September 23, 2005

Hurricane Relief Update

Edited by Daniel R. Gangler, director of communication
Indiana Area of The United Methodist Church
dgangler@inareaumc.org

MISSION TEAM URGENTLY NEEDED IN WAVELAND, MISSISSIPPI

URGENT NEED for a work team to service about 2,500 people per day, providing food and general assistance at a relief camp in Waveland Miss. The current team is being called home this weekend. Someone from the current team will be available on site until Tuesday to help transition this project to the next team. Teams can rotate in and out to continue to serve these needs. A team should consist of 12 to 16 people. There are adequate sleeping facilities and showers are available. A mobile kitchen is in use for food service for the evacuees as well as the work teams. There are currently about $200 of supplies on hand. Given the urgency involved, first responder training is not required. Please contact Stan White at 512-581-1018, Elijah Mitchell at 228-539-9332 or UMVIM at 404-377-7424 for further details. This information was shared by Lorna Jost, North Central Jurisdiction UMVIM coordinator.

UMCOR SAGER BROWN EVACUATES IN PREPARATION FOR HURRICANE RITA

For the second time in a month, the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) Sager Brown Depot in Baldwin, La., is making storm preparations. The Depot is the United Methodist storage and distribution center for domestic and international relief supplies. Sager Brown's executive director, Gwen Redding, sent word yesterday that the Depot closed due to Hurricane Rita's approach. Staff members are preparing the grounds for high winds and rains and evacuating to safer areas. All volunteers staying at the facility were asked to leave the campus by 8 a.m. Thursday morning for their own safety. UMCOR Sager Brown will not dispatch or receive trucks until further notice.

NORTH CONFERENCE TO HOLD VOLUNTEER IN MISSION SEMINAR OCT. 15

The North Indiana Conference Volunteers in Mission will present a day-long seminar titled "W.O.W. 2005: Winning Our World through Volunteers in Mission" Saturday, Oct. 15 from 8:45 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. at the Epworth Forest Conference Center in North Webster, Ind. Four breakout sessions include: Church growth in Ukraine, Florian Stecuich; Costa Rica missions, Charles Strong; Primetimers, Ruth Ellen Stone; Planning a mission trip in the U.S.A. (counts as two breakout sessions); Teach UM, Kathie Clemenz; Jamaica Mission Experience, Dewey Miller; Redbird/Henderson Settlement, Mike Wolff; Touching Romania, Jane White Stevens; Africa University Update, John Huie; Roatan Island mission, Nancy and Tom Reuille; NOMADS, Lynn Powers; Hopkins Park Project, Tim Delahaunty; RxConneXion, Penny Krug; Hispanic Mission projects, Oscar Ramos; Youth Mission trips; McCurdy School, Forrest Bowers; Fundraising ideas; and Operation Classroom, with Joe and Carolyn Wagner. Cost $10. For more information and registration, send to North Indiana Conference, WOW Registration, P O Box 869, Marion, IN 46952 or contact Bonnie Albert, NIC VIM coordinator at bonkay@hotmail.com or call 219-464-1447.

MARKLE UMC SENDS FIRST TRUCK TO SAGER BROWN IN LOUISIANA

Markle UMC has sent the first truck to Sager Brown in Louisiana full of health kits, flood kits and supplies. ANOTHER TRUCK IS GOING -- on Oct. 9 thanks to Hiner Trucking in Huntington. Markle is receiving health kits, flood kits, school kits or any other supplies that are listed on the UMCOR Web site ( www.UMCOR.org ) Please note that at this time UMCOR is not in need of bottled water. They also are not taking clothing or food. If you want to send supplies for flood buckets or health kits, Markle welcomes those too. Markle has volunteers (and could always use more) to put the kits together. If you have people that can help load the truck on the Oct. 9, they will begin about 6 p.m. For more information, contact Kaye Patton at 260-758-2855 or e-mail at kpatton@coolsky.com or kayepatton@longviewcomm.net.

NORTH INDIANA TEAMS FORMING FOR VOLUNTEER IN MISSION ASSIGNMENTS

OCT. 2 -- 8 Team forming in Warsaw District to Gulfport, Miss. with Team Leader Mark Need. He has room for 30 volunteers who are able-bodied and can work 8 hour days clearing the debris. Needs a bobcat. Contact him at 260-244-7671 or mneed@ccumc.us 

MARCH 4 -- 11, 2006 Team forming from the Warsaw District for Hurricane cleanup in the Gulf area. Team leader, Jean Ness ( lumc@ligtel.com ) can take 25-30 people. She's an experienced leader and has taken groups for other disaster cleanups. Call her at 260 894-3761 or send an e-mail to request details.

