UMVIM partners with UMCOR
UMVIM has partnered with UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) to train and equip UMVIM volunteers who want to specialize in serving in disaster recovery ministry. Such trainings include ERT (Early Response Teams), Connecting Neighbors, among others. UMVIM Long Term Recovery Teams work though out the United States and Puerto Rico to help with rebuilding people’s lives, homes, churches and schools after a disaster.
Here’s How to Serve in Disaster Ministry
With all of the disasters that our country has faced these past few weeks, it is hard to not want to help those thousands who have been affected. Knowing who to help them is difficult. The United Methodist Church through UMCOR (United Methodist Committee on Relief) was been working with various disasters for more than 80 years. UMCOR is working in each of the affected conferences with your Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) who is working with the community's emergency management system.
There are 3 phases of a disaster. The first is the rescue phase where law enforcement, fire fighters and other first responders are working to save people's lives. The second phase is called the relief phase. There are specialized teams called Early Response Teams who have been trained to work to help prevent further damage from occurring. This is done in many ways. If you are interested in being part of an ERT team to help contact your CDRC (see below). Part of the relief Phase is help assess the damage and how the Conference will be able to respond and provide long-term assistance, if needed. THIS TAKES TIME.
The third phases is the Recovery state. This is where UMVIM teams assist with rebuilding homes for those who are unable to rebuild with their own resources. Long Term Recovery continues until all systems return to normal or near normal. Recovery and rebuilding will continue for years and volunteers will be needed to assist.
How Can I Help? What Do I Do Now? What's Are My Next Steps?
First, contact your Conference Disaster Response Coordinator to see if there is a place for you to help possibly as an Early Response Volunteer or if you should wait for the Recovery phase.
Let your UMVIM Coordinator know of your interest to serve in the many Long Term Recovery (LTR) sites through out the nation including in our own Western Jurisdiction. In either case, there will be trainings for the next few months in your conference for both ERTs and for UMVIM Volunteers wanting to help with the Recovery efforts. There will be UMVIM team leader and refresher team leader training offered though out the jurisdictions both virtually and in person. Contact your UMVIM Annual Conference Coordinator (ACC) (below).
California Fire Updates
Updated 1/15/25
The fires in California have devastated a large area in a short amount of time. The recovery will take years and will require many volunteers. Monetary donations are the best way to help now. We are called as United Methodists to be the body of Christ long after the news cameras leave, and offer sustained hope to all affected. We will communicate the needs as they develop and pass along any invitations from those in the Cal-Pac Conference and beyond.
as evacuations continue, the fires still burn, and hundreds of thousands remain without power, the best way to help right now is through monetary donations. We've set up a special fund for the Los Angeles Fires Recovery Fund, where you can contribute directly towards relief and recovery from the effects of the winds and firestorms this week:
Conference Disaster Response Coordinators
Alaska - Daniel Wilcox
Danielpwilcox@gmail.com email
California/Nevada – Steve Elliott
umvimcoordinator@calnevumc.org
California/Pacific – Karl Ports, kports95@gmail.com
Desert Southwest – George Cushman, gccushman@cox.net
Mountain Sky – Rev. Jean Schwien
pastorjeanincortez@gmail.com
Oregon/Idaho – Louise Kienzle
umvim@umoi.org (primary)
Pacific Northwest – Dana and Kathy Bryson
brysonpnw@gmail.com
WJ UMVIM Jurisdiction Coordinator -
umvimwj@gmail.com www.umvimwj.com
