United Sikhs’ Disaster Preparedness And Humanitarian Aid Initiative

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA— In the aftermath of hostilities visited upon the Sikh community since 9-11, the Sikh Gurdwaras (places of worship) faced a difficult crossroad. The massacre in a Gurdwara in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, USA, in August 2012 and shootings of members of the Sikh community could not be ignored. Equally important was not to react with fear and abandon or change the 500-year-old Sikh tradition that the Gurdwaras are supposed to be open and welcoming to all, regardless of race, religious beliefs or gender.

 

In direct response, on August 28, 2016, in L.A., California, U.S.A., UNITED SIKHS’ Disaster Preparedness & Humanitarian Aid, volunteers and staff held an “Emergency Preparedness for the Gurdwaras” workshop at the Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib. This Emergency Preparedness Initiative provides solutions and guidance that help the Gurdwaras and its members know in advance what to do when confronted by an emergency, a natural disaster or by violence in their communities. The initiative is intended to provide the balance the community needs in order to emerge confident and more resilient.

 

 

UNITED SIKHS representatives Harpreet Singh and Gurpreet Kaur conducting the workshop at the Lankershim Gurdwara. The Emergency Preparedness for the Gurdwara’s workshop offered hands-on training on the following topics:

1. What is Emergency Preparedness & Why is it important for our Gurdwaras?
2. Basic training on Active Shooter Situation.
3. Emergency Preparedness for the Vulnerable Members of the SIKH Community.
4. Guidance on how to develop and maintain an Emergency Action Plan for the Gurdwaras.

Among the attendees were prominent members, management and staff of the Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib. “The Sikh Community and the Gurdwaras should be prepared for all emergencies. While Sikh principles guide us to be welcoming to all, there’s an equally important need be prepared for emergencies of all kinds. The attack on the Gurdwaras in Oak Creek, Wisconsin, and other hate crimes against the Sikh community, were a gruesome awakening. We need to be able to teach our members adequate safety measures in all Gurdwaras” said Gurcharan Singh Bains, President of the Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib. “The UNITED SIKHS initiative is helping us do that.”

 

Members and management of the Lankershim Gurdwara Sahib attended the workshop. Among those present were Gurcharan Singh Bains, Gurdev Singh, Granthi Darshan Singh Ji, Gurdial Singh Randhawa, Charanjit Singh Deol, Satgurjit Singh Pawar, Jatinder Singh Jot, Gurughar Kirthanee Jatha, Ramandeep Singh, Heera Singh, Satwinder Singh, Mandeep Singh, Ranjit Rana and Hazara Singh Sarpanch.

 

“The workshop was very informational and engaging. It is an important and great initiative by UNITED SIKHS and our Gurdwaras and the Sangat will greatly benefit from the information provided,” said Mr. Singh.

 

In the past, UNITED SIKHS has collaborated with the US Department of Homeland Security (DHS) to conduct similar trainings in the State of New Jersey. The workshops are comprehensive and hands-on trainings based on the guidelines provided by the DHS and various emergency preparedness agencies.

 

The workshops are comprehensive and hands-on trainings based on the guidelines provided by the DHS and various emergency preparedness agencies & we thank our partners for this. These workshops are an effort of the UNITED SIKHS National Center for Disaster Relief & Emergency Preparedness (NCDREP) Training program. To bring these workshops to your Gurdwaras please reach out to us by writing to DisasterPreparedness@unitedsikhs.org.

 

Issued by, 
Gurpreet Kaur 
Program Manager, Disaster Preparedness & Humanitarian Aid, UNITED SIKHS
E: [email protected] | [email protected]