UMs train flood-recovery caseworkers

By Rachel L. Toalson
Staff Writer
United Methodists trained volunteers this week in Burnet and Victoria counties to help victims of recent flooding through the long-term recovery process.
Barbara Tripp, a volunteer disaster-response specialist from the United Methodist Committee on Relief, was to conduct caseworker training Tuesday at Grace UMC, Granite Shoals, and Wednesday at First UMC, Victoria.
Up to 24 people could enroll for each class. They were to learn how to assess flood victims’ needs and connect them with public and private recovery resources.
More than 1,000 people from 11 counties in the Southwest Texas Conference area have registered with the Federal Emergency Management Agency for flood relief. President Bush had declared those 11 counties federal disaster areas for individual assistance as of July 31.
Susan Hellums, conference Volunteers in Mission coordinator, visited Rio Grande City and Roma earlier this week with FEMA representatives. The goal was to assess long-term recovery needs. Those Starr County communities are in one of the disaster areas.
The Rev. Jason Fry, senior pastor of First UMC, Victoria, met with the Victoria County Interfaith Long-Term Recovery group last week to make plans for cleanup across the county, another one of the disaster areas.
Training for disaster-response volunteer teams is scheduled for Aug. 25 at Grace UMC, Granite Shoals, and Sept. 9 at University UMC, San Antonio. Cost is $25, which includes lunch/snacks and a disaster response manual. For more information contact Hellums at (956) 661-9771 or shellums@mcfirst.com.
June and July rains across Southwest Texas reportedly destroyed more than 40 houses and 20 mobile homes. Nearly 200 other homes are reportedly uninhabitable.
Congregations are still assembling flood buckets to help with flood cleanup. Collection sites are in San Antonio and McAllen, Hellums said.
Grace UMC, Corpus Christi, prepared 100 flood buckets July 30—just in time to help neighbors in Nueces County. Church World Service, relief arm of the National Council of Churches and a partner of the United Methodist relief agency, reported July 31 several areas near the Nueces River needing cleanup supplies.
Blanco UMC was planning to deliver 10 flood buckets to the United Methodist Center in San Antonio this week.
Hellums said the conference still needs money for disaster response.
“What’s important for people to know is that it’s hard to wait for a specific disaster,” she said. “That’s what gives us the most money, but it’s not immediately available. The undesig-nated domestic disaster fund is important for immediate response.”