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July 15, 2003 Parke and Clay Counties have much storm damageBy Hoosier United Methodist News TERRE HAUTE, Ind. -- Reports of flooding and storm damage continue in Indiana following harsh summer rains. Parke and Clay Counties in the Terre Haute District have significant damage from passing storms this past week according to District Superintendent Paula Young Mayberry. Rosedale United Methodist Church had damage to the steeple and siding. She said a large, very old tree behind the Rosedale church was stripped of a large number of branches and left a huge amount of debris. A work team from churches of the Terre Haute District spent Saturday, July 12 helping to clean up the mess. The team was organized by Roger Hofmann, the Terre Haute District Disaster Coordinator. Parts of trees also were lost at the Brazil First, Brazil Epworth, Knightsville and Peniel UMCs, Mayberry reported. Brazil First suffered minor damages. Brazil and areas between Rosedale and Brazil experienced much damage to trees, houses and businesses. The power was out in the area for ranging from one to three days. She said areas of the Terre Haute District are still in danger of flooding, especially Montezuma and West Terre Haute. According to Ray Squibb, Pastor of Sharpsville UMC, the church there had three to four inches of rain water in the basement from the July 4 ten-inch deluge. Since then they were flooded two more times with a total of over 18 inches of rain falling in Sharpsville. Squibb said, "We have the usual damage from flooding -- walls, carpet, doors -- but we have lost nothing that can't be replaced." He reported church volunteers dried the church out after each storm. Squibb said, "our faith still holds and God is still so good all the time." Asbury UMC in Portland, Ind. reports that they had about seven feet of water in the church's elevator pit. Asbury's Keith Olson said he hopes the damage will be covered by insurance. The water level sensor alarm broke, and one of the two sump pumps in that room malfunctioned. Portland's Mayor, a member of the church, and a crew of his workers came to the rescue with a large pump to rid the pit of the water. Olson told Hoosier United Methodist News that they are in the process of having the damage evaluated and preliminary estimate is several thousand dollars for elevator related equipment. Serious flooding five years ago in Portland resulted in $17, 000 damage to the elevator. Indiana to receive flood clean-up assistance from UMCORBy Matthew Oates LAFAYETTE, Ind. - President Bush has declared 34 Indiana counties as Federal Disasters. This means that there will be more money available for homeowners, renters, and small business owners, according to Paul Wohlford, North Indiana Conference Disaster Relief Coordinator. Wohlford, told the North Indiana Conference that churches need to ask each person in their communities that suffered loss to complete all the FEMA forms regardless if they are worth millions or are on welfare. A filing date will be set for each community. He said pastors need to walk through the process with their people, especially survivors who are elderly or ill. As far as clean up efforts by Hoosier United Methodists, the Rev. Paul Wohlford led clean up crews on July 14 as United Methodist volunteers helped clean up several homes in the Kokomo area. Kokomo -- one of the hardest hit areas following a week's worth of rain that included about 14 inches in one day -- will be a meeting site next week as Don Weaver from the United Methodist Committee On Relief will meet with numerous volunteers and coordinators on what to expect when UMCOR comes in for a longer time frame in mid-August. Wohlford, disaster coordinator for United Methodist's North Indiana Conference and pastor at Anderson Fifth Street UMC, says the flooding is the worst disaster he's faced in his six years as coordinator. "This is the first real disaster I've experienced in the North Indiana Conference." According to Wohlford, UMCOR classified the Indiana flooding as a class three disaster. "It stretches from one state line to the other." An advance number has not been assigned yet, but Wohlford has been working with Tom Hazlewood, the national director stationed in Washington, D.C., on getting one. "That's one of the things they're working on our behalf," said Wohlford. "You have an awful lot of unmet needs. We're their only hope." The reports have been coming in to Wohlford as he is in contact with volunteers around the state. Bluffton, a Wabash River town in Wells County in the eastern part of the state, has about 18 homes that will most likely be bought out and destroyed. "The water came up so fast in Bluffton it caught them all off guard." The mayor of Bluffton has declared July 26 as an official clean up day, but Wohlford will most likely have volunteers in there before then. "The people aren't waiting for (that day)." Calvary UMC in Fort Wayne was flooded. The conference has a $250,000 flood insurance deductible and the matter has been turned over to the conference board of trustees, said Wohlford. Decatur, along the St. Mary's River in Adams County, lost 30 homes to severe flooding and numerous others had water in them. In Delphi, in Carroll County in western Indiana, lost about 30 homes and volunteers from the Valparaiso area are set to move in shortly. In recent reports, the flooding is moving downstream into the South Indiana Conference, including the community of Covington in Fountain County. (See related story in this alert.) Wohlford said that the United Methodist Committee on Relief has sent NIC advance funding for rebuilding homes and lives. He also reminded Hoosiers that churches or businesses cannot be helped from FEMA funding. Don Weaver, of UMCOR's Disaster Team, will lead NIC volunteers in a refresher course on Case Management. The workshop is scheduled for Monday, July 21 at Grace United Methodist Church in Kokomo. Wohlford said that anyone who wishes to come, let him know. He said that he needs several pastors and lay persons in each affected area to have this training. He said that if there is enough interest in several communities, he may ask Weaver to hold a training in other communities as well. Wolhford said, "this training is designed to help volunteers meet the unmet needs of those left behind by all the federal and state programs." Wohlford also requested that contributors not send any items until he has a designated drop off point in each community. He will let others know those places later. He is thrilled that UMCOR is coming in to help. "It makes all the difference in the world. They have the experience." Wohlford said he needs more volunteers. "We need volunteers now." Those interested in helping clean up, contact the following people:
If you have information to share about flood cleanup in your area, e-mail your reports to Matthew Oates or editor@inareaumc.org. Storms claim life of United Methodist womanFRANKFORT, Ind. -- The July storms that sweep across Indiana claimed the life of a United Methodist here who drowned in her backyard pond. Carla Jean Barber died July 5 at her home in Cutler. According to her pastor, the Rev. Jean Stout, she drowned with her three children watching her. Barber, 36, was a member and Sunday school teacher at Hopewell United Methodist Church in Frankfort and was her church's lay member to the North Indiana Annual Conference. She was a substitute teacher at Clinton Central and an active member of the Clinton County Civic Theatre. She also volunteered with the teen youth group and the library, both in Burlington. Surviving are her parents, husband Randy, sons Randell, 14, and Ryan, 12, a daughter Alicia, 13, a sister, two brothers and grandmothers. A memorial service was held July 7 at the Hopewell Church. If you know someone who has yet to sign up for e-HUM, they simply need to send a blank e-mail from their preferred e-mail account to add@inareaumc.org. e-HUM Alert copyright 2003 by Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. |
