Buddhism tends to be a decentralized faith and even though there are Buddhist abbeys and temples in the north state, they are small in comparison to other faith groups or congregations. Although any Buddhist would be prepared to assist anyone in a disaster regardless of their faith tradition, or lack of a faith, a local Buddhist practitioner would probably seek to join a larger group or organization to provide coordinated services. There is a joint-faith model that we can expand upon here in Shasta County.
After the terrorist attacks of Sept. 11, 2001, there was a joining of faith groups in New York City that resulted in an interfaith dialogue and the creation of the New York Disaster Interfaith Services (www.nydis.org). This was a combined ecclesiastical response that coordinated resources and services. The faith groups in Shasta County could create a similar response model to assist government and nonprofit disaster responders.
A faith-driven Shasta County Disaster Interfaith Services could supplement existing disaster response teams by providing faith-based counselors, volunteers, and if appropriate, facilities for staging or recovery work. In a disaster, all faith groups can play a vital role in community services and restoration.
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