Updated:  4-19-12 at 12:45 PM

Hurricane Irene Recovery

Waves break over railings of a home's raised deck. Storm surges were up to 8 feet in some areas.

The NC Conference continues to have an on-going operation for disaster recovery.  Over 27,000 homes were damaged or destroyed by Hurricane Irene in August 2011.  We have thousands of people who remain unable to move back into heavily damaged or destroyed homes.  We have deep need for work teams to do both repair/reconstruction and new construction.  The NC Conference disaster recovery call center can place your team in an area where people continue to desperately need your help.   We have had over 250 teams respond and we need many, many more.  We are deeply grateful for the efforts and gifts of these wondrous servants.  We have been staggered by the generosity of those who have responded in such manner.   Please join us.  Your efforts will make a difference.

Anyone wanting to volunteer should email disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

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 .

We continue to need additional funds for the recovery work.  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 give online at:  Hurricane Irene Giving

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

— Steve Taylor/Outreach Team Coordinator

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is in contact with United Methodist annual conference Disaster Response personnel in conferences affected by the recent severe storms across the Midwest, to assess relief needs.

UMCOR executive for US Disaster Response, the Rev. Tom Hazelwood, reached out to Disaster Response coordinators in the Kansas East, Missouri, Illinois, and Illinois Great River annual conferences, where tornadoes were reported to have touched down and caused widespread damage.  You can read more at:  UMCOR Tornado Response

You can give to U.S. Disaster Response at:  Give Now to U.S. Disaster Response.  100% of your gift will go toward the work of disaster relief.

Early Responders - You will make a difference!

Two Early Responder Team training sessions this week!  

The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster, under very specific guidelines that enable the team to be productive and caring while causing no further harm or being a burden to the affected community.  Classes are taught by authorized trainers credentialed by the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR).

The following upcoming classes are offered free of charge (including cost of background checks):

Saturday Dec. 10, 8 a.m. – 4 p.m. at First UMC, 402 N. Main St., Fuquay-Varina  Phone  919-567-8384
Saturday Dec. 10,  8 a.m. – 4 p.m., Love Joy UMC, Substation Rd., Troy  Phone 910 576-4531 

Visit Early Responder Training to register for either session.

April 16 Tornadoes

Recovery Team Request

The Sanford District has moved into the repair and rebuilding phase of recovery from the April 16 tornadoes and is in great need of skilled recovery teams.

Skilled laborers in the areas of roofing, siding, ceiling tiles, drywall and flooring are asked to contact Heather Locklear at the San-Lee Interfaith Disaster Recovery Center.

Heather M Locklear
Sanford District Disaster Relief Coordinator
SLIDR Disaster Recovery Coordinator
2916 Wicker Street

Sanford NC 27330
(919)775-1724
slidr@windstream.net

When disaster strikes, the local church usually provides the first response. This basic understanding - that disaster response is local - helps form a foundation for UMCOR's national training and response. First and foremost, UMCOR is a resource for the local response. Photo: Bill KIoplitz/FEMA

Caseworker Training is October 7 and 8.  We need you!

Following any disaster, in order to provide long term recovery, one of the key components that needs to occur is the assessment of damage, the property owners ability to pay for recovery, and the need for charitable assistance.  Part of this process looks at the support received through private insurance, the Federal Emergency Management Agency, and other financial resources.  This is an essential action in order for volunteer work teams to then begin the process of repairing/rebuilding damaged homes.

Case Management-the constellation of activity that really is family-by-family problem solving-is the vehicle through which UMCOR (you are UMCOR!) provides long-term recovery.  Local case managers develop relationships with survivors and connect them to organizations that can best help them.  They guide families and individuals through the labyrinth of forms, applications, and organizations they must work with to get the help they need.   Ultimately, case managers help survivors develop their own plan for recovery. UMCOR specifically seeks to help survivors who have the least resources, who are often hiding in the missed spaces of the community and need to be found.

We have a deep need for trained volunteers who can carry the love of Christ through casework.  These folks are a key component of the recovery process and are the face of the NC Conference disaster response family.  Perhaps the small voice of God is nudging you to join in such ministry.  If so, we need you trained and have created a venue for such training.

Casework Training will be held October 7th and 8th at Elizabethtown Presbyterian Church, 800 W. Broad Street, Elizabethtown, NC. Course will be taught by Ricky Hill of UMCOR.  Contact Jim Smith of Bladen Crisis Long Term Recovery Team (H)910-588-4217 or (C) 951-415-8486 or jsmith8716@aol.com.

