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September 13, 2013
Our prayers are with the residents, homes, and churches that are affected by the deadly flash flooding in the many communities in Colorado. Gov. John Hickenlooper signed a disaster declaration and said, "This could easily be a 50- or 100-year flood."
Church Updates: Many members of the United Methodist Churches in these areas are impacted and pastors are just now trying to understand the scope of this event. Here are some updates as shared by area United Methodist churches and pastors.
- Lyons UMC: The town is completely isolated and the infrastructure is destroyed. Pastor Emily Flemming and her infant are safe. The town is being evacuated and there is no clean water available.
- Johnstown UMC: There is no access to the town.
- St. Paul's UMC, Boulder: There is extensive flood damage to the parsonage basement and to Pastor Scott's personal library. There is some flooding and damage to the church. The grandson of one of the church members at St. Paul's was swept away during the flooding.
- Mountain View UMC: There is flooding at the church and parsonage.
- Ft. Lupton UMC: There is some water damage in the parsonage basement and the church.
- Burns UMC: There is flooding in the first floor and the elevator shaft.
- Many other UMC churches have reported minor flooding.
- Skip Strickland, District Superintendent, has been evacuated.
- East Denver and Aurora are severely affected by flooding.
- Estes Park and Loveland have been severely affected but we have not been able to communicate with the Estes Park church yet.
- Boulder, Longmont, Loveland, Ft. Collins and all the towns near the drainage zones are severely affected.
- Downtown Evergreen is completely flooded.
Disaster Response of the Rocky Mountain Conference: According to Gary Haddock, Conference Disaster Coordinator, we have 35,000 flood buckets coming in from Sager Brown and 500 from Salt Lake City (both UMCOR). School kits and health kits are also available. Bob Kaylor, Pastor, Tri-Lakes UMC, says, "Several churches are collecting kits right now. Let us know if you can use them immediately in your area." The Conference Office will work together with Rev. Kaylor in distribution. If your church is helping out in a different way, please let us know at communications@rmcumc.com.
ERT (Emergency Response Teams) teams are also being put on alert to go in and help.
For those who would like to help:
1. Flood Buckets: If you would like to donate flood buckets to UMCOR, please go to http://www.umcor.org/UMCOR/Relief-Supplies and click on "Cleaning Bucket"
- Under the 'To Volunteer' section, click on 'enter your information 'HERE' (this will take you to the National Donations Management Network database)
- Fill out database form
- If you are a group, be sure to indicate that and the number in your group (in the 'Other Information' section)
- Also in the 'Other Information' section, in the 'comments box', indicate what COVOAD member agency you are affiliated with (indicate United Methodist Church). In this comments section, also indicate your availability over the next week (Sept 13th-Sept 20th).
- Please note that registering does not guarantee that you will be contacted by a voluntary agency needing assistance.
- Please do not simply show up in a disaster zone at this time. Roads need to be kept clear for evacuees and emergency crews.
- Go to www.rmcumc.org
- Click "Donate Now" at the top of the "Quick Links" on the right side of the page
- Select "Disaster Response Fund" in the drop-down menu under Designated Giving
One of best ways to help is to donate to the Disaster Response Fund of the Rocky Mountain Conference. Our primary role as the United Methodist Church is to help with the recovery phase. We are still in the first responding phase, and the work of recovery will begin on either September 15 or 16.
Thank you for your prayers and support for those victims, for their families and all people who are being affected by the flooding.
Youngsook C. Kang
Director of Mission and Ministry
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