Clergy members from around Sarasota County are gathering this morning to discuss what role their congregations might play in hurricane preparedness and recovery.
Nearly 400 pastors, rabbis and other faith leaders were invited - in hopes of enlisting their help – if it’s needed - this hurricane season. The Community Foundation of Sarasota County is organizing the informational breakfast. Foundation President – Stewart Stearns – says he’s already had positive feedback.

“Just talking to a number of pastors and rabbis in this area we found that many of them were very interested in exploring the opportunities to present these concepts to their congregations. So as part of our disaster relief program we’re going to outline a new way of thinking about how we do emergency services in Sarasota County.”

Sarasota’s new disaster relief program includes a secondary emergency operations center that will house health & human service agencies. The county is also setting up what it calls Places of Distribution, or PODS, to help organize relief efforts… Stearns says he’s hoping to enlist the help of local churches and synagogues. In related news, seven Florida Catholic charities recently signed an agreement to provide coordinated assistance - if another hurricane strikes the sunshine state.