Home
Background: This website was created at the request and direction of the stake presidents and area seventy in the Morristown NJ, NY NY North, and NY NY South coordinating councils of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. It is not an official website of the church, and some of the information herein has been integrated into or superseded by the “Area Emergency Preparedness and Response Guide” (login required).
Disaster recovery efforts are church welfare activities with a public affairs component, and fall within the fourfold purpose of the church of “caring for the poor and needy.” (Handbook 2, 2.2“In fulfilling its purpose to help individuals and families qualify for exaltation, the Church focuses on divinely appointed responsibilities. These include helping members live the gospel of Jesus Christ, gathering Israel through missionary work, caring for the poor and needy, and enabling the salvation of the dead by building temples and performing vicarious ordinances.” (LDS.org)). The purpose of disaster recovery efforts is to restore the hope of survivors by ministering to their spiritual, emotional, and physical needs; and to give service. (See Handbook 2, 6.1“The purposes of Church welfare are to help members become self-reliant, to care for the poor and needy, and to give service.” (LDS.org); D&C 81:5“Wherefore, be faithful; stand in the office which I have appointed unto you; succor the weak, lift up the hands which hang down, and strengthen the feeble knees.” (LDS.org); Mosiah 18:8-9“…and now, as ye are desirous to come into the fold of God, and to be called his people, and are willing to bear one another’s burdens, that they may be light; Yea, and are willing to mourn with those that mourn; yea, and comfort those that stand in need of comfort, and to stand as witnesses of God at all times and in all things, and in all places that ye may be in, even until death, that ye may be redeemed of God, and be numbered with those of the first resurrection, that ye may have eternal life—” (LDS.org)).
This website contains guidance, suggested draft letters, and principles for stake presidents and bishops, ward and stake councils, visiting stakes, team leaders, and volunteers for the Morristown NJ, NY NY North, and NY NY South coordinating councils of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints/ Mormon Helping Hands. Other stakes are welcome to use or adapt any information they find helpful. The information on this website is designed to assist recovery efforts after an incident, but is also useful for training purposes.
We are using Crisis Cleanup to manage work orders and coordinate efforts with the community. Each stake recovery leader should sign up. Once approved, invite ALL team leaders and authorized volunteers in each stake. To maximize the effectiveness of the system and assist as many people as possible, access to Crisis Cleanup should NOT be limited to a handful of people per stake.
The following information will be updated in the event of an incident:
Recovery operations began on [STARTDATE] and are anticipated to end around [ENDDATE]. Details can change hourly. We will try to post the most current information here, but in the event of a conflict volunteers should always follow the directions of their local priesthood leaders, who hold the keys to direct the recovery work.
An optional all-hands conference call will take place every Wednesday night at 9:00pm for the duration of the cleanup efforts, facilitated by the VOAD representative. [DIAL-IN NUMBER]. All interested volunteers, team leaders, ward, and stake leaders are invited to participate.
A regional support center has been established at [LOCATION].
Need Help?
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormon Helping Hands) is coordinating with hundreds of other voluntary organizations and government officials to help survivors of [NAMEOFHURRICANE]. Our volunteers are members of the local community and will be working until about [ENDDATE-2weeks]. Mormon Helping Hands volunteers wear yellow vests and perform muck-outs and debris removal free of charge. Far more people need help than we are able to assist, which is why The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints cooperates with dozens of other VOAD organizations.
To Request Help: Please call 2-1-1 in New Jersey and Long Island [, and 3-1-1 in New York City]. These call centers will alert dozens of relief organizations that you need help, including Mormon Helping Hands, to maximize the chance you will be helped.