Northeast VIM leader requests patience, reports progress
The leader of the United Methodist Volunteers in Mission Northeastern Jurisdiction is thanking volunteers for offering assistance with Hurricane Katrina relief but also for being patient in waiting for the green light to travel to the most severely affected areas.
Some church teams and individuals from the Baltimore-Washington Conference and elsewhere have travelled to non-stricken areas and to help with relief operations as evacuees there try to recover from the hurricane and seek relocation. It is strongly recommended that people going to areas damaged by Katrina and Rita first get trained in disaster recovery work, have a local contact in the area to help them with lodging and to gbwc_superusere their efforts, and stay informed about current needs and conditions.
On the Northeastern Jurisdiction VIM Web site, www.gbgm-umc.org/umvim-nej, coordinator Gregory Forrester, of Cortland, N.Y., explains that only certified, trained and self-sufficient Emergency Response Teams with prior disaster relief experience are being allowed to enter severely affected areas. The Baltimore-Washington Conference Early Response team recently returned home from two weeks in Mississippi.
Forrester writes that entering such areas now is 'tenuous,' requiring early responders to be 'totally self- sufficient for housing, food, water and fuel ... able to sustain themselves in the region and also have enough fuel supplies to exit.'
He reports that UMCOR, in consultation with regional VIM coordinators, is arranging logistical support to accommodate individuals and teams who wish to serve in disaster areas. Meanwhile, Forrester offers updates on progress in affected conferences:
Updates from affected conferences
Alabama/West Florida can immediately take cleanup and response teams - contact 1-866-340-1956 for the process and where they are most needed. Each team must have an UMVIM trained team leader and should have someone experienced in flood recovery/disaster.Mississippi has a call center up and running and will be able to help direct teams where they are needed most. They will be accepting teams with trained leaders shortly to begin the process of making area parsonages livable so that pastors can return to their church communities.
Louisiana is still trying to get its call center going, but has requested groups to respond in outlying areas for generalized clean-up of trees and properties. These sites need to be confirmed by the conference disaster response task force before teams are scheduled.
Groups will need to be totally self-sustaining as most available hotels, churches, camps and homes are being utilized for temporary housing of displaced persons. Other contact numbers will be reported as they become available.
People caring for evacuees in many United Methodist churches and camps will need to be relieved for short periods of time. UMCOR is determining to arrange this with the help of volunteers
Material goods needed
The NEJVIM site also urges continued collection and provision of Health Kits and School Kits as priority needs. Contents for the kits can be found at www.umcor.org. Also requested are adult and infant diapers of all sizes. Other clothes and bottled water are no longer needed for now.
Donors who are shipping kits to the Mission Central depot in Mechanicsburg, Pa., should contact them for a delivery schedule and information. Visit www.cpcumc.org
Housing and health care workers needed
Forrester reports that UMCOR is exploring with government agencies how the relief agency can help with long-term recovery and temporary housing fror evacuees. Several independent Web sites offer places to post available housing information: http://www.hurricanehousing.org/ or http://www.katrinahousing.org/
In addition, the federal government is recruiting health care workers and other professionals for long term assignments. Visit www.hhs.gov for details.
The American Red Cross will also have a long-term need for RNs, LPNs, and licensed mental health professionals. Those desiring to serve are asked to contact their local Red Cross chapter to obtain required training.
Partner churches to help affected churches
Meanwhile, there is an effort just underway to create a database of United Methodist churches in the affected areas and to match them with supportive partner churches. The latter reportedly would assist affected churches with economic, psychological and spiritual recovery.
'The rescue phase has ended and we are entering the recovery/rebuilding phases,' writes Forrester. 'We will need thousands of volunteers to assist with basic 'mucking out' and rebuilding. The UMVIM program is committed to long-term recovery and rebuilding.
'Together, we can make a difference,' he adds. 'But we are asking for your patience as the situation is assessed and the need for teams is specifically identified and requested. As the situation stabilizes, you can be sure our UMVIM network will be mobilized for long-term recovery.'
Greg Forrester, Northeast Jurisdictional VIM coordinator can be reached at www.umvimnej.org or (607) 756-7799.
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