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Texas Annual Conference
May 2013 Tornado Outbreak
May 21, 2013:
5pm:
While we are thankful the death toll was lowered today, there remains tremendous destruction. To that end, Missional Excellence put out a letter today with three key points; (1) Pray for the survivors and first responders; (2) Give to help those suffering; and (3) DO NOT Self Respond, wait for word (you will see it here once we have it) that we are invited then form teams and follow proper protocol for responding.
In addition to the letter we want to add that the collection of goods for distribution is NOT something that should happen at this time. Neither our own conference or the Oklahoma Conference is prepared to deal with supply donations. Instead give money or gift cards, sending them to the Texas Annual Conference offices noting that they are designated for the Oklahoma tornado disaster. You can also give to UMCOR general domestic disaster funds by texting 80888 (to give $10).
9am:
Richard Norman CRDR for Oklahoma Conference provided information. A quick summary; please pray; do not collect items (instead send money); and do NOT respond until invited.
Link to the message from Oklahoma CDRC
May 20th 9pm update
Message from SEJ
What a few terrible days we have experienced, whether personally or by watching television. I know you all join me, when I say my heartaches for those affected by the terrible storms which have ravaged our nation’s heartland. In the coming days ahead our physical help will be needed. Until that invitation is issued, there are several ways you can help. As always prayer is always appreciated.
Survivors often tell stories of how they felt surrounded by prayer during difficult times.
Another way to help is by putting together relief supplies-relief kits and cleaning buckets. This link http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies/Relief-Supply-Kits has specific instructions for preparing these supplies. The UMCOR Relief-Supply Network will help you find where to take or ship these supplies. You can also help by making online donations to US Disaster Response, Advance #901670 or by calling toll-free 1-800-554-8583. To make an immediate $10 donation text RESPONSE to 80888. Your donations matter
May 20th 5pm update
While we have seen tornados touch down and effect people in Texas and Oklahoma we have not been invited be the conferences where the tornados struck asking for help.
Please pray for those in the path of the tornados. If you wish to donate you may send a check to the Texas Conference offices with a note in the memo line designating the funds for tornado victims. You may also mail gift cards from large retail stores to the conference offices with a note that they are for tornado victims.
We will send out alerts via text and facebook if we are calling up teams. ERT members will also get email alerts.
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Letter re: West, Texas Explosion and recovery:
May 2, 2013
FROM: Rev. Laraine Waughtal and the Central Texas Disaster Response Team
TO: South Central Jurisdiction Disaster Response and Volunteer in Mission Coordinators
Thanks to all again for your prayers and support during this very difficult time for the citizens of West, Texas and those who have come in to help. Three hundred-fifty homes were affected by the factory blast. It is been determined 170 homes are uninhabitable. These home will be bulldozed and debris taken away by the town of West. The CTX ERTs are helping those families whose homes will be bulldozed to pack up what items they can save. The need for our local ERTs will continue for a couple more weeks.
We appreciate the many offers of help from all the ERTs from around the area, we are able to handle the needs of West. We will move into the Long Term Recovery phase within the next couple of weeks. The process and registration program for Long Term Recovery is being created. As soon as we can receive these LTR-VIM teams you will be notified.
Thank you again for your continued prayers and support. It means more than you can know.
Blessings,
Laraine Waughtal and the CTX Disaster Response
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April 22, 2013: West, Texas explosion
At this time word from Central Texas Conference, where West is located, indicates they are not ready for any volunteers. They are in need of prayers and cash donations to help with the recovery efforts.
We will invite our ERT certified persons and post volunteer opportunities here when our conference is invited by the Central Texas Conference to do so. Please be patient while they assess the need and prepare for teams to come in at their request.
April 18, 2013: Explosion in the town of West, Texas
We will be collecting the following goods and facilitating delivery to the coordinating entities in West, Texas this Sunday. See list of items and drop locations below.
We are planning a delivery this Sunday, April 21. Items to be collected:
- Bottled Water
- Toiletries
- Blankets
- Diapers
- Formula
- Bottles
- Toys
- Stuffed Animals
- Peroxide
- Alcohol
- AdultDiapers
- First-Aid Supplies
- Gauze
- Cots
- Air Mattresses
- Pillows
We have four drop-off points.
