Disaster deployments action plan for chaplains certified and endorsed by Chaplain Fellowship Ministries

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Deputy Chief Director Arthur J Martinez
Disaster Deployments Action Plan For Chaplain Fellowship Ministries

Disaster Deployments: ACTION PLAN For Chaplains of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International Inc. Gods Blessing to all my fellow Chaplains of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries. I am the Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments. The following action plan came about as a result of spending 30 days in Louisiana during Hurricanes Katrina & Rita. After many conversations with Chief Chaplain Gibson, and many hours of phone calls and debriefings after our return from Louisiana. We learned there had to be procedures put into place to protect the safety of our chaplains, and to protect Chaplain Fellowship Ministries regarding the liability that deploying can lead to. There are procedures that we all must following when working in disaster areas for our own welfare.

1. Chaplains will not self deploy under any circumstances under the endorsement of chaplain Fellowship Ministries to any National Disaster without going through the Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments. There are many reasons for this!

2. All disasters are not the same, so if a chaplain or chaplains are deployed to a disaster area the Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments will have already established a contact person at the (EOC) Emergency Operation Center, if it be Homeland Security, FEMA, State,Local ,or County Government Officials.

3. Deployments most likely will be what we call Hardship Deployments, we may get a call from an EOC wanting say Five to Ten Chaplains ASAP. This means that the deployed chaplains will pay for their transportation to and from the disaster area. Chaplains will need their CFMI ID cards and all chaplains who do have badges, they need to wear them. Please take into consideration your families that you will be leaving behind and the everyday business you conduct on a normal basis. Remember it is not a vacation, it is a serious endeavor and at all times chaplains will conduct themselves in a (Professional Manner) the safety of our chaplains is very important to us and the ministry.

4. Upon arrival at the EOC, you will be processed and receive the proper ID, and shots for what ever the disaster may be.

5. Your accommodations will be taken care of by the agency you will be deployed to, it be a Motel, Church Hall, or tent or somewhere to lay your bedroll down. Before deployment we will know all the details, of whom our chaplains will be reporting to, phone numbers etc.

6. Chaplains must take their cell phone, pager or Satellite Phone with them which ever they have. The Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments or other Chief staff members will be checking in with you from time to time during your deployment.

7. Chaplains will be deployed no more then (SEVEN DAYS AT ANY ONE GIVEN TIME) and that includes travel time. Remember none of us are heroes, we are there to help those who need us so pay attention and follow orders. If at any time a chaplain feels their life may be in danger they are to without hesitation call either The Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments or Chief Chaplain Donald Gibson or Chief Chaplain Bruce Francis any time day or night 24 X 7 365. Again remember we are not heroes, we are Gods Warriors serving in His Ministry.

8. If at any time any chaplain does not feel comfortable with their assignment once they are there, please call and let us know what your concerns are. If you are more suited in another area of expertise, we can contact the person in charge at the EOC.

9. Bring a clip Board and a legal pad, there are so many phone numbers and names you will need to know, and believe me from experience you will not remember them all.

10. Plan on being on the work site at usually 7 AM and returning to your housing around 8 PM or 9 PM, so make sure you have water with you, you never know the conditions you will be put in?

11. Home Office, the Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments or Chief Chaplain Donald Gibson will be in contact with every chaplain on a daily basis, this is very important. The last thing I want is to get a call from Chief Chaplain Gibson asking me where is John or Jane Doe, and what is there assignment. We need to know anything and everything. Location cell number etc., we are all grown men and women so if I have not covered anything, feel free to e-mail me or call me. If I don't have the answer, I will get it for you.

12. This next issue is another Important issue and there will be (NO) exceptions to this (RULE). No one is to Take any type of weapon with them. ( Handguns,knifes etc.). There are some chaplains who choose to drive to the location or State of disaster, carrying weapons will get you into trouble real quick. We are not Police Officers, we are chaplains. This does also apply to those who are police officer. Chaplains are chaplains and we are adamant that (NO) one is to carry any (WEAPONS) with them. The only weapon you need is your training, there were many things that happened during Katrina that we seen first hand in La. There were chaplains there carrying guns that were way out of line. Every State is different, and some departments allow there Chaplain to wear uniforms just like the department wears, and they have taken a course in gun safety, but they still are not Police Officers, they are chaplains. This is for everyone safety!

13. All chaplains being deployed must inform the Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments as to any health conditions they may have. Chaplain Fellowship Ministries always considers the welfare of all our chaplain first, their health and safely is always most important. When chaplains go into a disaster healthy, we want to try and make sure they come back to their families the same way, healthy. Chaplains who take medication are to make sure they take enough with them. The Deputy Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments will need a list of medication taken by all chaplains who are deployed. It is the decision of the Chief Director in charge of Disaster Deployments as to who may be deployed under the endorsement of CFMI.

14. As in the events of (911) Katrina & Rita there were some chaplains who were told to go in to areas that were not safe, and there were others that took it upon themselves to enter into unsafe areas where they had no business being in. There are some Chaplains out there that are now in grave condition because they crossed that line, there are unseen things in disaster areas that can, and will take your life. For those who go so they can tell someone they were in New York, during (911) Ground Zero, or they were in La. in New Orleans etc., is the wrong reason for going. Believe it or not, there are a number of chaplains who now need our prayers because they have serious health problems, some life treating.

15. CFMI Chaplains are to conduct themselves as Professionals at all times. Chaplains are to dress in the approved Chaplain Fellowship Ministries Uniform. If a chaplain decides to wear their clergy collar, that is their decision and does conform with CFMI uniform protocol. Male Chaplains will at all times treat all female Chaplains with respect. Chaplain Fellowship Ministries will not stand for (ANY) sexual harassment of any kind, if a complaint is filed, there will be an internal Investigation. If there is evidence that sexual harassment did take place, the offending party will go before the Disciplinary board and could loose their certification and endorsement. The Disciplinary boards decisions shall be final!

In closing it is our prayer that none of us will ever have to be deployed anywhere again in this great country. We are part of the Best Ministry bar none in the United States, and that is Chaplain Fellowship Ministries. I have heard from people all over the country, and have them tell me they know of us and all the good work we do. I light up like a Christmas Tree when I am told that, do you know why? Because I know in my heart it is Gods Ministry and we do what we do for the love of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. Gods Blessings to each and every one of you from coast to coast, and across the oceans. I truly pray for every one of you and this Ministries each and ever day.

Respectfully
Deputy Chief Director Arthur J Martinez
Disaster Deployment Department
Disaster Deployment Contact E-mail

Master Chaplain Arthur Martinez is a combat Vietnam Veteran and former K-9 Patrol officer who trained and worked with drug dogs, and attack dogs in California. Senior Chaplain Jessica Martinez is a desert storm, desert shield veteran and former Police Officer for the Fresno Police Department in California.

During 2005 Chaplain's Arthur & Jessica Martinez were the first chaplains deployed by Chaplain Fellowship Ministries to New Orleans, The Parrish of Algiers, Lanier and the La. State Police Training Academy. They worked as a team counseling New Orleans police Officers who were on duty from day one. Arthur & Jessica also worked counseling fire fighters who had lost there fire stations and there homes and had no idea where there families were.