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July 13, 2001
Flash floods devastated parts of southern West Virginia and Tazewell County, Virginia last Sunday. The worst floods since 1985 damaged or destroyed over 4,600 homes. Maben, a small town on the banks of Slab Fork Creek, WV, was completely swept away. United Methodists have responded in a variety of ways. Churches have offered shelter and have delivered cleaning supplies, water, bleach, food, health kits, children's activity kits, and other items. The West Virginia Annual Conference disaster coordinators report, "Three gallons of water brought a hug, kiss, and a 'thank you Jesus' from an elderly lady."
The United Methodist Committee on Relief is responding to this and other recent storms. UMCOR has sent $10,000 to West Virginia Annual Conference and flood buckets filled with clean-up supplies as it continues to assess other immediate and long-range needs. Many people in the affected areas have low income. Another grant of $10,000 has been given to Holston Conference to help with the work in Virginia. (Read WVA update 7/20...)
This week, as the response to Tropical Storm Allison continues, UMCOR also sent grants of $10,000 each to the Texas, Rio Grande, and Eastern Pennsylvania Annual Conferences. (Read update 7/20...)
You can assist in these efforts by contributing to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670, which enabled it to send grants to these recently flooded places. Volunteers will be needed to assist in clean-up, repair, and rebuilding. For more information, please call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100. Also the UMCOR Depot must replenish its supply of flood buckets. For assembly and shipping instructions, call the Depot at (800) 814-8765 or visit UMCOR's Emergency Kits web page.
The first United Methodist volunteer team to go to El Salvador has returned. It built a house from scratch, including clearing the land and digging ditches. The family that will live in the house worked along with the group. On two afternoons, the doctor and nurse from the team treated 50 people for parasites, skin infections, diarrhea, poor nutrition, allergies, stress and tension. To help this work continue, please give generously to El Salvador Earthquake, Advance #511447. More volunteer teams are needed to build 300 earthquake resistant homes in the neighborhoods of Ichanmichen, El Espino, Tacuba, Tepetitan and Santo Domingo. Please call the Volunteer Line (800) 918-3100 for an information packet.
The continuing famine in the Horn of Africa is compounded by civil conflict and war in some of the countries. Although fighting has stopped in Eritrea, more than 300,000 persons, mostly women and children, remain in makeshift camps and host communities. Those who have returned to their homes have found massive destruction. All are in need of the basics: food, medicine, temporary shelter, bedding, and utensils. A generous response to Advance #101250, "Africa Famine Relief," will enable UMCOR to assist in this disaster.
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 http://gbgm-umc.org/umcor/.
Please pray for those who suffer from hunger, poverty, natural and human-made disasters.
Floods in West Virginia and Virginia
El Salvador Earthquake
UMCOR's Hurricanes 2001
The photos of the West Virginia floods on this page were taken this week Jerry Treolo of Keystone, WV. Used by permission. More photos are here.
