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.
Volunteers are Needed for Disaster Ministry After Hurricane Helene
So You Want to Serve - Here's How to Start
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).
Disaster Updates: Hurricanes
Southeast Jurisdiction
It has been just one month since Hurricane Helene a hit the Southern part of the US followed by Hurricane Milton causing devastation in Florida. Conference Disaster Coordinators are working with the local Emergency Management Organizations on continued relief plans. There are numerous stories about the recovery in UM News articles, various Conference newsletters and on Facebook. This messages is from Matt Lacey the UMVIM Director for the Southeast Jurisdiction followed by links to their affected Annual Conferences to learn more about what is happening in the various conferences. This is for information only, do not volunteer through these websites but contact your Annual Conference Disaster Coordinator to volunteer with teams in your conference.
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"Hurricane Helene has left significant damage to areas of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, and Tennessee. Many communities are reeling from heavy rains which caused flooding in populated areas and first responders are still working around the clock to prepare the way for longer stages of response and recovery.
Bishop Ken Carter of the Western North Carolina Conference has posted a YouTube video which gives the latest updates, and stresses that volunteers will be needed, but to remain patient until areas are ready to received volunteers.
UMVIM will continue to serve as one of the communication streams during Hurricane Helene response and recovery as the situation progresses. For the latest news and information, we encourage you to check with your Annual Conference Disaster Coordinator for any information concerning volunteers and donations.
Below are links to each Annual Conference who has posted information about Helene for their UMC members:
Florida: https://www.flumc.org/2024-hurricane-season-updates
Alabama-West Florida: https://www.awfumc.org/newsdetail/fridayseptember-27th-am-hurricane-helene-update-18661304
North Georgia: https://www.ngumc.org/newsdetail/disaster-responseupdate-flooding-18660660
South Georgia: https://www.sgaumc.org/newsdetail/hurricane-heleneresponse-sunday-update-1866216
Western North Carolina: https://www.wnccumc.org/newsd etail/hurricane-helene-response-18662070
North Carolina: https://nccumc.org/disaster/2024/09/united-insupport-how-you-can-help-after-hurricane-helene/
South Carolina: https://www.umcsc.org/disaster/
Be sure to contact YOUR Conference Disaster Response Coordinator (CDRC) is you want to volunteer. Do not contact the affected Conference CDRC unless directed by your conference CDRC.
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 - Ronda Cordill
umvimwj@gmail.com www.umvimwj.com