Maybe God is calling you.  It could be the best ministry you have ever done.  Thank you for responding and more, thank you for sharing the love of Christ.

For more information on UMCOR Domestic Disaster Response and case management, please follow this link.  UMCOR Disaster Response

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:  9-29-2011 at 11:00 AM

Hurricane Irene Response 

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

We have an immediate need for Casework volunteers, please click here for more information.

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.

Anyone wanting to volunteer should email disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

We have an immediate need for FULLY assembled flood buckets.  Please see Cleaning Buckets.

The mid/northeastern portion of the NC Conference has been significantly impacted by Irene and we continue to need volunteers.  Due to the critical need and the level of response to date, volunteers, regardless of previous disaster experience or length of availability are needed and will be deployed as soon as possible as per the guidelines found here.

We ask that everyone apprise their local neighborhoods for damage and needed assistance.  Please make that information available to your District Disaster Response Coordinator.  You can find an up-to-date list of District Disaster Coordinators here.   If you have such a team or would like to volunteer, please email disasterresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

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 Read more »

Tornado Response – Yes we Still Need Your Help!  
Updated: 9-4-11 3:50 PM

Tornado on the ground in Raleigh

Multiple tornadoes slashed across the North Carolina Conference in April 2011, bringing extensive destruction and more than twenty deaths.  Scores of homes are destroyed or severely damaged.  Recovery actions are  in process across the NC Conference.

All twelve districts in the NC Conference suffered some storm damage and in five districts there are areas of extreme damage.  The NC Conference has now moved from early response to recovery.  If you have a recovery UMVIM Team and would like to help, please contact tornadoresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.  If you have damage in your area and remain in need for recovery work, please contact your District Disaster Response Coordinator.

The NC Conference has activated a disaster response coordination center.  We continue to need volunteers and mission teams to assist with this effort.  If you would like to volunteer, please email tornadoresponse@nccumc.org or call 888-440-9167.

Please leave your contact information, your skill levels, your equipment capacity, and any other information you wish to tell us.  We will contact you and direct you to the area requesting the team.  We will have a form listed on our website for this information in the next day or two.

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 tornadoresponse@nccumc.org and cgoehring@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:  Tornado Response

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

NC Conference Congregations are requested to receive a special offering.  Information here.

This post will be updated as Read more »

“The mission of an Early Response Team is to provide a caring
Christian presence in the aftermath of a disaster.”

 It’s Saturday afternoon in Eastern North Carolina.

Since this time last Saturday, as each hour has passed, countless families in the small communities that make up the New Bern, Elizabeth City, Greenville and Rocky Mount Districts of our Annual Conference have been trying to begin the process of putting their lives back together.  But it sometimes appears to be an insurmountable task for the survivors.

Stress levels are high, hearts are broken and the destruction is widespread. For many of these folks, there is no one to help them remove the water-soaked furniture, carpet and personal belongings from their homes.  No neighbors. No family. No one.

Yet, as of this morning, few have responded to help.  The question has already been asked, “Where is the United Methodist Church?”

Due to the critical need and the level of response to date, volunteers, regardless of previous disaster experience or length of availability are needed and will be deployed as soon as possible as per the following guidelines.

GENERAL GUIDELINES Read more »

Wanchese - Bethany UMC volunteers unload cleaning buckets delivered in a joint effort of Conference Disaster Response Committee and United Methodist Men. (photo - Bill Norton)

Updated – 9-2-11 6:17 PM

We have an immediate need for FULLY assembled flood buckets.   Due to the large numbers of flood buckets that we have sent to hurricane victims, we are immediate need of replenishing our stock to continue our response to flood victims.

Please do not send partially completed buckets or supply items.  We need fully assembled buckets ready for immediate shipment.

Please deliver the assembled buckets to the Conference warehouse at 676 Community Dr Goldsboro NC between 9:00 AM and 4:00 PM, Monday through Saturday.  Please contact Charlie Gray at (919) 810-2217 or Barry Merrill at  (919) 922-1499 to ensure someone will be available at the warehouse to receive your donation.

Please pack the bucket as noted below:

Cleaning Bucket Kit Items

5-gallon bucket with Read more »

Bishop Al Gwinn calls on the North Carolina Conference for help in his letter about Hurricane Irene.  Please see his appeal at Bishop’s Appeal for Hurricane Relief