Disaster Preparedness and Response

In just the past six years, our diocese has been ravaged by over 70 fires, totaling over 4.5 million acres of damage. We have also experienced several cases of intense flooding, electrical outages, and evacuations.  Every single county in our diocese has experienced at least one natural disaster since 2014, and in total, over 36,000 structures have been destroyed. The people of Northern California have lost their power, their homes, and even their loved ones.

In the midst of the anxiety and despair that natural disasters bring, the Diocese of Northern California works hard to provide pastoral support, community, and resources to those in distress. Bound by our baptismal covenant to seek and serve Christ in all persons, the Office of the Bishop has committed to disaster resilience by devoting funds, resources, and staffing to meet the needs of communities across Northern California facing catastrophes.

Episcopal Relief & Development’s US Disaster Program is our partner in building resilient communities and preparing for disasters in the United States. Working with The Episcopal Church across the country, Episcopal Relief & Development (ERD) helps dioceses prepare their congregations, and offers support during times of fire, flood, earthquakes, hurricanes and other serious circumstances that can affect the communities where we live, work and worship.

As Christians, we are called to serve the vulnerable in our communities. In a disaster, our vulnerabilities are laid bare before us and our call to serve becomes clearly present. 

Our method of disaster preparedness is based on the tenets of Asset-Based Community Development (ABCD). A thorough preparedness process can transform the way we do ministry, even if a catastrophe never befalls our community. Learn more about ABCD on The Episcopal Church website here. 

For more resources from ERD on disasters, click here.