The UMCOR Hotline

August 3, 2001

Another round of flooding hit West Virginia and Virginia last weekend. Flooding has affected 24 counties in West Virginia. The damage is widespread and United Methodist relief and recovery efforts will be channeled through local churches. Disaster response workers have been distributing relief and cleaning items and are in the process of assessing needs. UMCOR has sent emergency grants to West Virginia and Holston conferences. The floods have affected areas of extreme poverty and considerable assistance will be needed to help people rebuild. Please give to UMCOR's Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.

United Methodists are participating in an interfaith recovery organization to help rebuild from the tornado that struck Siren, Wisconsin in June. 149 homes were destroyed, 154 received major damage and nearly 300 received minor damage. Since nearly half of the homes were uninsured for this type of damage, UMCOR will be helping to rebuild a larger percentage of homes than normal following a disaster. You can help the people of Siren recover by giving to Domestic Disaster Response, Advance #901670.

Texas and Rio Grande conference disaster workers are beginning the process of case management in Houston helping families to identify their needs and find the resources for recovery following the flood caused by Tropical Storm Allison. Work teams are desperately needed to continue the clean up work and begin rebuilding. The Texas Conference has requested a significant grant from UMCOR for recovery. To join in relief efforts, give to UMCOR's Hurricanes 2001, Advance #982350. UMCOR staff are monitoring the progress of Tropical Storm Barry. If an emergency response situation develops in the next few days, we will post information in the Hotline.

For more information about volunteering in any of these disaster-affected areas, please call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100.

UMCOR has sent initial emergency response grants to CASA and Church World Service to join in their response to the flooding in India and Pakistan. In India, the state of Orissa has experienced the worst flooding in two decades. Lives have been lost and homes, infrastructure, crops, and livestock have been destroyed. Millions of people have had to flee their homes. CASA is providing emergency relief to thousands of people in the poorest, worst affected districts. Torrential rain in Pakistan has caused flooding that swept away mud homes and landslides that have buried entire neighborhoods. Church World Service is assisting about 6,000 people with emergency food, bedding, shelter, reconstruction kits, and kitchen utensils. To join in flood relief efforts in India and Pakistan, please give to UMCOR's "South Asia Emergency" Advance #274305.

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.

Further Information

Floods in West Virginia and Virginia


• Photos of the Floods in West Virginia (pages take a while to download)
• Reports from the West Virginia Annual Conference Disaster Coordinators

  South Asia Emergency
  

• South Asia: How You Can Help

  UMCOR's Hurricanes 2001

• Tropical Storm Allison

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