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July 27, 2001
The worst flooding in two decades has devastated parts of the Indian state of Orissa. There has been tremendous loss of life, homes, infrastructure, crops, and livestock. Millions of people have had to flee their homes. UMCOR has sent an initial emergency response grant to our ecumenical partner in India, CASA (Churches' Auxiliary for Social Action). CASA is reaching out to 12,000 of the poorest and most marginalized families in the four worst affected districts. The immediate relief is focused on providing shelter and food. CASA is distributing relief sets consisting of traditional clothing, blankets, kitchen utensils, tarpaulins, and dry rations. Record rainfall in Pakistan has caused severe flash flooding in Islamabad and the surrounding region. Many people have lost their lives and thousands of homes and businesses have been heavily damaged or destroyed. To join in flood relief efforts in India and Pakistan, please give to UMCOR's "South Asia Emergency" Advance #274305.
Your assistance continues to be needed to help people recover from flooding in the United States. Houston,Texas and the surrounding area, southeastern Pennsylvania, and Louisiana continue to clean up and recover from the floods caused by tropical storm Allison and its remnants. In Houston, case workers are being trained in an effort to reach people who would otherwise fall through the cracks and assist them in finding the resources they need to recover. Your gifts to UMCOR's Hurricanes 2001, Advance #982350 are critically needed. The recovery from tropical storm Allison will be long-term, and since we are just beginning to approach the peak season for hurricanes, there is a good chance that UMCOR will be called upon to respond to additional storm damage this year.
Flood recovery will also be long-term in West Virginia where thousands of homes and businesses were affected. To support these recovery efforts, please give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.
Volunteers are needed to assist with clean-up, repair, and rebuilding following these floods. Volunteer teams are also needed to help rebuild homes destroyed in the earthquake in El Salvador. 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.
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.
