Religious groups play a critical role in responding to wildfires, hurricanes and other disasters, VOA News notes in a piece about the Disasters & Religions app. The app helps disaster professional and volunteers learn about different traditions so they can better serve the people they assist.
“It was really after [Hurricane] Katrina that there was a real realignment of understanding from the federal government side that faith communities were important actors in the disaster responses system and they needed to be part of the ‘whole community’ approach,” CRCC’s Executive Director Brie Loskota told VOA News.
The app—developed by CRCC and the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN) and New York Disaster Interfaith Services (NYDIS)—includes information about what various religious groups believe, what they can and cannot eat, their burial practices or shelter practices, said Peter Gudaitis, executive director at NYDIS, president at NDIN and a fellow with CRCC.
Click here to learn more about the app.
Download on Apple App Store
Download on Google Play
