Non-governmental organization’s role in emergency management work to bring all volunteers
together to respond efficiently to any disaster in an organized manner to better serve the community
affected. NGOs can be seen responding alongside local and state agencies to disasters that may not
require federal assistance or if the federal agencies are incapable of pushing their resources to the area
that requires the attention (Sylves, 2019). NGOs can essentially respond to disasters, making the
management on the ground to be conducted quicker when pulling resources such as volunteers from
multiple areas to assist in the response. The NGOs volunteers can consist of many businesses and local
groups that will be able to rebuild the community with little government involvement. These
organizations can also assist in formulating plans, provide shelter, exercises, supplies, and assist in the
education or preparation of possible disasters (Sylves, 2019). The experience and knowledge of those
that are involved within non-government organizations can vary drastically, bringing highly experienced
individuals in management, engagement, and preparation of disasters while there can be others who
have a generational history to the area providing crucial knowledge about certain areas to the table.
Faith based organizations offer a large impact to managing disasters. Faith based organizations
(FBO) allow the interaction of individuals on a face-to-face basis giving them a strong influence or
positive impact on someone’s life when all may seem to be lost. FBOs grant the people effected by
disasters as an outlet of all their basic human needs pertaining to physical, emotional, and spiritual
health (Burke, 2018). Allowing people in a time of crisis to have this support system in place can make a
world of difference when they may be on the verge of giving up all hope. One FBO that was able to assist
in the aftermath of Hurricane Florence in 2018, known as Convoy of Hope in North Carolina. This
organization thought head and worked to prepare for the incoming disaster. This group managed to
assist the locals, National Guard and Emergency Management officials by utilizing their knowledge of the
area to assist those on the ground. An organization formed in Georgia by its emergency management
center would be known as “Praise and Preparedness” which would show how beneficial these FBOs
would be able to assist in the preparation of disasters. Georgia’s center utilizes these organizations to
spread awareness, expand training to local communities and to ensure the community understand what
to do when a disaster does occur. The roles of NGOs can vary, from volunteers to managers within the
organizations, their impact can multiply ten times over by providing not just spiritual, emotional, or
physical help but by also providing material support. This material support provided can be services,
supplies, advice, shelter, or clothing. The Bible teaches us to “love thy neighbor as yourself” (Mark 12:31,
n.d.), a concept that many of us may understand just as well as “treat others as you would like to be
treated”. This value can be seen throughout the recovery process with the FBOs with the community
rallying together to assist one another, in a sense, showing their love for one another. In majority of
religions, it is taught that each person is to be selfless, caring and loving toward one another therefore
the FBOs are becoming very involved and beneficial to disaster management centers across the nation
(Brown, 2015). One of the largest benefits of FBOs would be that most of the individuals involved are a
part of the community effected and will not be leaving shortly after the emergency managers leave
believing their work to be complete.
One organization that stands out as a faith-based organization, is World Vision. A Christian
organization intended to follow in the footsteps of Jesus. This organization partners with churches and
unaffiliated churches to bring assistance and organization to the management of disasters in the United
States and around the world. The organization aids people of all ages, providing social services,
counseling, and building public awareness throughout the communities (Mission & Values, 2019). This
organization expresses its selfless service as a commitment to the public, no matter “the structure,
system, or any other institutional machinery” (Mission, 2019). Therefore, it can be understood that this
group will not allow outside influences to shift its values and it will continuously push to allow the
development of communities to improve thereafter the recovery is complete. 1 Peter 3:8 states the
following, “Finally, all of you, have unity in mind, sympathy, brotherly love, a tender heart, and a humble
mind.” This piece of scripture speaks volumes of what is to be seen within FBOs at a micro and a macro
level. Joining together to assist those in need, without any possibility of them returning the favor,
without feeling as if you now are better than these people, to know that this could be you and it is our
responsibility to care for one another.
References
Burke, M. (2018, September). How faith-based organizations are helping communities recover
after Hurricane Florence. The Heritage Foundation. Retrieved October 8, 2021, from
https://www.heritage.org/civil-society/commentary/how-faith-based-organizations-are-helping-
communities-recover-after.
Brown, J. (2015, April 24). Churches play a growing role in emergency management. GovTech.
Retrieved October 7, 2021, from https://www.govtech.com/em/disaster/churches-playing-
growing-role-emergency-management.html.
Mark 12:31 ESV - - Bible Gateway. (n.d.). Retrieved October 8, 2021, from
https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Mark%2B12%3A31&version=ESV.
Mission & Values. World Vision. (2019, July 2). Retrieved October 8, 2021, from
https://www.worldvision.org/about-us/mission-statement#1470680849329-b0702df0-156b.
Sylves, R. T. (2019). Disaster Policy and Politics (3rd Edition). SAGE Publications, Inc.
(US). https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9781506368702
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