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DISASTER RESPONSE

The East Ohio Conference responds when disasters strike

Responding to Hurricanes and other Natural Disasters

The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is working with disaster coordinators and Early Response Teams (ERT) in annual conferences to assist local churches in responding to tornados, hurricanes, storms, and other ongoing situations in the United States and around the world.

As we lift these concerns before God, we are reminded to:

Do No Harm right now:

• Do Not “self-deploy” into a region until invited. It is important that emergency responders, governmental agencies and the American Red Cross do their respective jobs so that teams can be invited to enter a disaster area.
• Do Not send supplies and clothes. Unwanted items sent into disaster zones become burdens on an already-overwhelmed area.

Do Good right now:

• Pray for the communities impacted by the disaster, the lives forever changed, and those responding.
• Collect an offering or host a fundraiser in your local church. Because of the connectional network of The United Methodist Church, 100% of all funds will be delivered to persons directly involved in or responding to the disaster.
• Make checks payable to your local church. The church treasurer will forward the collected money to the Conference using the church remittance form. 
• Donate online by visiting www.umcor.org and clicking on the Donate button
• Consider making a contribution to the following:

  Fund EOC 1327 – US Disaster Response
  (Use the check’s memo line to donate for a specific storm)
  Fund EOC 9046 – EOC UM Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM)
  Advance 901375 – North Central Jurisdiction (NCJ) UMVIM
  Advance 982450 – UMCOR International Disaster Response

• Assemble UMCOR relief kits and deliver them to one of following distribution centers. See their websites for details on what kits they accept and how to assemble them. Always contact them to see what they need most and schedule a delivery. The EOC Area Center does not have space to store kits.

  Eastbrook Mission Barn in New Castle, PA
  Midwest Mission Distribution Center in Chatham, IL

• Lead an Early Response Team. Trained responders interested in being part of a future East Ohio team should E-mail Mike Williams.
• Consult your district response coordinator to explore ideas.

Prior disasters still have a need for long-term recovery teams.

• Consider volunteering to lead UMVIM Long-Term Projects.

Disaster response begins with preparation.

• Learn about Connecting Neighbors, which provides community-wide training hosted by your church – including an inventory of resources offered by a variety of local responders. E-mail Mike Williams to learn more.
• Take Early Response Teams (ERT) training to learn important perspectives and experience for stopping damage and beginning clean up after the local Emergency Management Agency has determined it is safe to enter the area.
• Make a family plan by visiting www.ready.gov. Your family may not be together if a disaster strikes. Know how you’ll contact one another and reconnect if separated. Establish a family meeting place that’s familiar and easy to find.

Thank you for your continued prayers and for the donation of your time and financial resources as we work together across The United Methodist Church to respond to those in need.