- Eagle Heights Fellowship Contributions must be delivered by 12 PM, Sunday, April 21. 14120 Hwy 146 Mont Belview, TX, 77580 Contact: Rev. Scott Neal, 281-576-0584
- Old River Terrace UMC Contributions must be delivered by 2 PM, Sunday, April 21. 16102 I-10 East Channelview, TX, 77530 Contact: Rev. Clay Whitaker, 281-917-6309
- The Foundry UMC Contributions must be delivered by 3 PM, Sunday, April 21. 8350 Jones Rd Houston, TX, 77065 Contact: Rev. Lynda Zelenka, 713-894-5881
- First UMC, Brenham Contributions must be delivered by 4 PM, Sunday, April 21. 408 N Baylor Brenham, TX, 77833 Contact: Fri - Office, 979-836-2008 Sat - Clarence Jean, 713-855-1552
For those not able to participate in this delivery, but may want to plan their own, please contact: Mark Felton, Red Cross, Heart of Texas, Waco Chapter at 254-523-4985. They presently have two warehouse drop-off points, which are:
1. West Auction Barn, 20645 N Interstate 35 West, TX, 76691, 254-826-3725.
April 5, 2013: Hurricane Milby Drill and Training Exercise
As previously mentioned we will have a drill and ERT disaster deployment exercise as outlined below. Please sign up at our sign-up page to participate.
February 26, 2013 East Houston Response - Mission Milby:
On Friday 26 April thru 3:00 pm on Saturday 27 April we will deploy ERT teams to assist Mission Milby. (Recently Rev. Clay Whittaker stated this is the most advance notice we have ever had for an ERT deployment.)
The ERT deployment will offer teams an opportunity to work together building that team spirit and practice skills that may be called upon at any time. The Mission Milby project will allow the teams to practice various skills while helping a United Methodist Mission project with many needs.
Please sign-up to volunteer. The space is limited based on space constraints on-site at Mission Milby. Please donate $10 per attendee to cover the cost of food which is scheduled to be provided to each attendee. The donations will be collected at the door.
Jan. 15, 2013 update on Hurricane Sandy
Teams and volunteers may now sign up on the same websites as the ERT led recovery teams. Even if is still says you need an ERT person on the team – you may disregard this and sign your Long Term Recovery team up!
It is requested all teams that sign up must have a TRAINED UMVIM TEAM LEADER. This is extremely important as all the pieces may not be in place and some extra leadership skills may need to come into play! If you have not had team leader training contact your UMVIM Coordinator for team leader training dates.
Go to these websites listed below to register. You will get an email response after you sign up. If you do not get a response, contact the site again!
New York Conference : www.Nyac.com - 5 sites open register on line.
Greater New Jersey Conference : www.gnjumc.org - 9 sites open register on line. Not a lot of assessed locations - your team may have to do some assessments along with relief work
Peninsula-Delaware Conference. Schedule teams through the Disaster Response Coordinator, Rich Walton pastorrich@att.net. They are working on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Crisfield, Maryland.
West Virginia Conference - Contact Jenny Gannaway jennygannaway@frontier.com
Message from TACCOR's Director of Early Response Teams:
TACCOR UPDATES
By Clayton Whitaker
SANDY HOOK SHOOTING TRAGEDY
Of first importance is prayer, and lots of it, for the 27 devastated families, for all staff members at Sandy Hook Elementary, for the local churches and clergy who are ministering to the hurting, and for the entire Newtown community.
Thanks to a teacher from the Katy ISD, a fund has been set up to help the families with funeral costs. All funds received will be divided evenly among them. The link below will take you to the channel 11 story explaining the fund.
Sandy Hook School Support Fund
c/o Newtown Savings Bank
39 Main Street
Newtown, CT 06470
http://www.khou.com/news/Katy-teacher-honors-college-roommate-183858381.html
The Newtown UMC is within walking distance from Sandy Hook Elementary. The church doors have remained open daily as people are in constant need a place to pray, rest, and eat. Within the 600-member church, there are twelve Stephens Ministers who have been on duty almost around the clock. Other members have taken time off from jobs (the entire week in some cases) to be available to help. Some, who are certified as Early Responders, were already gone when the shooting occurred serving Hurricane Sandy victims in New York and New Jersey.
The costs for utilities, facility supplies, food, etc., are understandably much higher than normal. Donations made to the church will be received with much gratitude! Make checks payable to Newtown UMC, earmarked Sandy Hook Relief. Send your donations to:
The Newtown UMC
92 Church Hill Road
Sandy Hook, Connecticut, 06482
HURRICANE SUPERSTORM SANDY UPDATE
(Many ‘Thanks’ to Kathie Mann & Jan Bierworth for the info in this section!)
Hurricane Sandy left a path of unimaginable destruction. At last count, the hurricane's death toll had climbed to 113 in the United States and over 60 in the Caribbean. Half a million families have registered with FEMA so far. The preliminary estimate of structural damage is in excess of $20 billion which makes this the second costliest disaster in the U.S.
HOW CAN WE HELP?
v PRAY - Pray for those who have lost family members and those who have been injured, those who have lost homes and businesses and Early Response teams who are traveling and working in the disaster zone.
v GIVE - A donation to UMCOR is the best way to get help quickly to hurricane survivors. You can give to UCMOR by clicking on this link: UMCOR US Disaster Response, Advance #901670 then selecting Hurricanes 2012 from the drop-down menu. You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation.
v ORGANIZE - Your church can collect funds for relief supplies or assemble “cleaning buckets” or “health kits”. For details, go to: http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies.
If your church has any relief supplies ready for delivery, Old River Terrace UMC, Channelview, is a drop-off site for the Conference. Contact Clay Whitaker at 281-452-2861 for more info.
v PREPARE TO GO - The North East Jurisdiction has advised that it is ready to register ERT teams. Please notify Dewitt Cox, the Texas Conference Disaster Response Coordinator, at disasterresponse@taccor.org so he can help facilitate. ER Teams have been requested but not everyone has to be badged. One badged person per three team members is the ratio.
v Greater New Jersey: send email to DisasterResponse@gnjumc.org. A representative of the conference disaster team will contact you. Please list: Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size, dates available to respond.
v New York Conference: Go to www.nyac.com and register on their website with information requested.
v Pen-Del Conference: Email to pastorrich@att.net. You will be contacted by a representative of the conference disaster team. Please list: Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size (5-7 recommended) and dates available to respond.
PLEASE BE PATIENT. Teams will be needed in the region (affected by Hurricane Sandy) for the foreseeable future. Thank you for looking to serve and we want you here with us - at the appropriate time and through channels established by the affected Conferences. Thanks and blessings, Greg Forester, UMVIM NEJ
Individual Volunteer Training
The United Methodist Church identifies mission opportunities for single or married couples who are willing to serve in mission for a period of two months to two years. For more information contact Nancy Eubanks at nteubanks@gmail.com.
GBGM will hold its 2013 Individual Volunteer training sessions as follows:
*February 20-24, 2013 in Biloxi, MS at Seashore Assembly;
*April 10-14, 2013 in Evanston, IL at Garrett- Evangelical Theological Seminary;
*June 5-9, 2013 in Leawood, KS at Church of the Resurrection;
*August 13-17, 2013 in Eagle Creek, OR at Alton L. Collins Conference and Retreat Center; and *October 16-20, 2013 in Silver Lake, NY at Asbury Retreat Center.
Teams still needed for these Long Term Recovery sites
Louisiana - Long Term Recovery began October 1, 2012. Every UMVIM team must have a trained and certified team leader. Information for registering your UMVIM team and housing can be found at http://www.la-umc.org/pages/detail/1761
Southwest Texas - needs teams now to help with Long Term Recovery from the Bastrop/Spicewood fires of 2011. Register online: disasterresponse@umcad.org, attention Margery Marshall, or call her at 775-848-0766 for registration information.
Teams needing housing - http://www.umcswtx.org/umvim-registration
Day teams register - http://www.umcswtx.org/umvim-registration
Please contact your DDRC if you wish to be part of a team that responds to this or any other disaster.
