SHORT-TERM MISSIONS &
DISASTER RESPONSE

Taken from the December 2025 issue of New Horizons

Astonishingly, more than one hundred million people around the world are affected by natural disasters each year. If you're like me, you assume that you and your family will never be counted in that statistic. But disaster can strike anywhere, anytime, and to anyone—including you and me.

Imagine you live on the Colorado plains, and a rapidly spreading wildfire tears through your neighborhood, consuming your home and reducing it to ashes. Or perhaps torrential rains bring unexpected flooding to your Midwestern city, pushing several inches of water through your home—even though it sits well outside the usual flood zone. Maybe your east coast neighborhood, having never experienced a severe storm, is suddenly struck by an EF-3 tornado. You emerge from your basement to find open sky where your roof used to be. Or you live in Southern California, and the dreaded “Big One” finally hits—an 8.1-magnitude earthquake—causing devastating damage to your home. You're in shock. You ask yourself, Has this really happened? What do I do now?

First Steps After Disaster

After thanking the Lord for preserving your life through such a calamity (and perhaps wondering why we even call it a “natural” disaster), your priority must be to ensure the physical safety of your family. Material things can be replaced—human life is irreplaceable. Confirm that everyone is safe, and no one is taking unnecessary risks, unless it's to preserve another’s life.

Once your family’s safety is secured, your second step is to call your insurance company to inform them of what has happened. Most likely, they will encourage you to file a claim, even if you are unsure if the loss is covered. Pay close attention to any instructions they provide—both what to do and what not to do—as these could affect your claim.

Third, assuming communications are intact, contact your extended family and loved ones to inform them of what’s happened and reassure them that you and your family are safe.

These first three prudent steps apply to just about anyone and may be the only options for those desperate for relief. But thank the Lord, you are not just anyone. You are part of a church—a connected body of believers. As Paul reminds us in 1 Corinthians 12:26, "If one member suffers, all suffer together." This connection provides you an added layer of support, a safety net many don’t have. In the communion of the saints, we are called to “relieve each other in outward things, according to [our] several abilities and necessities” (Westminster Confession of Faith 26:2).

In the OPC, we take this responsibility seriously. Time and again, whenever disaster strikes within our church community, the OPC Disaster Response inbox fills quickly with messages of concern, and generous financial support pours in. These are powerful expressions of love and compassion from our church family in times of distress. The church lives out Galatians 6:2 in bearing one another’s burdens.

Call Your Church

Thus, when disaster strikes, as a member of the OPC you go on to the fourth step: Contact your local church deacons (or elders, if there are no deacons). Let them know of your situation so they can begin assessing the need. Ask whether the Presbytery Diaconal Committee or OPC Disaster Response should be informed and be involved. Don’t assume your local deacons will think of this resource!

When it’s safe to do so—and before beginning any cleanup or repairs—take detailed photos and videos of the damage. This documentation could prove invaluable when filing insurance claims.

The following steps may be taken by you or by others on your behalf, ideally under the oversight of those who are trained or experienced in disaster response. Consider the following actions in the early days of the aftermath:

• Use proper personal protection. Use masks, goggles, gloves, etc.
• Address potential safety hazards. Turn off gas and electricity if there is any risk.
• Prevent further damage. Use tarps to cover roof openings and minimize water intrusion.
• Remove wet material. If flooding occurred, remove anything that’s wet and cut out drywall and insulation typically twelve inches above the waterline.
• Decontaminate and dry out. If flooding involved outside water, proper disinfection is essential before any restoration begins.

If your insurance policy does not cover your losses, you will undoubtedly experience the amazing care of Christ’s church as they step in to help you to restore what was lost. It’s always amazing to witness this testimony of the love and care of the body of Christ.

PREPARE NOW

If you're reading this and thinking, Whew—I'm thankful I haven’t gone through that, this may just be a gentle warning, nudging you to prepare. Here are a few ways you can prepare for disaster.

Review your insurance coverage. Are you adequately insured? Do you understand your policy? Reach out to your insurance agent to review your coverage. Are you in a flood zone? Should you consider flood insurance? What about earthquake insurance? If your home becomes uninhabitable, does your policy include coverage for temporary housing (often called Additional Living Expenses or ALE)?

Document your possessions. It’s easy to forget the many things that fill our homes. Fortunately, with today’s technology, it's easy to create a video inventory. Using your phone, walk room by room and capture video documentation of your belongings. I recently did this for the first time and was surprised by how many items—tools, books, appliances, heirlooms, and more—would be nearly impossible to recall from memory. This simple act could prove invaluable in filing a future claim.

Develop a family emergency plan. Does your family know what to do if disaster strikes? Do you have a rendezvous point—a way to communicate if cell towers go down? Preparing a plan now can reduce panic and confusion later.

Encourage your church to prepare. Have your local deacons discussed how to care for the congregants in a disaster? Your initiation—and your willingness to help—might spark this important conversation.

I hope you’ll use this article as a starting point toward greater readiness—while never forgetting that we serve the Lord of the winds and the waves. Nothing happens outside of his will. Our true safety is found in the shelter of his wings.

David Nakhla is the administrator for OPC Disaster Response.