In the United States, United Methodists in five annual conferences are preparing for long-term relief and recovery efforts after Hurricane Floyd, and the United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is assisting with monetary grants, flood buckets and support from staff and members of the Catastrophic Disaster Response Team.

Reports from Methodist churches in the Bahamas indicate heavy damage from Floyd to many churches and homes in the eastern edge of the archipelago.

"UMVIM teams will be called to assist our Bahamian sisters and brothers in the time of need," said Larry Rankin, director of the Florida Conference Council on Ministries Missions ministry office.

In Taiwan, UMCOR has been in contact with the Taiwanese Methodist Church to begin the process of assessing that country’s needs after an earthquake measuring 7.6 on the Richter scale struck the nation’s central region Sept. 21, killing more than 1,700 and injuring 4,400.

UMCOR was one of the first groups involved in relief efforts in Turkey after an earthquake killed more than 40,000 Aug. 18. Members of UMCOR’s staff are travelling to Turkey now to assess the best way to provide long-term recovery assistance.

North Carolina ready for volunteers

Last month’s Hurricane Floyd has left much of North Carolina under water and many people unable to return to their homes. Although the North Carolina Conference is well-organized for response, efforts could not fully begin until the waters receded, Rankin said.

Despite challenges caused by heavy rains during the last week of September, the North Carolina Conference and UMCOR are now asking for volunteer clean-up and medical teams. Because the work will involve contaminated water and dead animals, clean-up efforts in North Carolina will be hazardous. Teams are very specialized and require special preparation, Rankin said.

"The North Carolina Conference is also calling for doctors, physician’s assistants and nurses," he said. "Construction UMVIM teams will be called later for repair and rebuilding projects."

The Rev. Virgil Butch Huffman, the North Carolina Conference’s United Methodist Volunteers (UMVIM) in Mission chairman, has asked for work teams on behalf of the Outer Banks, the coastal region of North Carolina, and for Belhaven, N.C.

Teams of roofers are needed in three locations in North Carolina. Volunteers are asked to call before making the trip. The groups requesting help are Hatteras Interfaith on the Outer Banks, 252-986-2161; Shepherd’s Staff in Beaufort, 252-943-2932; and Eagle’s Wings in Washington, 252-975-1138.

The contact for registering volunteers to help in North Carolina is Beverly Brown, North Carolina Conference Hurricane Relief, North Carolina Conference Office, at 1-800-849-4433, extension 254. Doctors and physician’s assistants should call 1-800-722-1350. Nurses should call Alicia Clark at 919-715-3101.

New Jersey prepares for flood recovery

In addition to Florida and North Carolina, Hurricane Floyd also dumped large amounts of rain on parts of New Jersey. United Methodists in the New Jersey conferences are organizing for long-term recovery assistance from severe flooding in the central part of that state. UMCOR is assisting the affected conferences with financial grants, support from staff and members of the Catastrophic Disaster Response Team, and material resources.

For more information on volunteering in New Jersey or to register a volunteer team, contact the Rev. Ida Fernández at 973-377-3800, extension 13.

How you can help

UMCOR is asking for monetary donations to help begin the disaster recovery efforts while staff members assess the needs and how to respond.

Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted at that number. Donations can be made for:

Hurricane Floyd recovery efforts in Florida, North Carolina and New Jersey to UMCOR Advance #982460-1 and marked "Hurricanes ’99" on the memo line;

Earthquake relief in Taiwan to UMCOR Advance #201325-3, designated "Taiwan Earthquake;" and

Earthquake relief in Turkey to UMCOR Advance #675205-6, designated "Turkey Earthquake."

The Florida Conference’s Missions ministry office recommends churches designate a special Sunday to support one or more of the UMCOR Advances. Local churches should collect the offering and mail a check labeled with the Advance number to the Florida Conference Treasurer, P.O. Box 3767, Lakeland, FL 33802.

Those churches and individuals wishing to volunteer in the United States and abroad may do so through a number of avenues.

For relief efforts in the Florida Conference, contact Bill Rhan, the Florida Conference’s disaster response coordinator, at 941-602-4224 or TentDoc@aol.com.

To volunteer in other areas, contact Tom Griner, the conference’s UMVIM coordinator, at 352-326-5672 or TomGriner1@aol.com, or contact UMCOR directly at 1-800-918-3100.

The Sager Brown UMCOR Depot has nearly depleted its stock of flood buckets, which contain supplies needed for cleaning a flooded home. The 500 flood buckets collected at the Dare to Share Jesus 1999 Florida Annual Conference Event are being prepared for shipment.

More information is available

For additional information and updates, go to the Florida Conference’s web site at http://www.flumc.org,  the Southeastern Jurisdiction site at http://www.gbgm-umc.org/volunteers,   and the UMCOR site at http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline.