JEFFERSON CITY – Gov. Jay Nixon will meet with volunteers and leaders from Missouri Baptist Disaster Relief and other organizations in regional meetings April 24-May 4.
The meeting will focus on: Responding to the emotional and spiritual challenges of disasters; the role of religious leaders in response and recovery efforts; the support to faith communities available from the Missouri National Guard Chaplain Corps; how to organize and maximize volunteers for disaster response and recovery; preparing for the management of mass donations; preparing a religious facility for sheltering; and organizing long-term recovery efforts.
Also, the National Weather Service and the State Emergency Management Agency will make presentations on severe weather forecasting and warnings, evacuating sanctuaries and gymnasiums during severe weather and safe sheltering.
The conferences dates and locations are:
April 24, Jefferson City: Bible Baptist Church, 4730 Country Club Dr., 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.
April 26, Cape Girardeau: St. Francis Medical Center, 211 Saint Francis Dr., 10 a.m. – 3 p.m.
April 27, Webster Groves (St. Louis): Eden Theological Seminary, 475 East Lockwood Ave., 9 a.m. -12 p.m.
May 1, Springfield: Remington’s, 1655 West Republic Rd., 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 3, Lee’s Summit (Kansas City): Crown Pointe Church, 5950 Northeast Lakewood Way, 10 a.m.-3 p.m.
May 4, St. Joseph: Huffman United Methodist Church, 2802 Renick St.
The conferences include free lunch. All the meetings are from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m., except the April 27 meeting, which runs from 9 a.m. to noon. At that location, following lunch, there a group discussion and practical simulation of how a faith community would react to a tornado that struck during religious services. This portion of the program will end at 2:15 p.m.
The governor’s office asks participants to register by emailing aren.koenig@sema.dps.mo.gov or calling 573-526-9410.