Press Release

In the Wake of Disaster Religious Responses to Terrorism and Catastrophe Harold G. Koenig, MD For Immediate Release Contact: Sharon Kelly Tel. (484) 531-8380 Email: publicity@templetonpress.org Wednesday, March 29, 2006

The earthquakes, tsunami, and hurricanes of the past year have shown that faith-based and community organizations have the ability to step in and provide immediate assistance to victims—often while government agencies are in the midst of trying to organize a response. The potential for these organizations was also apparent after the 9/11 terrorist attacks when so many Americans turned to religion in order to cope with fear and uncertainty. But even as faith-based organizations (FBOs) more fully realize the crucial role they have and look for specific ways to help, there are few, if any, guidelines for them. Furthermore, integrating their efforts with governmental agencies is fraught with difficulties.

In the Wake of Disaster: Religious Responses to Terrorism and Catastrophe by Harold G. Koenig, M.D. (Templeton Foundation Press, $19.95) provides the most detailed examination to date of what and how faith-based and community organizations can contribute in the aftermath of disasters and terrorism.

Koenig begins with an examination of the psychological and spiritual responses people have when disaster strikes, emphasizing the stages that victims go through. Understanding normal responses to trauma will help faith communities know where their help is needed most and what kind of help is needed as time goes on, he explains. His guide includes descriptions of:

• National, state, and local emergency management systems that become active when disaster strikes, the gaps in the systems, and what FBOs can most effectively do
• How religion helps victims cope and how religion motivates people to help victims
• FBOs that have mobilized during recent disasters and how they have efficiently and productively coordinated volunteers and efforts

He provides details on how faith-based efforts can be coordinated at the local level depending on the size of the community affected. Disaster experts contribute their advice on who should lead such efforts in order to maximize the contributions of spiritually motivated individuals and religious communities. A disaster plan is presented, showing faith communities how they can ready themselves to ensure the survival of their own members as well as meet the needs of others. Koenig emphasizes the future impact that individuals and communities of faith can have in helping communities not only bounce back after disasters, but also become more resilient.

Too often, lack of cooperation from local and national organizations, territoriality, competition, and other factors prevents FBOs from fully contributing to disaster response efforts. Koenig offers specific recommendations that EMS agencies, public policy makers, mental health organizations, and faith communities can implement in order to address barriers to integration. A section on resources provides additional support information.

"While we will always heavily rely on the formal EMS system to respond to the immediate needs of disaster victims, that system alone is not sufficient," Dr. Koenig emphasizes. "The short-term and long-term psychological and spiritual needs of victims are simply too great. Those needs require a healing community that understands, and over time supports and loves them back to health and wholeness." In the Wake of Disaster provides those healing communities with specific guidelines on how they can fill a much-needed role, including what they can do, when they can do it, and how to coordinate their efforts.

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