UMCOR Responds to Hurricane Sandy
Hurricane Sandy Disaster Response Updates
November 1, 2012from United Methodist Communications Reports
The United Methodist Committee on Relief, the denomination’s disaster-recovery agency, has designated UMCOR Advance #3021787 for 2012 hurricane relief in the United States. You may also have seen the Advance number 901670, which is UMCOR’s general number for U.S. disaster response. U.S. disaster response funds will be channeled toward hurricanes 2012 relief as needed, said Jay Rollins of UMCOR. Donate online at UMCOR.org or by phone at (800) 554-8583. Click here for more information.
October 31, 2012
by Rev. Kyland Dobbins*
As Hurricane Sandy leaves a path of unimaginable destruction, the devastation statistics are beginning to come in with 50 dead in the US, 60 reported deaths in the Caribbean, 8.1 million without power and $20 billion dollars in damage (preliminary estimate). And, as we hear or read these stats, we ask, “HOW CAN WE HELP?”
There are several ways we can help immediately:
- Pray - pray for those who have lost family members and those who have been injured. Pray for those who have lost homes and businesses. Pray for the First Responders who are traveling thousands of miles to help get heat and electricity back to the homes, towns and cities. Pray for those on the ground who give aid and comfort.
- You can give to UCMOR through this link. Donate to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Advance #901670, and select Hurricanes 2012 from the drop-down menu. You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation.
- Your churches can collect funds for relief supplies or you can make up cleaning buckets or health kits. See the UMCOR website for details to make-up these needed supplies: umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies. You can contact Sager Brown for shipping information 337.923.6238.
ATTENTION THOSE IN THE CONFERENCE WHO ARE ERT TRAINED
Remember ERT’s only go where and when they are invited. The effected jurisdictions will ask ERT’s within their conference before asking from outside. As soon as the Jurisdictional office receives an invitation for ERT’s to offer support, you will be notified by your conference Disaster Response Coordinator. How long this will take has yet to be determined. It will be important for you to notify your Conference Disaster Response Coordinator once you have a team created and you are ready to travel.
These are ways you can help in the forthcoming days. Please consider these suggestions.
*Kyland is the Mission Experience Coordinator for the CTC and a regular contributor to ctcumc.org. kyland@ctcumc.org
As Hurricane Sandy bears down on millions of our brothers and sisters along the United States East Coast, The United Methodist Church is helping prepare, respond and cope with the storm's affects. In fact, the"As large as the monster Sandy is, the church is larger and more powerful in its preparations, its spirit and its capacity to be here for years to come," said the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR Assistant General Secretary for U.S. Disaster Response.
Through local United Methodist churches and trained disaster response workers, UMCOR provides immediate relief, assistance with cleanup and rebuilding, pastoral counseling and support for children and youth who have been through trauma. In the U.S., United Methodist Early Response Teams (ERT) from many states have been put on alert, and will deploy once emergency officials say it is safe do so.
The mission of an ERT is to provide a caring presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enables a team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community. The Central Texas Conference Early Response Team has a rich tradition of providing “on the ground” support and relief here in Texas and across the nation. If you are feeling called to be an active member of the CTC ERT, you must have completed an official training course within the last three years. For more information or to register for an upcoming ERT training, visit the CTC Disaster Response page on ctcumc.org or contact Rev. Laraine Waughtal or Rev. Kyland Dobbins.
When asked how those who aren’t ERT trained can best provide assistance, Rev. Hazelwood said, "There are many ways you can help, but the most important right now is by giving to UMCOR Hurricane 2012 Advance #3021787, which will cover needs in the affected U.S. and Caribbean regions.”
You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation. For more information, follow UMCOR on Facebook or call 1-800-554-8583 from 7 a.m. - 8 p.m. Central Time.
Click here to read the latest summaries and reports regarding Hurricane Sandy as the come in from various United Methodist communicators around the country.