Overview
PDA and SC PDAT provide the response and support to natural and human-caused disasters across the nation and the state of South Carolina. Such responses include gaining awareness of the event. Upon invitation by the presbytery, the appropriate PDA National Response Team members and/or the SC presbytery commission members will be dispatched to serve in meeting the community’s needs.
SCPDAT Activity
Programs of service include that of being a strategic partner with PDA to provide; initial assistance, emotional and spiritual care services, coordination of providing grant assistance to congregations and presbyteries, act as a foundation for the development and implementation of long term recovery groups as part of the National Volunteers Activivt in Disasters (NVOAD) and the South Carolina VOAD. To assure communities of faith are prepared, training programs are offered to help in the formulation of preparedness with the necessary pre-event planning to protect the congregation, staff, and guests of houses of worship.
Updates
September 2025
Four of the five presbyteries in South Carolina have formed Disaster Assistance Commissions to guide the congregations in preparedness. The development of presbytery websites, the development of points of contact listings with each congregation has helped to generate awareness of the importance of this ministry of congregational preparedness.
July 2025
PDA and SC PDAT together are assisting in the forming of VOAD organizations at the regional and county level since the September 2024 Hurricane Helene arrival in the state. Programs of awareness and specialized Long Term Recovery (LTR) training were completed in July 2025 to understand better NVOAD procedures for generating teams to address the eight areas of community programs.
