Through hurricanes, snowstorms, tornadoes and more, the Gloucester County Department of Emergency Management is there to lead the community through various types of natural disasters. One proactive way it achieves this mission is in building partnerships with faith-based groups in an effort to reach vulnerable people when disaster strikes.
“Building those relationships is very important,” said emergency management planner Hannah Bonar.
According to Bonar, the department keeps in contact with 50-60 individuals of local faith-based groups and is hoping to expand these partnerships. A quarterly breakfast is held with these faith-based groups and emergency management to address various needs in the community.
In the event of an emergency, the county may not know how to reach vulnerable and more isolated individuals, “but our pastors might know about them,” said Bonar.
“They know where the shut-ins are,” said Emergency Management Coordinator Jane Wenner.
Weather updates are sent to particip...