Announcements

The severity of Hurricane Matthew’s destruction was unexpected for North Carolinians. Severe flooding impacted areas that had previously not been affected. Rosa Dickerson was one of the many homeowners whose home in Lumberton was flooded by Matthew. 

Jeff Wade, Lumberton Disaster Response Construction Manager, came across Rosa’s home while assessing damage in the area. Jeff had to climb through Rosa’s window to enter her home due to extensive damage. What once was a home surrounded by flowers was unrecognizable. 

The Lumberton Disaster Response Center began to muck out and repair Rosa’s home, with the help of NC Housing Finance. Volunteer teams began to install new sheetrock and flooring. The Lumberton Disaster Response Center was making progress on Rosa’s home until Hurricane Florence hit two years later. 

Hurricane Florence flooded Rosa’s home again, damaging the newly installed sheetrock and flooring. Even though Florence caused a setback in reconstruction, Rosa never gave up hope. 36 months after Hurricane Matthew, Rosa was finally able to return home. 

On August 7, friends, volunteers, neighbors, and the Disaster Ministries team gathered together to bless Rosa’s new home. It was a day of joy and celebration for Rosa and her community. Rosa proudly showed her guests around her home and even played her favorite hymn, “Sweet Hour of Prayer” on her piano. 

Rosa expressed her gratitude for Disaster Ministries and all of the volunteers who selflessly donated their time to help repair her home. Disaster Ministries works to provide hope for disaster survivors who feel forgotten. Rosa is one of the disaster survivors that Disaster Ministries has helped return home, but there are still hundreds on the waitlist.

Join Disaster Ministries to help restore hope for the hundreds of disaster survivors still waiting for assistance. Call 888-440-9167 or email disaster@nccumc.org to learn how you can help others in need.

Submitted by Al Miller III, Director of Disaster Ministries, NCCUMC

With the final report of our Phase 1 grant, I feel it is important to say “THANK YOU” to the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) for providing the funding for our initial disaster recovery operations. For the reporting period of January – June, 2019, the monies we received from UMCOR, along with those from other state and national partners, have allowed us to accomplish the following:

• Repair or rebuild 219 homes
• Place 761 homes into case management
• Offer our services to 942 families

In addition, with our unique volunteer model for construction and repair, we have worked with almost 6,800 volunteers, giving our conference a boost of $5,033,923 dollars in labor value. These numbers provide a true picture of how UMCOR, the United Methodist Church, and the North Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church (NCCUMC) are continually working with those persons who believe they are lost, without hope and forgotten in the face of natural disasters. It is our hope that the NCCUMC, along with UMCOR as its lead supporter, continues offering a helping hand to rebuild lives, giving a word of hope, and offering strength, comfort  and prayer for these communities until all needs are met. 

The members of the Disaster Ministries program for the North Carolina Conference of The United Methodist Church are grateful for these opportunities and look forward to the beginning of our Phase 2 grant from UMCOR. Our disaster ministry program is just starting!

Disaster Recovery Centers –  We are excited about the opening of our thirteenth disaster recovery location. Saint James AMEZ Church has allowed us to use their parsonage as a Satellite Recovery Housing Center for Southport and Brunswick county. This brings the total number of facilities throughout our Conference to 13 (8 main centers and 5 satellites).

ERR and STEP – The North Carolina Emergency Management program has offered to continue the Emergency Rapid Repair (ERR) and Sheltering and Temporary Essential Power (STEP) programs for clients who have been identified through FEMA as needing immediate assistance. ERR and STEP will give each client up to $17,000 dollars for immediate funding to begin repair and recovery efforts as quickly as possible. These funds will allow us to reach further and support more clients when used with our Phase 2 grant from UMCOR. 

Volunteer Opportunities-  As the long-term recovery efforts continue for both Hurricane Matthew (2016) and Hurricane Florence (2018) our volunteers are more in-demand than ever. As the beginning of school approaches, we are seeing a reduction in the number of out-of-state volunteer teams scheduling trips. According to the Disaster Call Center, our calls from responding teams will increase again around mid-September and continue through late December. But our needs for relief / recovery volunteers never waivers. For that reason, we are asking every church and every pastor to extend an invitation to every member to come and join us. Construction experience is not required and we welcome volunteers with willing hearts and hands. Our staff at the centers will provide all the guidance you need. Please look at your calendar and find the time to contact the Disaster Call Center at 888-440-9167. Offer a Saturday, a weekend or even a week to serve your neighbors and your community members – our Christian brothers and sisters – by giving them the help they need to return home. Please read Isaiah 6:8 and prayerfully consider the words of the prophet: “Then I heard the voice of the Lord saying, ‘Whom shall I send, and who will go for us?’ And I said, ‘Here am I; send me!’”

Thank you to all of you for your continued prayers, your presence, your gifts, your service, and your witness as we strive to be doers of HIS word through your North Carolina Conference Disaster Ministries. God bless!

Call 888-440-9167 or email disaster@nccumc.org to learn how you can help others in need.

Herman Dukes has patiently waited for assistance to repair damages in his home caused by Hurricane Florence. Herman’s home was unsafe to live in causing him to seek shelter in a tent beside his home. The Disaster Ministries Center in Wilmington answered Herman’s call for help and has begun to rebuild his home. 

Ed Sundy, Wilmington Disaster Center Site Manager, is inspired by Herman’s hope and positive outlook on life. Herman continues to volunteer to help other disaster survivors while his home is under construction. Herman hopes that he can help make a difference in others lives, as Disaster Ministries and the Red Cross has in his.