In the Wake of Disaster
Details and Description
Description
In a timely book with a powerful and persuasive message, Dr. Harold G. Koenig addresses federal, state, and local government policy leaders, urging them to more fully integrate religious organizations into the formal disaster response system, and he then provides recommendations on how this can effectively be done. Koenig also advocates faith communities and organizations to learn more about the role they can play in responding to disasters and terrorism.
The chaotic aftermath of Hurricane Katrina made extraordinarily clear the gaps in the United States' disaster policies. At the same time, the contributions of organized faith communities were highlights amidst the bungled federal, state, and local responses. One example is the New York Times, September 9, 2005, headline: "A New Meaning for 'Organized Religion': It Helps the Needy Quickly." But as faith-based organizations look for ways to help, there are few, if any, guidelines for them.
This book provides information on the psychological, social, and spiritual responses to trauma. It addresses how the emergency response system works, and the role that religious communities can play in disaster response and recovery in terms of providing emotional and spiritual care for victims. It advocates integrating mental health into emergency response systems directed at those affected by hurricanes, floods, earthquakes, and terrorism. "The aim is to help victims of disaster to better cope with the stresses they face, as well as help direct care workers (firefighters, police, health care providers, etc.) to deal better emotionally with the trauma to which they are exposed so they can remain effective and functional on the job," explains Dr. Koenig, whose research on the healing power of faith has been published worldwide.
Increasing the resiliency of our communities in the face of disaster is crucial. Religious communities have tremendous potential to contribute to this. Here are guidelines on how to do that more effectively, alongside data on how to facilitate the integration of these contributions with the formal disaster-response system.
Table of Contents
Preface / ix
Acknowledgments / xiii
Introduction / xv
1. Psychological and Spiritual Consequences of Disasters / 1
2. National, State, and Local Disaster Planning and Response / 13
3. Religion and Coping with Stress and Disaster / 29
4. The Faith Community’s Role during Disaster / 43
5. Faith-Based Organizations Involved in Disaster Response / 55
6. Coordinating Faith-Based Efforts at the Local Level / 75
7. Preparing Faith Communities for Disaster / 83
8. Barriers and Obstacles to Integration / 97
9. Overcoming the Barriers / 109
10. Final Comments / 121
Resources / 123
Glossary of Terms and Definitions / 139
Notes / 143
Index / 157
Endorsements and Reviews
Reviews
St. Anthony Messenger
In the Wake of Disaster serves as a tool for keeping faith in the face of even the worst disasters, and keeping in mind the importance of religious responses to terrorism. The book is a helpful instrument in making the best out of unfortunate events, all the while remembering God’s presence in every situation.
PsycCRITIQUES—Vol. 51, No. 49
In summary, this is a wonderful volume that should be useful to many audiences, such as members of the clergy, leaders in the faith community, and potential volunteers from the faith community. In addition, the book lays out very clearly the role that faith communities have in assisting with the work in the aftermath of terrorism or catastrophe. Without eservation, I recommend this book to the clergy, church leaders, and disaster mental health responders. The only weakness that I see in this particular volume is that it is inevitable that some of the resources included will quickly become dated or obsolete. However, that should not prevent readers and users of this volume from benefiting from its insights. For anyone interested in religious or spiritual responses to terrorism or catastrophe, this is a superb resource.
New York Disaster Interfaith Services—New York, NY
In this timely book, In the Wake of Disaster: Religious Responses to Terrorism and Catastrophe, Dr. Harold G. Koenig discusses what and how faith-based and community organizations can contribute in the aftermath of disasters and terrorism. He urges federal, state, and local government policy leaders to more fully integrate religious organizations into the formal disaster response system; and he provides recommendations on the role that faith communities can play in disaster response and recovery in providing emotional and spiritual care for victims. Dr. Koenig is director and founder of Duke University’s Center for the Study of Religion/Spirituality and Health.
Journal of Religion & Spirituality in Social Work—Vol. 26, No.3
I believe two important contributions can be attributed to this volume. First is a clear articulation that the efforts of clergy and lay volunteers be better defined and organized in terms of specific mitigation and responder roles played in the disaster arena; and second, that this information serve as an additional resource to be formally included in community preparedness and emergency management plans at the local, state, and national levels. —Robin L. Ersing, PhD, University of South Florida
The Scientific and Medical Network—Spring 2008
A timely book about religious responses to terrorism and catastrophe written in the wake of Hurrican kristina. It advocates the integration of spiritual and mental health practices into emergency response systems and explores the help that religious faith and faith communities can provide in supporting people with emotional and spiritual care as an additional resource to federal systems.
crosswalk.com
Hurricane Katrina made the gaps in U.S. disaster policies extraordinarily clear. At the same time, reports the Templeton Foundation Press, the contributions of organized faith communities were highlights amidst the bungled federal, state, and local responses. One example is the New York Times, September 9, 2005, headline: "A New Meaning for ’Organized Religion’: It Helps the Needy Quickly." But as faith-based organizations look for ways to help, there are few guidelines. In the Wake of Disaster is a unique resource for faith communities and organizations on how they can effectively provide services in times of crisis. Dr. Harold G. Koenig presents a persuasive argument for local, state, and federal government policy leaders to make full use of these much-needed services and to integrate religious organizations into the formal disaster response system. The book also offers information on the psychological, social, and spiritual responses to trauma, including the role that religious communities can play in disaster response and recovery.
ChristianRetailing.com
In the Wake of Disaster: Religious Responses to Terrorism & Catastrophe is a resource written to help faith-based organizations and government agencies work together to give aid in disaster situations.
Author and physician Koenig sees clergy and volunteers helping to meet spiritual needs as significant in the recovery effort, but he does not give preference to any particular religion.
Not for lay consumption, this book was written to contribute to the public-policy debate. Christians also will catch a glimpse of how the church may be perceived by those outside the faith in light of Christian responses to disaster.