One great aspect of being a member of the church is the way that the ward gathers together when disaster strikes. This can be a small disaster that affects just one member or a larger disaster that affects the entire ward or stake. It is great because the entire ward works together to provide the help that is needed. Additionally wards and stakes will reach out to help neighboring areas when it comes to disaster relief and clean up. We also do not limit our help to just those who are members of the church.
The home teaching and visiting teaching routes are naturally set-up as a phone tree in the ward. This ensures that everyone gets a phone call if church has been cancelled due to inclement weather. It is also a great way for the bishop to quickly assess who needs help after a bad storm, or other natural disaster. If you have left the area due to a hurricane, you may want to contact your home teacher after you leave, so that they are not frantically trying to contact you.
After the initial disaster is over, the clean up can be a long arduous process. Work goes a lot faster when people team up. Several people working to clear fallen trees can clear a lot more in the same number of man-hours because it makes the work easier. You may find that groups will rotate between areas that need help. Additionally men may work as teams to prevent damage from storms. When I was five I remember all the men leaving church to go and sandbag to stop severe flooding in Salt Lake City.
Several areas in the South sent groups of men to help in the areas affected by Hurricane Katrina two years ago. Each weekend different stakes would send men down to help out with the clean up process. The church coordinated the effort so that people were helping for several months. This also happens in areas all over the world. The church often helps poorer countries by sending in much needed supplies. You can learn more about their efforts here.
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