Point Church<\/a> (Tampa) volunteers cleaned up storm-damaged properties of their brothers and sisters. And they returned to serve three more times! In the days ahead, volunteers from sister congregations in Florida continue to help with the cleanup. For the future, Keith is hoping to put together a Florida family of churches \u201ccrisis strategy,\u201d which could identify what each church has to offer the next time a crisis hits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u201cLife doesn\u2019t stop just because a storm came,\u201d Matt said. \u201cWork and school still happen, and peoples\u2019 homes are in shambles. Some have storm fatigue; others will need counseling due to the strain and stress on their marriage and families. We are looking for ways to address these needs in our church.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Matt reflected again on the collaborative spirit of the Florida churches. \u201cThis level of selfless service is unique to our family of churches. There is a healthy interdependence. God has stitched us together through the Holy Spirit, and I am so grateful. We are a smaller church here in Florida, but I never want to be on the outside, looking in.\u201d <\/p>\n\n\n\n

Hurricane Ian may have been the costliest storm to date, but what Matt values most is the brotherhood connections between the Florida churches \u2013 they\u2019re priceless. \u201cI thirst for the fellowship and brotherhood of our statewide leadership meetings.\u201d said Matt. \u201cPeople know me and understand me. And I know them. We need each other.\u201d <\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

In the four months since Hurricane Ian, the evangelist for the Southwest Florida Church has taken stock and considered: What…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":25,"featured_media":10791,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"ghostkit_customizer_options":"","ghostkit_custom_css":"","ghostkit_custom_js_head":"","ghostkit_custom_js_foot":"","ghostkit_typography":"","_jetpack_newsletter_access":"","_jetpack_dont_email_post_to_subs":false,"_jetpack_newsletter_tier_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paywalled_content":false,"_jetpack_feature_clip_id":0,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_post_was_ever_published":false},"categories":[71],"tags":[62,54],"post_folder":[151],"class_list":["post-10256","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-news","tag-hopeww","tag-north-america"],"featured_image_src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Hurrican-Ian-Matt-and-James.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","author_info":{"display_name":"dtadmin","author_link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/author\/dtadmin\/"},"jetpack_shortlink":"https:\/\/wp.me\/phsvEw-2Fq","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"jetpack-related-posts":[{"id":10380,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hope-worldwide-global-disaster-relief-update-november-2022\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":0},"title":"HOPE worldwide Global Disaster Relief Update: November 2022","author":"dtadmin","date":"November 17, 2022","format":false,"excerpt":"HOPE worldwide has been responding to many disasters around the world to provide emergency assistance, most recently in Haiti, Hurricane Ian, and Sri Lanka.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/HOPEwwDisasterResponseupdatenov2022.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/HOPEwwDisasterResponseupdatenov2022.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/HOPEwwDisasterResponseupdatenov2022.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/HOPEwwDisasterResponseupdatenov2022.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/11\/HOPEwwDisasterResponseupdatenov2022.png?fit=1080%2C1080&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4076,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hurricane-dorian-disaster-response\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":1},"title":"Hurricane Dorian Disaster Response","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 5, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Families in crisis need our help. In the Bahamas, Hurricane Dorian has displaced families, devastated homes, and in an instant what many feared as only a possibility, has turned into a nightmare reality. Several disciples in Freeport, Grand Bahama Island have lost everything and need our help. Together we can\u2026","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"","width":0,"height":0},"classes":[]},{"id":4088,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hurricane-dorian-devastates-bahamas-and-threatens-the-us\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":2},"title":"Hurricane Dorian Devastates Bahamas and\u00a0Threatens the US","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 4, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"HOPE worldwide is closely monitoring the situation and is asking for prayers for all those being affected by Hurricane Dorian.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-3f6e1d44-1.png?fit=973%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-3f6e1d44-1.png?fit=973%2C634&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-3f6e1d44-1.png?fit=973%2C634&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Untitled-3f6e1d44-1.png?fit=973%2C634&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4051,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hurricane-dorian-update-from-grand-bahama-island\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":3},"title":"Hurricane Dorian Update from Grand Bahama Island","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"HOPE worldwide would like to personally thank everyone for their quick response to support this disaster. Our Global Disaster Response Team has been very busy responding to the needs in the Bahamas. We would like to share an update on how we\u2019ve utilized the received donations.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screen2BShot2B2019-09-182Bat2B12.20.592BPM.png?fit=1200%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screen2BShot2B2019-09-182Bat2B12.20.592BPM.png?fit=1200%2C582&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screen2BShot2B2019-09-182Bat2B12.20.592BPM.png?fit=1200%2C582&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screen2BShot2B2019-09-182Bat2B12.20.592BPM.png?fit=1200%2C582&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/Screen2BShot2B2019-09-182Bat2B12.20.592BPM.png?fit=1200%2C582&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]},{"id":4047,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/giving-hope-to-the-bahamas\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":4},"title":"Giving Hope to the Bahamas","author":"dtadmin","date":"September 19, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"Through the guidance of HOPE worldwide and a friend\u2019s loan of his 70 foot yacht, Broward Church disciples brought hope and relief directly to brothers and sisters in the Bahamas.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/broward2Bchurch2Bdonate2Bto2Bbahamas-.png?fit=831%2C536&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/broward2Bchurch2Bdonate2Bto2Bbahamas-.png?fit=831%2C536&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/broward2Bchurch2Bdonate2Bto2Bbahamas-.png?fit=831%2C536&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/09\/broward2Bchurch2Bdonate2Bto2Bbahamas-.png?fit=831%2C536&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x"},"classes":[]},{"id":3971,"url":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/hopeww-hurricane-dorian-update\/","url_meta":{"origin":10256,"position":5},"title":"HOPE worldwide Hurricane Dorian Update","author":"dtadmin","date":"October 22, 2019","format":false,"excerpt":"The response to support our brothers and sisters in the Bahamas has been amazing. Hurricane Dorian devastated the island but, thanks to your support, we were able to raise over $200,000 in donations. HOPE worldwide will continue to work with the Bahamas International Church of Christ to provide on-going support.","rel":"","context":"In "News"","block_context":{"text":"News","link":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/category\/news\/"},"img":{"alt_text":"","src":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DorainBahamasscreengrab.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200","width":350,"height":200,"srcset":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DorainBahamasscreengrab.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=350%2C200 1x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DorainBahamasscreengrab.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=525%2C300 1.5x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DorainBahamasscreengrab.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=700%2C400 2x, https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2019\/10\/DorainBahamasscreengrab.png?fit=1200%2C676&ssl=1&resize=1050%2C600 3x"},"classes":[]}],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/i0.wp.com\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/02\/Hurrican-Ian-Matt-and-James.jpeg?fit=1024%2C768&ssl=1","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10256","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/25"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=10256"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/10256\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/10791"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=10256"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=10256"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=10256"},{"taxonomy":"post_folder","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/disciplestoday.org\/clone\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/post_folder?post=10256"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}