ORGANIZING A MISSION TEAM FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

1. Get some training in Disaster Response on Oct. 15. The WOW 2005 Mission Volunteers training event will offer a two-hour training session for volunteers. Registration forms are available online www.nicumc.org.  Just write in Disaster Training as your breakout choice. You will get up-to-date information regarding all the forms that are needed to lead a team. You may also get training at your local Red Cross. TRAINING FOR TEAM LEADERS IS ESSENTIAL.
2. Become a partner with a church in that area. These phone number may help you make that connection. Be sensitive to language. We are partnering in ministry, not adopting a church. As you can well imagine, that area is in a state of emergency so be patient.
   1. a. For Mississippi Storm Center 866-435-7091 or 7092 or 7093
   2. For Louisiana Storm Center 877-345-5193 or 225-346-5193 to get connected with work being done in Louisiana.
   3. For UMCOR depot (Sager Brown) call 800-334-4221 to help with trucks coming in, sorting and repacking, and going out. They want volunteers to help with all phases.
3. In North Indiana, get hooked up to the North Indiana Conference Web connections. www.nicumc.org On the left hand side of the home page, you will see e-mail lists. Follow the directions and get yourself on e-mail lists, especially NICe-mail and e-HUM alerts. Lots of good information comes through these channels.
   In South Indiana, get hooked up to the South Indiana Conference Web connections at www.sicumc.org. 
4. Check the Indiana Area Web site for Hurricane Relief Updates at www.inareaumc.org.  Subscribe to the Indiana Area e-mail by sending a blank page to add@inareaumc.org.
5. In the North Indiana Conference, keep Bonnie Albert posted with your progress as you put a team together. If you have questions, please feel free to call her or write (bonkay@hotmail.com). 219-464-1447 (home) or 219-241-7250 (cell)
6. In the South Indiana Conference, go to www.sicumc.org and download a Volunteer In Mission Form and insurance information. Complete forms and return to Elsie at South Indiana Conference Center, 1520 Liberty Drive, Bloomington, IN 47403-5167. Teams will be formed and matched to projects in the Gulf States area. For more information, call 800-919-8160 and ask for Elsie.

UMCOR RELIEF AGENCY EXEC OFFERS TIPS FOR DISASTER RESPONSE

People of faith can respond in many ways to provide healing and support in the face of devastating hurricanes and other disasters, according to a United Methodist relief official. The Rev. Tom Hazelwood, disaster response executive for the United Methodist Committee on Relief, recently shared five tips for responding to such disasters.

1. The most important thing people can do is support UMCOR financially," Hazelwood said. The relief agency provides a long-term response to needs resulting from such disasters, and 100 percent of the money raised will be used by UMCOR for years to come.
2. "People can give appropriate material resources." In most disasters, UMCOR asks for specific items, usually flood buckets and health kits, and the agency will make other needs known as they arise. Giving material support doesn't mean cleaning out your closets or garage and sending those items. "That's not appropriate giving."
3. People can pray -- pray for those affected by the storm and for those who respond to the disaster. "That's an important resource."
4. People can volunteer to help with the recovery. "We need more people to contact Volunteers In Mission" through their annual conference or other means. People can create a team or join one that is already planning to work in the disaster area.
5. Finally, Hazelwood encourages people to seek support for relief at their place of work. "Encourage your business or wherever you work to support UMCOR and the work that we do."

Remember that 100 percent of all gifts given to UMCOR for hurricane relief are used for hurricane relief.

WISE AS A SERPENT AND AS GENTLE AS A LAMB

After every major catastrophe there are those who will try to take advantage of the situation for their own selfish motives. In Indiana, there already have been several cases where people have showed up at churches claiming to be a victim of hurricane Katrina and in need of help, who were simply not telling the truth. Indiana State Police Detective Mark Senter said the public must be cautious: Check out people's stories. Ask for identification, phone numbers, addresses, and as much information as you can. Have a list of established charities to whom you can refer folks. Be cautious about opening your wallets or your homes to strangers before you gather the appropriate facts and information. The best way to help folks is to go through the appropriate avenues. Take in evacuees from approved charities who are processing these folks. Send money or goods only to approved charities such as United Way, the Salvation Army, the ASPCA, Noah's Wish, UMCOR, the American Red Cross, and so forth. Not sure if something is a scam? Visit http://www.scambusters.org/ Want to see how your money will be used? Check out charities: www.give.org/reports/index.asp and click on the "Wise Giving Alliances," these are reports on individual charities soliciting for hurricane relief. This will show what percentage of the funds each of these charities receives that normally goes to the actual cause.

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