November 26th 10am update:
To All ERT Participants! This memo will address: 1) Hurricane Isaac, 2) Hurricane Sandy, 1. Hurricane Isaac Recovery Teams are needed along the Gulf Coast. Here are two contacts worth exploring. For volunteers staying five nights, the cost per person of $225 covers the following: b.) Go to the Louisiana Conference website at www.la-umc.org/pages/detail/1761 for the complete page of information. 2. Hurricane Sandy The below was sent by Greg Forrester, the NEJ Disaster-Resoibse Coordinator, on Nov. 11. Hurricane Sandy Response Dear Debbie, I have spent the day traveling around the Greater New Jersey Conference in the areas of Bay Head, Belmar, Point Pleasant, and Middletown. St. Paul's UMC has been open in Bay Head Middletown UMC - staging and housing point for ERT's and supplies - dedicated to serving the Lord in whatever they are asked. Belmar UMC - church and parsonage severely damaged - but now cleaned and partially sanitized by a Balt-Washington conference ERT group alongside GNJ ERTs. Tomorrow we head south to witness the great work of the churches in that region. TO RECIEVE A LOCATION AND CONFIRMED DATES: Please list: Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size, dates available to respond MEANWHILE - continue to collect supplies for Cleanup buckets and Health kits. We have already distributed thousands and will need thousands more. Your gift to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Hurricanes 2012, Advance #3021787, will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over the long term of their recovery. PRAY!!! Should you have further questions or concerns please contact the UMVIM NEJ office so as to allow the affected conference Disaster teams the time necessary for their work. Blessings, Happy Thanksgiving to all of you! |
November 12th 6pm update:
GREATER NEW JERSEY is ready to recieve ERTs - the door is
open the invitation extended all ERTs. You must be self sustaining groups - churches will provide housing but you must do your own meals and be ready for flexible conditions. Only self starters should respond as this will be a door to door cleanup in some of the areas. Eight churches have been identified as host sites.
TO RECIEVE A LOCATION AND CONFIRMED DATES:
Greater New Jersey - send email to: DisasterResponse@gnjumc.org
You will be contacted by a representative of the
conference disaster team.
Please list : Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size, dates available to respond
MEANWHILE - continue to collect supplies for Cleanup buckets and Health kits. We have already distributed thousands and will need thousands more. Your gift to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Hurricanes 2012, Advance #3021787, will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over the long term of their recovery. PRAY!!!
Should you have further questions or concerns please contact the UMVIM NEJ office so as to allow the affected conference Disaster teams the time necessary for their work.
Blessings,
Greg Forrester, UMVIM NEJ Coord.
November 9th 5pm update:
Directly from area affected. The takeaway message, monetary donations are king, labor to help can be registered but is not needed at the moment.
Here's the message:
Dear Friends,
Grace and Peace to you this day!
You have all been watching the catastrophe unfold in the Superstorm Sandy affected areas. It is not good
but there are many beacons of hope that are shining through the dark places. Churches are reaching out
to their communities providing shelter, warmth, fellowship, and comfort. They are being "the church".
They are doing their very best with an awesome support system that we call the United Methodist church.
Many of you from outside the region are looking to physically respond with ERT teams.
The Northeastern Jurisdiction has over 1500 persons trained and badged through our UMCOR process.
We have thousands more who have responded to flooding from Hurricane Irene and Tropical Storm Lee.
The Greater NJ conference has 150 ERT and New York conference over 500. These conferences have been
fielding their ERT teams this past week. Their Disaster Response coordinators have been busy with the
relief process and setting up logistics for further response.
So what does this mean? We are establishing a process whereby teams can register in each of the
areas. First priority will be given to teams responding from the Northeast as less resources will be required
for them to respond. Many of the areas are still in the Emergency Phase and even credentialed persons are
being denied access by National Guard and regional police unless they are from the area. PLEASE BE PATIENT.
There are already numerous reports of unaffiliated and unrequested volunteers hampering the recovery efforts.
We do not want the United Methodist church highlighted as one of these groups. PLEASE BE PATIENT.
For ERT teams (only team leader register your group):
Greater New Jersey - send email to: DisasterResponse@gnjumc.org
You will be contacted by a representative of the conference disaster team.
Please list : Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size, dates available to respond
New York Conference: Go to www.nyac.com and register on their website with information requested
Pen-Del Conference: Email to: pastorrich@att.net
You will be contacted by a representative of the conference disaster team.
Please list : Name and contact info, Church, Annual Conference, team size (5-7 recommended), dates avail.
PLEASE BE PATIENT. We will be needing teams in the region for the foreseeable future and will be establishing
a process for teams. Thank you for looking to serve and we want you here with us - at the appropriate time and
through channels established by the affected conferences.
MEANWHILE - continue to collect supplies for Cleanup buckets and Health kits. We have already distributed
thousands and will need thousands more. Your gift to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Hurricanes 2012, Advance #3021787,
will help UMCOR to be with storm survivors over the long term of their recovery. PRAY!!!
Should you have further questions or concerns please contact the UMVIM NEJ office so as to allow the affected
conference Disaster teams the time necessary for their work.
Thanks and blessings, Greg
Gregory A. Forrester
UMVIM NEJ coordinator
November 8st 5pm update:
The following comes directly from Rev. Clay Whittaker our ERT Director:
Greetings to ERTs!
