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September 20, 2002: News of storms and floods has been in the forefront this week. Hurricane Isidore has already done damage in Cuba and is moving toward the U.S. mainland. Cuba is still recovering from Hurricane Michelle, which caused $1.8 billion in damage last year. Hurricane warnings have been issued for the Gulf of Mexico. The UMCOR Domestic Disaster Response Network ready to respond, if necessary.
On Saturday, September 14, over fifteen inches of rain fell in Donalsonville, Georgia, and surrounding areas, due to Tropical Storm Hanna. Two hundred fifty-six homes have been affected in Donalsonville. An initial grant of $10,000 has been sent by UMCOR. The storm has also caused flooding in the Ridge Manor area of Florida where more than 200 families are affected. UMCOR is assessing the needs for further resources, including volunteers. Please contribute to the Hurricanes 2002 Advance #901185. Your gifts will enable UMCOR to respond quickly to tropical storms and hurricanes not only in the U.S. but also in other parts of the world, including the Caribbean and Central America.
Southern Africa's food emergency has worsened. Updated reports have come from the Southern African Development Committee and the U.N. Special Envoy for Humanitarian Needs. Earlier indications were that 12.8 million people would require urgent humanitarian assistance over the next seven months. That number has now been raised to 14.4 million. Please give through your church to the Church-wide Appeal for Southern Africa Famine, Advance #101250-4.
Following flood damage in July and Tropical Storm Fay in September, rains continue to pound the Three Rivers County and Corpus Christi areas of southwest Texas. Five hundred health kits have been sent from the UMCOR Depot. Resources continue to be needed. Please designate your monetary gift to Advance #901315-0 Texas Floods.
With the variety of current emergency responses, the UMCOR Depot is in need of kits in all categories. Thank you for your generous response to this direct support to persons victimized by disasters. For details visit the website: http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/kits.cfm or call the UMCOR Depot at 1-800-814-8765.
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.
