Hurricane Irene Response Update – Response Information and Needs

Posted under: Disaster Response, Local Outreach, Missions
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Craig Parker – Elizabeth City District Disaster Response Coordinator unloads cleaning buckets at Bethany UMC in Wanchese. The buckets were delivered by the NC Conference United Methodist Men. Most homes in Wanchese were flooded by Hurricane Irene. Photo by: Bill Norton

Updated:  9-18-2012 at 3:40 PM

Hurricane Irene Response 

Click here for the latest update of activity and information of outreach scope.

The NC Conference has activated a disaster response call center in readiness for Hurricane Irene at the Methodist Building in Garner, NC.    Volunteers are to help with our coordination efforts.

Please consider bringing a work team to Eastern North Carolina and watch God bless you and those you help. To volunteer, please contact Ann Huffman at disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167or 919-610-8018.

We have a continual need for FULLY assembled flood buckets.  Please see Cleaning Buckets.

For our NC districts and local churches, if you are willing to have your facility be used for work teams for this, or any, disaster, please fill out the Disaster Response Facilities Survey and send it to disasterresponse@nccumc.org .

Please also consider reaching out financially by giving to NC Storms Emergency Response – NC Advance #S-00176. 100% of every gift to this Advance will go to storm response.  You can donate on-line at:  NC Storms Response

You can also send funds to:  NC Conference, P.O. Box 60053, Charlotte, NC 28260.  Please be sure to note Advance #S-00176.

Here are some reminders with regard to our hurricane safety:

  • When the hurricane has passed and it is safe, Local pastor/District Disaster Response Coordinator: 
    • Offer your local trained ER Teams
    • Survey congregation/community for needs
    • Contact your District Superintendent and your Disaster Response Coordinator if you have needs beyond the capability of the church
    • Set up as relief/distribution center if needed (not as shelter)
    • Communicate with local emergency management personnel
  • The District Disaster Response Coordinator:    You can find an up-to-date list of District Disaster Coordinators here.
    • Check for damage/destruction/needs across your district … homes, neighbors, UM Churches
    • Make contact your local Emergency Management personnel, Red Cross, and other local assessment/response groups
    • Check with pastors in area whose churches are affected by disaster
    • Offer assistance to partner-district where needed
    • Check with DS on damage reports
    • If not affected, volunteer to help with coordination efforts
    • Meet with Conference DRC to determine response program
    • Inform Conference Call Center of volunteer needs
    • Coordinate with the Goldsboro Warehouse if you need to draw supplies or equipment
    • Encourage volunteers from your district
  • District Superintendent:  
    • Gather information from pastors/Disaster Response Coordinator about damage in your district
    • Meet with Bishop/Cabinet/Disaster Response Committee to determine response
    • Visit affected area as soon as possible after event
    • Coordinate with the Conference Call Center for volunteer needs
  • Early Response Teams:  While Early Response Teams are self-sufficient, they do not self-deploy – coordination is still necessary.   Please allow the Disaster Response Coordinators time to make assessments and determine their need.  They will then make the requests to call for such teams.
  • All Folks responding at every level, please remember SELF-CARE:  Please secure your safety and that of your family first.  If evacuation is advised, please comply and relay the same message to congregants.  If your family or church is affected, you may need to pass your responsibilities for disaster coordination to someone else so you can meet the needs of those for whom you are directly responsible.   If long term recovery ministries become necessary, you may be needed to provide leadership for an extended period.  Pace yourself; ask for help; designate whenever possible.
You can find an up-to-date list of District Disaster Coordinators here.
— Steve Taylor/Outreach Team Coordinator



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  • Rob Pavone

    I am a trained ERT team member through UMCOR. I heard this morning that the old MERCI center (aka the new UMM Warehouse) is not allowing ERT teams to come in and take flood buckets or supplies when heading out to the disaster areas? Tell me this is not true? If so, we need to find another distribution method for the flood buckets and supplies other than this warehouse.

    • http://nccumc.org/outreach/ Steve Taylor

      Rob,

      Thanks for your message. We have continued to use the warehouse as a base for shipping cleaning buckets and some other specific relief/recovery supplies. In response to Hurricane Irene, we have shipped about 8000 buckets out of or through the warehouse. We actually shipped all the buckets out and until a delivery yesterday, for a couple of days had no buckets available. With regard to picking up flood buckets, you simply need to coordinate through the DRC person whom you are going to support. Similar coordination can happen through Ann Huffman at the Disaster Response call center. They simply are trying to ensure that with limited supplies, the folks get them to the areas they need to go.

      P&G

    • http://nccumc.org/outreach/ Steve Taylor

      Rob,

      One more thought. The DRC is meeting tomorrow and will talk further about long term response. Warehouse venue will be part of that discussion.

      P&G

      Steve

  • David Merrill

    I would like to compliment Craig Parker and his Bethany UMC response center and team. They ran a top notch operation. They were gratious host for the NC and VA teams that went there. They all helped with assesments and made work assignments based upon the needs of the survivors and the ability of each team. I would recommend that this event and Bethany’s performance be used for a model for other churches to follow.