The following info comes from Greg Forrester, the Northeast Jurisdictional DR Coord., Debbie Vest, the SCJ Coord., and Kathie Mann, the Tx Conf Director of Partners-In-Mission. If any of you have relief supplies, our next delivery to UMCOR-Sager Brown is Monday, Nov. 12. Please get them to me at Old River Terrace UMC, 16102 I-10 E, Channelview, Tx, 77530, by Sunday night, Nov. 11.
If you can't get them to me by then, please try to get them here in the near future. We will make one more delivery to Sager Brown before year's end.
Clay PS Keep Reading!
As Hurricane Sandy leaves a path of unimaginable destruction, the numbers are coming out with over 100 deaths in the US, 60 in the Caribbean, 8.1 million without power and $20 billion dollars in damage (preliminary estimate) we ask, “HOW CAN WE HELP?”
There are several ways we can help in the immediate: 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.
Thank you,
Debbie Vest, UMVIM South Central Jurisdiction
From UMVIM North East Jurisdiction
Grace and Peace to you this day! Hurricane Sandy has blown through our lives and our land these past few days. It has left an indelible mark. As recovery efforts and infrastructure are put into place in ALL of the affected areas - I will let you know when we are able to receive your physical assistance. I am working with the Disaster Response and UMVIM coordinators to make certain that we can connect and serve appropriately. If you do not live in the affected areas, we ask that you organize yourselves into potential teams and wait for the invitation to come.
Meanwhile - use this time to put together Cleaning buckets and Health kits – as we will exhaust our current supplies. (At www.txcumc.org. (Under link for Missional Excellence, then Partners In Mission. Under Projects you will find the Mission Catalog which has the information for these kits on pages 6 and 7.)
Please give to the UMCOR Advance. Help now. Donate to UMCOR US Disaster Response, Advance #3021787. You can also text the word RESPONSE to 80888 to give an immediate $10 donation. It is an easy way to give.
Thank you for your willingness to come to the aid of others in the name of Christ! Have patience as we get organized to receive your assistance.
Greg Forrester, NEJ Coordinator
November 1st 5pm update:
We have a communication from the area affected by the storm:
Dear Friends,
This update comes from Greg Forrester's office in the Northeast
Jurisdiction. It is important to keep everyone in the loop to know what is
happening in the wake of Superstorm Sandy and what their requested needs
are. If you have already received this notification, please disregard.
If you have not: Share this important information with your conference
colleagues and conference communications persons.
Again the request 1. Wait until called, 2. Work with your churches for
cleanup buckets and health kits and 3. give to UMCOR.
Finally Greg suggests you sign-up for your conference e-letter list serves
for additional information.
A message that was posted yesterday reminded that an easy way to donate is Texting the word RESPONSE to 80888 and that will donate $10 to domestic disaster relief @ UMCOR. I am going to have my pastor bring this up in service this Sunday. Kool way to introduce it is for the pastor to hold up his/her phone and do this while saying, "Everyone who wants to donate $10 to the survivors of Sandy pull out your phones and text RESPONSE to 80888".
October 30th 9pm update:
TACCOR has offered assistance thru Church connections to the conferences affected by Hurricane Sandy. We are waiting for their responses and an invitation before taking steps to put teams together to help.
In the meantime, please don't forget the need left from Isaac which is about 30 hours closer via car than is the damage in New England caused by Sandy. Teams eager to help can contact us about opportunities to assist in Louisiana with Isaac relief.
October 29th 5pm update:
Hurricane Sandy is presently hitting the Northeastern states in the USA. At this time TACCOR has not activated or even put on alert any response teams. We must first wait for the Emergency (storm hitting shore) to pass.
After the emergency itself is over then the affected conferences and jurisdictions will assess their needs. It is only after they decide to invite in outside teams that we may be invited to respond to assist them with Hurricane Sandy recovery.
For those who want to help immediately, UMCOR (the UMCOR US Disaster advance number is 901670) has set up an advance account for cash donations which will be uses to help with recovery efforts in the states affected.
Based on the evening newscast there will be typical hurricane damage along many miles of coast in New Jersey up thru Massachusetts. West Virginia and other areas further West may experience blizzard conditions. If the storm hooks around towards the Northeast again, it's possible more flooding and high wind type damage will be spread thru New England.
Check our tracking page for more information on the storm's location.
All other areas of the USA
At this time we have not been asked to respond to other conferences.
Internationally
We are not involved in any disaster relief efforts outside the USA at this time.
