FROM THE FIELD
In Today's Hotline:
Hurricane Gustav stormed through Baton Rouge, La., on Sept. 1, leaving more than 2,000 homes damaged or destroyed and about 50 percent of its citizens without power. UMCOR is working with the affected annual conferences including Texas, Louisiana, Mississippi and Alabama-West Florida to offer emergency relief and support as-needed.
UMCOR's domestic disaster response personnel are being deployed to the affected conferences to assist in the recovery efforts. Specially-trained early response teams are responding as the affected areas are deemed safe and secure. United Methodist Volunteers in Mission and UMCOR are coordinating long-term recovery plans.
Thankfully, Sager Brown, UMCOR's relief supply depot in Baldwin, La., weathered the storm without any structural damage. Sager Brown staff is expected to return to the depot this weekend to distribute much-needed relief supplies to communities in need, as well as prepare for future storms. According to news reports, Tropical Storm Hanna is brewing in the Atlantic and is expected to make landfall as a major hurricane somewhere on the Southeastern US coast by Friday evening. Tropical Storm Hanna will be the fourth hurricane of the season.
Nearly two million people fled Gulf Coast communities in advance of the storm under mandatory evacuation orders - fearing the fate of Hurricane Katrina in 2005. Your help is needed to bring relief to survivors as well as help UMCOR efficiently respond to pending storms.
Support UMCOR's work by giving to UMCOR Advance #3019695, Hurricanes 2008, Hurricane Gustav. Checks can be mailed to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087. Write the Advance number and name on the memo line of your check. Go to www.umcor.org for more information.
Purchase flood buckets. UMCOR Sager Brown sent more flood buckets in response to the terrible flooding in the Midwest than it sent in all of 2007! As a result of the high demand for flood buckets due to the floods and the more recent Tropical Storm Fay, supplies of flood buckets are extremely low. Help fill the need by purchasing a flood bucket today! The cost of one flood bucket is approximately $55. The basic cleaning materials contained in a flood bucket enable people to begin the overwhelming job of cleaning up after a flood or hurricane. Giving generously to UMCOR Material Resources Advance # 901440 which will help UMCOR purchase the needed relief supplies.
Contact your Jurisdictional Volunteer in Mission Coordinator for information about volunteering. We anticipate that it will be some weeks before the area is secured and housing set up for general volunteers.
UMCOR provides emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about UMCOR's ministries, please visit umcor.org. You can donate to any project by placing a contribution in the offering plate at a local United Methodist church; by sending a check to UMCOR, PO Box 9068, New York, NY 10087-9068; or by calling 1-800-554-8583, where credit card donations are accepted. You can also give online at givetomission.org. UMCOR is exempt from tax under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code of the United States and qualifies for the maximum charitable contribution deduction by donors.
United Methodist Committee on Relief
General Board of Global Ministries, The United Methodist Church
Room 330, 475 Riverside Drive, New York, NY 10115
Voice Phone: 1-212-870-3816; FAX: 1-212-870-3624
Email: umcor@gbgm-umc.org
Web: http://www.umcor.org
UMCOR. Be There. Be Hope.
UMCOR's mission is to alleviate human suffering-whether caused by war, conflict, or natural disaster-with open minds and hearts to all people.
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
[ Any views expressed in this article are those of the writer and not of Reuters. ]
