Updated:  5-07-2013 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 hundreds 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 350 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.

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.

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

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 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, 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).

UMCOR is YOU. UMCOR Responds to Disaster. Photo: Bill Koplitz - FEMA

Team members are issued identification badges that identify them as individuals who have received appropriate training and approvals to assist communities in the early days after a major disaster. In order to serve as an authorized Early Responder, volunteers must:

Complete the basic class led by an authorized trainer
Pass a Safe Sanctuaries Background Check
Score >70% on the ERT class quiz

Cost: $30.00 – covers training materials and lunch.

The following classes are offered in the coming weeks:

Fayetteville District:
Saturday June 4, 2011
8 AM – 4 PM

Salem UMC
2165 Middle Road
Eastover, NC 28312

Visit www.nccumvim.org/tltregistration.htm to register.

Goldsboro District:
Saturday June 11, 2011
8 AM – 4 PM

MERCI
676 Community Drive
Goldsboro, NC 27530

Visit www.merciumc.org to register.

During disasters such as we have recently experienced, many terms get tossed about that often seem confusing to those of us who generally don’t work in disaster recovery.  Here is a guide that might assist in understand the most common acronyms and disaster terminology.

Glossary of Disaster Terms and Acronyms

Tornado Damage in Colerain, NC

Disaster Recovery Centers

Disaster recovery centers have opened in North Carolina to help those whose homes or businesses were affected by recent storms and tornadoes.  Centers will be open from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. seven days a week at the following addresses:
Read more »