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You can click on the Gulf Breeze IDR Resources tab above, to access manuals, presentations, and other resources as they become available.

About Us

Our first meeting was held May 24th, 2005, and progress was made in developing our plan. Areas of need were identified and churches determined which area they were most able to fill and took responsibility for providing that service, aware that support from everyone would be provided. Hurricane Dennis came along before our plan was complete. Even so, we were in a much better position to provide needed services than ever before. A list of over 75 volunteers ready to help was made 48 hours prior to Dennis coming through our community.

We were able to have water and ice distribution started the day after Dennis, as the leader of that area, Jeff Spooneybarger, Pastor of First Baptist Church in Gulf Breeze and teams of local volunteers were in place and ready to help.

Meals and Day Care services for Emergency workers and City Staff were provided by Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church. St. Ann's Catholic Church while ready to provide meals to the community was also able to accommodate the transfer of providing Emergency Workers and City staff meals to their facility due to unexpected electrical problems at GBUMC. Standing by ready to act if needed was St. Paul's Methodist Church who were going to provide equipment resources such as chain saws, generators, etc. and Gulf Breeze Presbyterian Church ready to act as a Distribution Center for clothing and cleaning supplies.

A letter was sent to Governor Bush explaining how this concept was developed and the positive impact it had on our community in the aftermath of Hurricane Dennis. In response to that letter, the Governor met with representatives of the Interfaith Disaster Resources, on Thursday, August 18, 2005. 

Interfaith Disaster Resources was represented by Nancy Millay, Director of Finance, City of Gulf Breeze; June Jernigan Executive Pastor of Gulf Breeze United Methodist Church; Susie Spencer, Parish Administrator, and Trish Bond, Stewardship Development Director, both of St. Ann's Catholic Church.

Governor Bush had the following staff members in attendance; Deirdre Finn, Deputy Chief of Staff, W. Craig Fugate, Director Division of Emergency Management, Wendy Spencer, Chief Executive Officer and Alex Amparo, Director of Legislative Affairs both of The governors Commission on Volunteerism and Service.

Bush and his staff were very supportive of what IDR had accomplished to date and encouraged us to complete our Manual, anticipating this to become a model for other entities throughout the state. Bush requested that Interfaith Disaster Resources put together a workshop for presentation at the Governors Hurricane Conference in May and suggested other possible settings for similar presentations.

Some of the key points discussed:

• we can accomplish much more together through faith and community, than we can as individual entities
• the need for better communication between all agencies, especially those with more autonomy
• relationships developed and a plan in place pre-disaster is most effective
• bringing the IDR model to other communities throughout the state

Governor Bush directed his staff to follow up with us and provide support and services needed to bring this plan to others.

Gulf Breeze IDR Manual

You can click here, or the link up top to see the entire Gulf Breeze IDR Manual in pdf form.