Principles of the 2005
Hurricanes Response Plan
(Hurricanes Katrina, Rita, Wilma)

1. Presbyterian Disaster Assistance (PDA) plays a coordinating and supporting role in a long-term recovery response that is shaped by the local survivors, including presbyteries and local recovery organizations.
2. PDA trains and equips people, exercises stewardship over funds, provides connection and relationship with national disaster agencies — both government and non-governmental — and provides ongoing information about recovery efforts to the church at large.
3. In response to the overwhelming requests of Presbyterian members to assist in the recovery, PDA will support and maintain an adequate structure to receive and effectively utilize volunteer work teams.
4. PDA will work from a long-term strategic allocation and will invest funds based on the long-range plan. All interest earned will be returned to the ongoing recovery. Funds received for 2005 Hurricanes will not be used for other disasters.
5. Funds received from individuals and congregations are spent after, and do not replace, government money and/or funds from the Red Cross and other “first responder agencies” that are available in the early stages of a disaster.
6. What PDA and the presbyteries do for survivors will be a free gift. We will not assign volunteers to contractors who charge for their work; neither will beneficiaries assume additional mortgages for work done by PDA volunteers.
7. A portion of the funds received will remain unallocated in order to be able to address the changing reality on the ground. The PDA advisory committee and staff will regularly review this allocation.
8. Wherever possible we will use long-term volunteers instead of paid staff for field positions in order to contain costs.
9. In the Gulf Coast PDA will focus its response in the communities where we currently have established Volunteer Villages and where presbyteries have instituted partnerships with interfaith or governmental agencies responding to the disaster.
10. In accordance with its program guidelines, PDA will adhere to the Code of Conduct for humanitarian response. Aid will be prioritized to those least able to recover without external support.

Long-term Strategic Plan