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July 25, 2003
North Indiana flood survivors
are asked for patience in clean up
By Matthew Oates
ACROSS NORTH INDIANA -- As communities across the North Indiana
United Methodist Conference begin to clean up, the United Methodist
Committee On Relief and other disaster-relief organizations are heeding
residents to proceed with caution and to seek help.
The Rev. Don Weaver, an UMCOR volunteer from
Buffalo, N.Y., is advising people who are cleaning up in the 40 counties
of northern and central Indiana to be careful and not rush repairing
houses, as well as the importance of contacting FEMA, no matter how much
or how little damage the property received.
According to Weaver, some families have
received their checks from FEMA and have been replacing drywall over wet
studs and insulation, which encourages the growth of mold and mildew.
"This is a critical issue," said Weaver. "They need to be
patient."
To help combat the potential health hazards
of a quick fix, Weaver and other members of the North Indiana Conference
are awaiting the arrival of moisture meters from UMCOR.
The meters are placed in the studs to measure
the amount of moisture; if the studs, drywall and insulation are still
wet, homeowners are told not to replace the drywall just yet.
Weaver and the Rev. Paul Wohlford, conference
disaster coordinator, also are meeting and working with the Indiana
Voluntary Organizations Assisting in Disasters (INVOAD), FEMA, the
American Red Cross and other faith communion groups to establish six
areas of local disaster response to aid the recovery effort.
"We're trying to break it up in workable
groups," said Weaver, noting that while the waters are decreasing
in the eastern part of the state, they are still high in the western and
southern parts of the state.
The two are looking at the flood recovery to
take about two years. "I wish we could do some magic and get
everyone back settled in their own homes," said Wohlford.
Other actions UMCOR is taking with the area
include:
- Encouraging people to call FEMA. According to Wohlford, 235 new
calls and claims were reported to FEMA from July 20-23, bringing the
total to 3,225 since the flooding began;
- Providing case workers, funding and volunteers to help repair
homes;
- Donation management through the six local disaster response areas
for supplies, labor and workers for the recovery phase;
- Setting up a workshop for adults who work with children and youth
at any age who might be going through an emotional tidal wave. That
workshop will be 2 to 8 p.m., Sunday, August 17 at St. Mark's UMC in
Decatur, a community that was hit hard by the flooding;
- Working with the North Indiana Conference staff on a variety of
issues.
UMCOR did not assign an advance number for
the Indiana flooding, but did send a $10,000 gift from the "One
Great Hour of Sharing" fund to start the work.
Weaver explained that while Indiana and other
parts of the nation may have experienced flooding, many of the same
areas have also experienced severe weather.
To help the cleanup, Bishop Woodie W. White,
Indiana Area bishop, sent a note to all the churches of the conference
asking for not only prayers but also special offerings to be received
for flood and disaster relief for north Indiana United Methodist
churches. Gifts need to be sent to Brent Williams, NIC treasurer, at the
conference office in Marion.
For more information, contact FEMA at
800-621-FEMA or the Indiana Flood Helpline (through INVOAD):
888-259-2683.
This number and Web site includes information and referrals on helping
the recovery.
Matthew Oates is the North Indiana
correspondent for the Indiana Area United Methodist Communications. He
may be contacted at 765-423-6565 or by e-mail a wmmattoates@hotmail.com
or wmoates@nlci.com
Bluffton blitz clean-up cancelled
The City of Bluffton has canceled the Blitz
Clean-Up Day scheduled for Saturday, July 26. For more information,
contact the Bluffton Mayor's office at 260-824-1520.
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