Update on Hurricane Alex and Rio Grande flooding--July 19
An Early Response Team is being deployed to Rio Bravo, located 12 miles down stream from Laredo. The team will be staying at the First UMC Laredo.
More help is needed now and, in all likelihood, in the future. Please call if you are interested. Either full teams, small groups or individuals are welcome, but we will have to put teams of six or more together.
Call Eugene Hileman (210-557-8698) if you have questions or if you are interested.
Extensive flooding in Mexico, both from the Rio Grande and elsewhere, is a matter of grave concern. The Disaster Response Committee asked Bishop Dorff to appeal to the Southwest Texas Conference on behalf of the North Mexico Conference. This appeal is under the home tab above.
| Earthquake Update
Recent news from UMCOR on Haiti and Chile
CHILE: UMCOR RESPONDS TO 8.8 MAGNITUDE EARTHQUAKE
After the strongest earthquake in the region in half a century struck central Chile early Saturday, February 27, UMCOR responded with an initial emergency grant to its partners in Chile to help them bring relief to survivors.
The $10,000 grant will help the Methodist Church of Chile (IMECH) and its relief arm, the Methodist Humanitarian Action Team (EMAH), conduct needs assessments and bring water and food to survivors.
Last October, UMCOR dispatched an international disaster response team to Chile to help the Methodist Church there prepare for natural and human-made catastrophes.
Bishop Joel Martinez, interim general secretary of the General Board of Global Ministries, called on “our generous United Methodist constituents to join in the response to the Chile Emergency Advance to strengthen UMCOR’s ability to be fully present with resources.”
Please send your contribution and mark Chile Emergency, UMCOR Advance #3021178 on the memo line. One hundred percent of gifts made to this advance will help the people of Chile.
HAITI: EARTHQUAKE RECOVERY UPDATE
UMCOR Statement of Commitment in Haiti
Three United Methodist Volunteers in Mission (UMVIM) jurisdictional coordinators set their sites on Haiti, representing UMCOR and UMVIM to reinforce connections with the Methodist Church of Haiti (EMH), following the January 12 earthquake in that Caribbean nation.
The jurisdictional coordinators attended EMH’s annual conference in Le Cayes, where they met with circuit superintendents to identify areas of greatest need and discuss how UMVIM and UMCOR might collaborate with them to meet the priorities the superintendents have defined.
Methodist minister and UMCOR consultant Rev. Jim Gulley, a survivor of the earthquake, also was present at the annual conference and delivered a statement and words of encouragement to the conference on behalf of UMCOR. The commitment of time, fiscal and human resources to the people of Haiti was central to Gulley’s presentation. He underscored the importance of a renewed commitment by both UMCOR and EMH as the guarantee of a successful relief effort.
Gulley and the UMVIM team will meet with church leaders throughout their visit, as they determine the most effective ways to deploy volunteers to the region.
Haitian Artisans Offer Help to the Homeless
When the women of the cooperative Haitian Artisans for Peace International (HAPI) set out to build their Peace Park and Playground in Mizak, a village 50 miles south of Port-au-Prince, they meant it to be a safe haven for the community’s children. They never imagined it would become a haven for whole families and their distant relatives left homeless by a massive earthquake.
More than 550 homes in Mizak were damaged or destroyed during the January 12 quake. Like other survivors of the disaster, the people of this small village sought the safety of open fields. As they occupied the Peace Park, they were joined by extended family from the Haitian capital and other affected cities. Soon the women of HAPI found themselves at the center of an emergency relief effort.
“The food we prepared for 500 families was far, far from meeting the need…. We had at least double the families show up. There was no threat of violence, only overwhelming community presence and need,” wrote Valerie Mossman-Celestin, US executive director of HAPI, in an email that underscored the need for continued and coordinated assistance to Haiti.
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is helping the artists’ cooperative shore up Peace Park infrastructure, build clean water and sanitation facilities, construct a security wall for access control, and purchase tents for short-term shelter. Read more about HAPI and support UMCOR’s emergency relief and recovery work in Haiti through Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325.
UMCOR Haiti Newsletter
You can keep up with UMCOR’s work in Haiti through our Be There. Be Hope. In Haiti. newsletter. Published weekly, the newsletter provides updates of UMCOR’s immediate relief and long-term recovery work in Haiti since the January 12 earthquake. Sign up to receive Be There. Be Hope. In Haiti. via email or look for it at www.umrespond.org each week.
