| How do we respond to disaster? BY BOB HUNTER What can local congregations do to help the victims when disaster strikes? The sufferers need human touch, human voices and human hands to not only help them with the immense amount of physical labor, but to become whole spiritually as well. Who listens when people ask the hard questions about God and natural disasters? How do people explain these things to the children who have lost not only their toys but some of their innocence also? If we are going to be followers of Jesus Christ, we must be present with the victims. We cant be present unless we volunteer to be there with them. There are three phases of disaster response. The first is the emergency phase. This is when police, fire and utility companies are working as the disaster is happening. Federal, state and local agencies are contacted to prepare to respond. The emergency phase can last from a few days to a week, depending on the severity of the disaster. Next comes the early-response phase. The goal during this phase is for relief workers to make buildings safe to inhabit, sanitary to live in and secure from looters and the elements. The Red Cross gets involved at this stage. At the request of Bishop Felton Edwin May, the United Methodist Committee on Relief sent in a disaster relief coordination expert to assist United Methodists and others in how to help. UMCOR is funded by the One Great Hour Of Sharing offering each year. Our annual conference has formed an early disaster response team, with a trailer and supplies to go directly to the problem areas and be completely independent. Our local churches paid for everything in the trailer, and there is a team of 20 local church volunteers who respond when necessary. The La Plata tornado is the first time weve sent this team to a disaster area. The early response phase can last days or several weeks depending upon the severity of the disaster. The third phase is recovery. The goal during this final and lengthy stage is to help people rebuild their lives and communities. This can take several years to accomplish. Hurricane Andrew came 10 years ago and the recovery phase is still in process. The damage at La Plata is just as bad or worse. Volunteers will be needed to do work for many years to come. The Baltimore-Washington Conference is committed to disaster relief. In the days and months ahead, what will be needed is time and labor. United Methodists will respond. The Rev. Bob Hunter is pastor at Salem UMC in Hampstead. He is the Baltimore North District disaster relief coordinator. | 
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