1301 West Government Street

1301 West Government Street

Pensacola, Florida 32501

www.BeReadyAlliance.org

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]



Board Officers

Dave Cobb, Chair

David Lister, Treasurer

Sue Straughn, Secretary

Brunie Emmanuel, Chair

Programs & Services

Executive Director

Greg Strader

Dear Gordon Godfrey Jr. – Senior Pastor

Marcus Pointe Baptist Church

BRACE’s Faith-Based Committee is dedicated to building and fostering interfaith partnerships throughout our community. One way we plan to develop and encourage these partnerships is through neighborhood meetings or “clusters”. We believe these clusters will be vital in helping your congregation prepare for and respond to all types of emergencies. The friendships that are sure to develop will be a wonderful side effect.

Would you host, at your church, a gathering of the pastors, laity church leaders, and faith-based organizational leadership located in your neighborhood? Stan Lollar and I, Co-chairs of the Faith-Based Committee, will be present to lead the meeting and discuss how participation in BRACE’s Faith-Based Network benefits us all in times of emergency and beyond. The purpose of this meeting will be to share the work and mission of BRACE, offer resources to establish working relationships between your neighborhood churches and organizations, and share how pre-planning and established lines of communication can help you in times of disaster and public health crisis. BRACE will supply guest lists, invitations, mailing labels, and all necessary print and media resources for a successful meeting.
You and your church were selected as a potential host location because you provide the best geographic location for your neighborhood meeting. We thank our current BRACE Partners for your continued support. If you are not already a BRACE Partner, we earnestly hope you will become one. Partnering with BRACE provides you with vital information and opportunities to better serve your members as well as your surrounding community. Partnering with neighborhood churches offers familiarity, allowing you to explore nearby facilities and locations and identify resources that can help one another’s congregations and neighborhoods.
Enclosed you will find information on BRACE, who we are and what we do, as well as a breakdown of the suggested cluster meetings throughout the county. Our vision is to make Escambia County the most disaster-resilient community in America. We hope you will join us in that effort.
With the upcoming holiday season approaching, we plan to begin conducting these Faith-Based Cluster Meetings in January 2010. If you agree to act as a host location, meetings can be scheduled at your convenience. Please contact me if you will join us in this mission. If you need more information before committing, please call me at 432-3505 or Stan at 516-1065. We are available to answer any questions and discuss our vision for BRACE’s Faith-Based Network. We are also able to meet with you if desired.
Will you host a meeting? Please email your yes or no response to me at [e-mail] by November 1^st so we can plan accordingly. We look forward to joining with you and serving God’s children together in times of emergency need.
Thank you for your consideration.

Hugh Hamilton

Hugh Hamilton

Pastor, Trinity Presbyterian Church

Co-Chair BRACE Faith-Based Committee

3400 Bayou Boulevard, Pensacola, FL

850-432-3505

Email: [e-mail]

Who We Are and What We Do

BRACE is a COAD - Community Organization Active in Disasters. It was formed in 2006, due to the efforts of the Escambia County Long-Term Recovery Committee in response to lessons learned from Hurricanes Ivan and Dennis. When not in disaster-mode, BRACE works year-round with local residents, businesses, and organizations to prepare for and mitigate against all types of emergencies. We have been named the Escambia County Citizen Corps Coordinator and provide various education and training throughout the community.
OUR MISSION: To reduce loss of life, injury, property damage, environmental impact, and economic loss due to disaster through fostering communication, cooperation, collaboration, and coordination among community, faith-based, non-profit, private, and public organizations active in one or more phases of emergency management.
OUR VISION: To be the most disaster-resilient community in America.
BRACE’S PROGRAM OF WORK – 2008 to 2009:

• 
  Mission Homeward Bound
  

• 
  Assisted 215 local families (who were forced to evacuate FEMA trailers) in securing alternate housing.
  

• 
  Disaster Response – Homebound
  

• 
  Canvassed neighborhoods to identify the location and needs of individuals unable to evacuate themselves during an emergency. Partnered with the Escambia County Health Department and Escambia County Emergency Management to assist this special needs population in emergencies.
  

• 
  Disaster Response – Childcare for First Responders
  

• 
  Secured location, staffing, generator, and emergency food supplies, materials and resources necessary to enable us to open a child care center for law enforcement, medical service providers, firefighters, and other emergency response personnel. First Responders can now report for duty in times of disaster knowing their children and families will be safe.
  

• 
  Disaster Preparedness and Mitigation
  

• 
  Engaged citizens to take personal responsibility and be self-sufficient in times of disaster; participated with Escambia County Emergency Management in Florida’s Statewide Hurricane Planning and Preparedness exercises; conducted the BRACE Hurricane EXPO at the Pensacola Civic Center; conducted the Get A Kit/Give a Kit Program to promote preparedness and provide emergency supply kits to homebound and other disabled persons in our community.
  

• 
  Adult and Youth CERT Program
  

• 
  Provided education materials and equipment for individuals age 12 and up who participated in Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) training. These teams are taught a neighbor helping neighbor philosophy of preparedness, response and recovery during an emergency.
  

• 
  Faith Based Committee
  

• 
  Expanded partnerships and resources available to and from Escambia County’s faith-based organizations. During May’s Statewide Hurricane Planning and Preparedness exercise, we were able to locate and commit resources to meet every “situation” thrown at us during the role-play exercise conducted through the Escambia County Emergency Operations Center (EOC).
  

BRACE is an official partner in the Escambia County Comprehensive Emergency Management Plan. We are active in Emergency Support Function 15 – Volunteer and Donations and Emergency Support Function 18, Business and Industry.

1301 West Government Street

Pensacola, Florida 32501

www.BeReadyAlliance.org

Tel: [phone]

Fax: [phone]



Board Officers

Dave Cobb, Chair

David Lister, Treasurer

Sue Straughn, Secretary

Brunie Emmanuel, Chair

Programs & Services

Executive Director

Greg Strader

Below is a list of the initial targeted neighborhoods for the BRACE Faith-based Cluster Meetings. They have been designated by county fire district.

Each of you is being contacted to host the cluster meetings because of your location within one of these thirteen communities.
Will you host a meeting? If you or another representative of your church is able to host the cluster meetings Please email your yes or no response to [e-mail] by November 1^st so we can plan accordingly.

1. 
   Beulah
   
2. 
   Bellview
   
3. 
   Brent
   
4. 
   Cantonement
   
5. 
   City of Pensacola
   
6. 
   Ensley
   
7. 
   Ferry Pass
   
8. 
   Innerarity
   
9. 
   Molino
   
10. 
    Myrtle Grove
    
11. 
    Walnut Hill
    
12. 
    Warrington
    
13. 
    West Pensacola