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May 17, 2002: UMCOR continues to support many annual conferences that have been struck by tornadoes and flooding. Several hundred flood buckets have been sent to southeastern Missouri, and 2500 flood buckets and an emergency response grant have gone to Kentucky. Four counties in southern West Virginia have been affected by flooding. The worst hit has been McDowell County where 2000 homes were flooded--197 of these were completely destroyed and 700 received major damage. An UMCOR disaster response consultant will be working with the Illinois Great Rivers conference to assist with their recovery work from tornadoes and floods. UMCOR sent a grant and a consultant to the Northwest Texas conference where United Methodists are working as part of an interfaith group to assist with tornado recovery in Happy, Texas. In the Holston Annual Conference the town of Hurley, West Virginia was devastated by flooding at the beginning of May. Hundreds of people were displaced, many homes and businesses destroyed or severely damaged, and roads and bridges washed out. UMCOR has sent a grant to help with the initial disaster response. Please join in UMCOR's response to these spring storms and flooding by giving to Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670. Volunteers to help with clean up and rebuilding will be needed in many areas. Call (800) 918-3100 for volunteer information.
The UMCOR Depot's stock of flood buckets has been completely depleted. Flood buckets are filled with cleaning supplies that individuals and families can use to clean their homes after floods and hurricanes. You can help restock the Depot by assembling and shipping flood buckets. Please note that UMCOR cannot pay for shipping or pick up flood buckets to transport them to the Depot. For instructions, please call the Depot at (800) 814-8765. You may also give a financial donation that will be used to purchase cleaning supplies that the Depot staff and volunteers will use to assemble flood buckets. To help purchase cleaning supplies, give to UMCOR's Material Resource Ministry, Advance #901440.
UMCOR has sent a grant to the United Methodist Church of Mozambique to begin the second home building project for people who were permanently displaced by the floods in 2000 and 2001. Permanent, flood-resistant homes will be built for 138 families, a total of nearly 1000 people, in Bandua. These families are currently living in tents. The bricks for the homes will be manufactured using a brick-making machine previously purchased by UMCOR. The United Methodist Church in Mozambique continues to provide food assistance and support for community and economic development for people affected by the floods. Your gifts to Mozambique Emergency, Advance #156500 make this ongoing response possible.
Photos:
1. Magoanine was the church's first home building project. This new village which was constructed for Mozambicans who lost not only their homes but their land as a result of the floods of 2000. UMCOR funded these homes, in partnership with the German United Methodist Church, through the UMC of Mozambique. Credit: Kristin Sachen, United Methodist Committee on Relief, copyright © 2001.
2. UMCOR and The United Methodist Church in Mozambique are providing Mozambicans currently living in tents with a more stable, flood resistant home made of earthen bricks. Credit: UMC Mozambique, copyright © 2000.
Gifts may be made through local United Methodist churches, or by calling 1-800-554-8583. Credit card donations are accepted. (Read more about how you can help UMCOR's emergency responses.)
UMCOR is providing emergency relief in many areas of the world. To find out more about current UMCOR ministries, please visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/ .
And, please pray for those who are hungry, displaced, sick or in poverty because of these and other natural and human-made disasters, and for the workers who minister to them.
