When the members of the newly formed Adventist Disaster Response Advisory met in Westlake Village Oct. 23, they had no way of knowing that devastating wildfires, one of the worst disasters in California history, would start within 24 hours. But if they had known, the sense of urgency could not have been much greater.

Dan Robles, disaster response coordinator for the Pacific Union, told the group, "The Seventh-day Adventist Church has signed an agreement with the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) to provide specific emergency services when called upon, and we are not ready."

That is exactly why the meeting was convened; to get ready. "In a major catastrophe," Robles said, "Baptists will provide mass feeding, Catholics and Methodists will provide case management, Habitat for Humanity will coordinate rebuilding efforts, and Seventh-day Adventists will be in charge of warehousing. That means we will staff large central warehouses, accept donated emergency supplies and deliver those supplies to local distribution centers."

The recent firestorms that destroyed so much property in Southern California did not require this emergency plan to be activated. "Most of those who have lost homes or suffered in other ways due to the fires are insured," said Robles. Insurers and FEMA have already been responding to their needs, setting up centers where help can be obtained immediately, issuing checks for clothing, etc. The American Red Cross has the responsibility to provide shelter for fire victims.

But Larry Buckner, national director for Adventist Disaster Response, told the group, "Adventists were called upon to respond to the Northridge earthquate in 1994, and we will certainly be called upon in the future. For that reason, the Pacific Union needs hundreds of volunteers, and those volunteers need to be trained in managing donated goods and distribution center operation. Almost anyone can help, but we especially need managers with a variety of technical skills, including information management and telephone management."

"In readiness for this renewed mobilization effort," Robles said, "we now have a structure that we did not have earlier. A union-wide organization with a committee of advisors from the conferences will oversee this effort."

Fifty trainees are needed in each California conference immediately to take the intensive, professional training. The first training will take place in the Southern California Conference office Sunday, Dec. 7. For more information, contact Maureen Sylvester, 818-546-8435. See the sidebar for other training dates and locations.

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Disaster Response Training

Jan. 18, Napa (Steps 1-2)

Feb. 1, Southeastern Calif. Conf. (Steps 1-2)

Feb. 2, Glendale (Step 3)

Feb. 15, Chico (Steps 1-2)

March 10-14, Soquel, statewide training institute (All Steps)

Info: Dan Robles (626-962-2175)