A Ready Hope is an initiation for people of faith who are new to the ministry of disaster preparedness and response. By
disaster most people usually mean something that results in significant loss, destruction, hardship, and injury or death to the residents of an area. Authors Kathy Haueisen and Carol Flores have both personal and professional experience dealing with the disaster of the tropical storms and hurricanes that have roared through the Gulf coast region in the past decade. Residents of Houston, Texas, they have worked closely with ecumenical faith-based and other nongovernmental networks, governmental groups, judicatory leaders, and congregations as they have assisted those affected by these circumstances. They share their experience to help congregations facing situations from large-scale disasters to less severe, local conditions.
A Ready Hope provides an overview of existing disaster-response networks, details the predictable phases of disaster recovery at both the individual and community level, lifts up helpful and unhelpful ways that congregational leaders and members can be involved in disaster response efforts, and prepares congregations to respond appropriately to a disaster in their community.
A variety of organizations bring help when disaster strikes. Faith-based organizations are uniquely equipped to also bring hope to the survivors of the disaster and to the rescue and relief workers who leave home to assist. This book will help people of faith prepare themselves to be part of God's heart and hands when a disaster occurs.
