UMCOR is on the scene

CURRENT DISASTER RESPONSE

UMCOR and its partners are responding to disasters in the United States and around the world. Please join us in prayer for the affected areas and consider giving to UMCOR Disaster Response to support these efforts. As we assess the initial and ongoing impact of the disasters described below, we will provide additional updates as information is available. We will also share additional ways in which you can help.

Active Responses
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is in close connection with the annual conferences responding to recent severe storms and threats. 

A major winter storm continues to impact a wide area of the United States from the Rockies to the upper Great Lakes. Currently, assessments have begun in the Northwest Texas and Great Plains conferences. We are supporting the Iowa Conference with Emergency Response Team “Train the Trainer” courses. We anticipate assessments will begin soon in the Dakotas, Wisconsin and Mountain Sky conferences. We await reports from other partners as they work with other district and state response teams. As we receive more information we will provide updates here and on our social media channels.

Meanwhile, recovery efforts in the Alabama-West Florida Conference continue after the March 3 tornado outbreak. In Lee County alone volunteers are assisting by providing pastoral care, overnight shelters, food supplies and financial support. UMCOR sent a trailer of supplies and issued a $10,000 solidarity grant immediately after the storm. We continue to provide supplies as requested by the district Disaster Response Coordinator.

Visit this link to help.

Additional Response

• UMCOR has awarded a solidarity grant of $10,000 to the Mississippi Conference and Alabama-West Florida Conference as they actively engage early response teams to clean up following a tornado and flooding. Those wishing to support can give to the UMCOR US Disaster Response.
• UMCOR has deployed personnel to support the Tennessee Conference as they assess damage from the same storm system and consider their response. 
• Alaska Conference received a solidarity grant of $10,000 following an earthquake on Nov. 30, 2018. UMCOR has responded to requests for training and other support.
• Reports of mandatory evacuations are coming in from the California-Nevada Conference, which has requested UMCOR support.
• UMCOR awarded $100,000 to the Ecumenical Seminary of Puerto Rico to repair disaster-caused damage to residential housing for students and faculty.
• Pacific Northwest Conference received a solidarity grant of $10,000 to provide relief services and cleanup on behalf of those affected by a tornado.