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| Frequently Asked Questions
Who gives leadership to disaster response in the Southwest Texas Conference?
What kinds of disasters do we respond to?
How does SWTX Conference respond to disasters?
How can I volunteer to help when a disaster strikes?
What do Early Response Teams do?
Why is training necessary before I can be part of an Early Response Team?
Why is a criminal background check required before I can be on an Early Response Team?
What do UMVIM teams do during Long Term Recovery?
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| Who gives leadership to disaster response in the Southwest Texas Conference?
Leadership of the disaster response effort by the Southwest Texas Conference is the responsibility of
the Conference Disaster Response Committee that is chaired by the Conference Disaster Response
Coordinator and includes District Disaster Response Coordinators from each of the seven districts, the
Conference Director of Communications, a District Superintendent representing the Cabinet, and up to
three at- large members. The committee is part of the conference United Methodist Volunteer in Mission/
Disaster Response Committee, which relates to the conference Board of Global Ministries.
The functions of the Conference Disaster Response Committee are to:
Set broad policies and procedures related to disaster response.
Encourage disaster preparedness in the Conference, especially by local churches
Provide opportunities for individuals to receive training for disaster response
Set priorities during a disaster
Monitor the progress of the response.
Provide temporary fixes for as many survivors as possible during the Relief Phase
Assist communities during Long Term Recovery
Evaluate response effectiveness.
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| What kinds of disasters do we respond to?
The Disaster Response Committee of the SWTX Conference primarily responds to natural disasters
such as floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. Recently attention has been given to preparation for disasters
related to pandemics. Other disasters, often called “man made” may result from terrorism and domestic
disturbances or from accidents such as chemical spills. Resources of the conference would be used to
assist individuals and families impacted by these disasters as well.
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| How does SWTX Conference respond to disasters?
The Disaster Response Committee of the Southwest Texas Conference stands ready to assist any
time disasters are so large that the resources of the local community or the District are not sufficient to
meet the needs. This response can take many forms. Expert advice can be provided to help the local
community as they meet immediate needs, or as they plan for recovery from a disaster by churches,
families or the community. Volunteers can also be recruited by the Conference. Early Response Teams
are deployed to assist with clean up and minor repairs needed to make homes habitable. Long term
recovery teams help with rebuilding during the recovery phase after a disaster. In addition, Spiritual and
Emotional Care teams can provide support to individuals and congregations as they cope with the loss
caused by a disaster.
The Conference Disaster Response Committee is also the link between local communities and UMCOR.
UMCOR has expert consultants to assist immediately following a disaster, as well as during the recovery
phase. They are especially helpful as the community plans for long term recovery and offer a variety
of training programs to assist in long term recovery. The Bishop may request financial assistance from
UMCOR to assist communities as they respond to a disaster.
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| How can I volunteer to help when a disaster strikes?
The best thing you can do is plan ahead. Get trained to be a member of an Early Response Team (ERT)
or a Care team. In addition, you may receive training from the American Red Cross to work in a shelter or
some other capacity. Many avenues are open to you if you are trained. (Link to training opportunities)
If you are not trained before the disaster, you can still make a difference. Immediately following the
disaster, your best avenue is in your local community. Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster (VOAD)
is organized in many communities or counties. They may have a Volunteer Operations Center (VOC)
set up to process volunteers and match their skills and interests with the needs of organizations serving
disaster survivors. If no VOC exists, the local ministerial alliance may be able to direct you where your
skills can be put to use. Another alternative is to contact a responding organization directly. For example,
you may want to contact the Salvation Army or the American Red Cross. Also, other denominations might
have programs where you could serve. For example, the Seventh Day Adventists have an extensive
clothing ministry and the Baptist Men frequently serve meals to disaster survivors.
Possibly the greatest need for volunteers comes in the recovery phase of the disaster. This is when long
term recovery takes place—generally under the direction of an interdenominational long term recovery
committee (LTRC). Thousands of hours of volunteer help are needed to clear debris from yards, and
repair or rebuild homes. This task is often the hardest to accomplish because the job is so large and
because the survivors are no longer in the news. UMVIM teams from your church or area can work
with the Long Term Recovery Committee and plan a convenient time for you to go. (Link to on line
registration)
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| What do Early Response Teams do?
Early Response Teams (ERT) are specially trained teams that offer assistance soon after the disaster
strikes. They generally do clean up work and tasks needed to stop further damage from being done e.g.
putting tarps on damaged roofs. They might do minor repairs that help make homes habitable, but they
do not do extensive repairs or reconstruction (that is the job for Long Term Recovery). All members of
an Early Response Team are required to complete the six to seven hour training course and must have a
criminal background check. They will receive a badge indicating they are credentialed by the Southwest
Texas Conference.
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| Why is training necessary before I can be part of an Early Response Team?
ERT training covers a wide range of topics, but the most important are team and individual safety and
response protocols that prevent action that may somehow make the situation worse. For example, work
could be done that would cause homeowners to loose insurance payments or loose their eligibility for
government assistance through FEMA, SBA, etc.
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| Why is a criminal background check required before I can be on an Early Response Team?
Conference policy requires all workers who have contact with youth or vulnerable adults to have a
background check. Also, many government agencies require a background check before volunteers
are permitted to work in shelters or even to gain entrance to disaster sites. The Disaster Response
Committee has established policies to protect the privacy of volunteers who have a background check
as well as policies to evaluate the suitability for service of volunteers who have minor violations on
their record. (link to background check policy)
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| What do UMVIM teams do during Long Term Recovery?
Long term recovery takes place in the months (and sometimes years) following the disaster. It is
generally under the direction of an interfaith long term recovery committee (LTRC). UMVIM teams are
needed to do home repairs, and in some cases, do complete rebuilds. Work is often done under the
direction of a construction coordinator and the committee may have a volunteer coordinator with whom
team leaders should make arrangements. Teams often stay in local churches but are responsible for their
food. A gift to the host church to cover incidental expenses is standard procedure. The team leader of
an UMVIM team doing long term recovery work following a disaster must have completed the course in
UMVIM Leader Training.
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