ERD is encouraging all dioceses to participate in this first-time contest.

Domestically, ERD works to provide relief and rebuild communities devastated by disasters, such as Hurricane Katrina and September 11. The effort is spearheaded as part of ERD's Domestic Disaster Response and Preparedness Program, which aims to equip and train dioceses and parishes to organize a cooperated response, protect their facilities and deliver relief to communities after emergencies.

Criteria for the Episcopal Diocesan Emergency Plan competition include measuring the effectiveness of the guideline and actionable documentation in which the diocese will support an affected community in their response and recovery.

An independent panel of four with a combination of expertise in Emergency Management and direct knowledge of the Episcopal Church will serve as judges. They will select three dioceses to receive funding from ERD totaling $40,000 dollars ($25,000 for first place, $10,000 for second place, and $5,000 for third place) for their emergency preparedness and response program.

Each diocese's plan will be individually judged and rated according to standards such as integration into community and government networks, alert and notification procedures, accountability process and requirements, as well as partnerships made with other Episcopal dioceses.

"ERD hopes that this initiative will inspire dioceses to think creatively about what their call will be in response to disasters. Houses of worship are often the first place people turn in times of crisis, as I witnessed first hand in the aftermath of Katrina," said Robert W. Radtke, ERD president. "Helping to prepare the dioceses of the Episcopal Church to carry out their ministries in the event of an emergency is a key priority for ERD."

"Our goal is that all dioceses and church institutions will be equipped with an integrated plan and emergency coordinator to immediately and efficiently respond if or when their communities are faced with an emergency," said Richard Ohlsen, ERD's director of Domestic Disaster Response and Preparedness.

A complete list of rules and guidelines is available for download here. The deadline for entries is March 30, 2008. In preparation for the 2008 hurricane season, an announcement of the winners will be made on June 2, 2008. For more information or questions regarding the competition, please contact Richard Ohlsen at 212-716-6360 or rohlsen@er-d.org.