Gifts to support UMCOR’s work can be made online by visiting www.umcorhaiti.org. For gifts by mail, please make checks payable to UMCOR and mail to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Please indicate Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325 on the memo line of your check. One hundred percent of gifts made to this advance will help the people of Haiti.
A letter from Rev. Gesner Paul, President, Eglise Méthodiste d’Haiti
Jan. 28, 2010
On behalf of the Methodist Church in Haiti and the Haitian people, we thank you. Thank you all for your outpouring of love, support and Christian brotherhood in our great hour of need. Haiti has suffered a great tragedy, and to rebuild, recover and strengthen, it will take us all.
You have kept us in your prayers and we are grateful. You have sent donations through the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR). We thank you for your generosity. You have expressed your selfless interest in volunteering your time to come to Haiti to help with the recovery effort and we look forward to welcoming you.
In the coming days and weeks, the Methodist Church in Haiti will complete an assessment of the damage and communities impacted by the earthquake, and will prioritize areas for relief and rehabilitation in partnership with UMCOR. Teams of United Methodist Volunteers in Mission will be integral in the long-term recovery of the church and communities in Haiti, and opportunities will soon be available to come and help in meaningful ways.
In the short-term, the immediate needs of providing emergency aid of food, water, shelter and medical care are being addressed by UMCOR and a host of national and international relief organizations and technical specialists. Soon, the work of clearing debris in preparation for rebuilding will be done by teams of locals in cash-for-work programs led by these same aid groups and local community groups, including the Methodist Church in Haiti. The participation of international volunteers is welcome after this initial emergency phase is complete, at which time the Methodist Church in Haiti will work closely with UMCOR and UMVIM to identify rehabilitation projects which match the needs prioritized in the country.
With great appreciation for the outpouring of support and offers to come in person to help volunteer in Haiti as quickly as possible, the Methodist Church in Haiti, in partnership with UMCOR, requests that volunteer teams consider delaying their arrival into Haiti in light of the following:
* The Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR are still undertaking assessments evaluations in the 6 circuits most impacted by the earthquake, to determine the extent of the damage in church communities and beyond. Suitable projects and assignments for volunteer teams wishing to contribute to the recovery effort will not be identified until this process is complete.
* The Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR are still undertaking assessments evaluations in the 6 circuits most impacted by the earthquake, to determine the extent of the damage in church communities and beyond. Suitable projects and assignments for volunteer teams wishing to contribute to the recovery effort will not be identified until this process is complete.
* The Methodist Guest House is currently being assessed for structural integrity, and will undergo some rehabilitation and reconstruction of the security wall before being brought to full capacity and security to host teams of volunteers. The Methodist Guest House is currently being assessed for structural integrity, and will undergo some rehabilitation and reconstruction of the security wall before being brought to full capacity and security to host teams of volunteers.
* Commercial flights into Haiti are currently suspended and all travel into Haiti must be done via the neighboring Dominican Republic. Once in Haiti, transportation and logistics are further complicated due to the influx of international aid groups and the reality of debris and closed roads. Commercial flights into Haiti are currently suspended and all travel into Haiti must be done via the neighboring Dominican Republic. Once in Haiti, transportation and logistics are further complicated due to the influx of international aid groups and the reality of debris and closed roads.
* The emergency relief and debris removal phase may last at least another one or two months, depending on the severity of the impact to the communities. Volunteers wishing to work on the programs identified as priority by the Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR can begin to schedule trips for late March and April, once this initial emergency response and recovery phase is completed. The emergency relief and debris removal phase may last at least another one or two months, depending on the severity of the impact to the communities. Volunteers wishing to work on the programs identified as priority by the Methodist Church in Haiti and UMCOR can begin to schedule trips for late March and April, once this initial emergency response and recovery phase is completed.
* Volunteer teams with pre-existing travel plans to Haiti are urged to reconsider the timing and nature of their trip, in order to allow for re-assessment and prioritization of earthquake recovery programs.
Please continue to communicate with us your interest in volunteering for the recovery effort, and we will connect you with recovery projects and rehabilitation programs as soon as possible. We thank you again for standing by us in this time of great need, and look forward to working in Christian partnership to build a better Haiti.
Blessings,
Rev. Gesner Paul
President, Eglise Méthodiste d’Haiti
How can I help?
Gifts to support UMCOR's Haiti Relief efforts can be made to Haiti Emergency, UMCOR Advance #418325.
Please send your individual or special congregational offering money to:
Treasurer, SWTX Conference
Attention: Haiti Relief
United Methodist Church
16400 Huebner Rd.
San Antonio TX 78248
Gifts can be made online via the General Board of Global Ministries/UMCOR website: http://secure.gbgm-umc.org/donations/umcor/donate.cfm?code=418325&id=3018760
100% of gifts made to this advance will go to help the people of Haiti.
UMCOR Sager Brown is coordinating a shipment of health kits to provide individuals with basic necessities. Instructions for assembling and shipping health kits are available at http://new.gbgm-umc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies/health-kit/ .
Can I go to Haiti to help?
At the present time UMCOR is not asking for individuals or groups to travel to Haiti to assist in the effort. Opportunities for individuals mission teams will be posted on this page when they become known to us.
It is obvious for the devastation that many construction teams will be needed in the future. It may be worthwhile for churches to begin making preliminary plans to assist in the recovery effort.
Early Response Training Events Announced
Date: Saturday June 26, 2010 Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Location: Wimberly UMC, Cr. Ranch Road 12 and County Road 42 Cost: $30 (includes training manual, t shirt, badge, snacks and lunch)
Date: Saturday July 10, 2010 Hours: 8:30 A.M. to 4:30 P.M. Location: Poiint Comfort UMC, Point Comfort, TX Cost: $30 (includes training manual, t shirt, badge, snacks and lunch)
Are you interested in being trained for Early Response or having your church sponsor an Early Response Training? Contact: Eugene Hileman (210-557-8698) email aehileman@umcswtx.org
CLICK HERE TO REGISTER FOR THIS EARLY RESPONSE TRAINING
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| Disasters can have many faces in the Southwest Texas Conference.
Natural disaster such as hurricanes, floods or wild fires; man made disasters such as a chemical spills or gas line explosions; economic disasters such as a plant closings that devastate a single community or a general increase in unemployment; or a medical disasters such as pandemics all demand that the Church hears the call of our neighbors.
EARLY RESPONSE
Early Response Teams (ERT) are specially trained teams that offer assistance soon after the disaster strikes. They generally do clean up work and tasks required 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).
Long Term Recovery
Long term recovery is the name given for the work of rebuilding after the disaster strikes. Often the Long Term Recovery takes many months and is generally done under the direction of interfaith long term recovery committees. UMCOR and the Southwest Texas Conference support these committees both financially and with expert consultants.
Volunteers are needed
Currently the Interfaith Long Term Recovery Committee in the Rio Grande Valley is seeking assistance from UMVIM teams or other church groups to assist families with damage sustained from Hurricane Dolly and other floods during the summer of 2008. Interested groups or individuals should contact the Volunteer Coordinator:
Susan Hellums
shellums@mcfirst.com
Phone:
(956)648-8509 -- cell
(956)661-9771 -- office
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| FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
General
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
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Early Response
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.
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?
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.
Long Term Recovery
What are the active long term recovery sites in the Southwest Texas conference?
Presently two sites are actively seeking volunteers to assist with long term recovery. You should contact the volunteer coordinator directly to schedule your team.
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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PRIMARY CONTACT
Eugene Hileman
Disaster Response Coordinator
Southwest Texas Conference
13506 Beltway
San Antonio, TX 78217
aehileman@umcswtx.org
210-557-8698
Austin District
Emmett Eary
P. O. Box 764
Phlugerville, TX 78691-0764
emmett.eary@sbcglobal.net
512-251-2145
Corpus Christi District
Rev. John Alsbrooks
P.O. Box 267
Refungio, TX 78377
j.alsbrooks@att.net
361-526-2440
Mickey Viar
52 Mocking bird Lane
Rockport, TX 78382
mviarwelder@gmail.com
cell 361-463-9245
hm. 512-410-4646
Kerrville District
George Barnette
george@bnpr.com
830-868-0808
Mc Allen District
Susan Hellums
shellums@mcfirst.com
956-648-8509
San Angelo District
Sherrie Walker
37 East Beauregard
San Angelo, TX 76903
sherrie@firstmethodist.net
325-655-8981
Rev. Cheri Brewster
37 East Beauregard
San Angelo, TX 76903
325-655-8981
San Antonio District
Tom Warner
1818 Vinca Manor
San Antonio, TX 78260
twarner1@earthlink.net
830-980-1818
Victoria District
Ron Langford
2412 W. Bayshore Dr.
Polocios, TX 77465
BRLangfor@AOL.com
719-661-1515
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