Hurricane Mitch has caused catastrophic destruction in Honduras and parts of Nicaragua. Though it is now a tropical storm, Mitch continues to dump heavy rainfall causing landslides and the flooding of nearly every river in Honduras. At least half a million people have been left homeless by the storm, and hundreds of villages and towns are completely cut off. UMCOR is sending emergency grants to our church partners and making plans to send a shipload of food. An UMCOR disaster consultant will travel to the area this week to help with assessment and relief plans.

An UMCOR disaster consultant is currently in the Caribbean, visiting islands and nations devastated by Hurricane Georges. Some communities in the Dominican Republic were so devastated that the government is considering relocating all the residents. UMCOR continues to work with the church in the Dominican Republic to make arrangements for shipments of pharmaceuticals and food, and to assist with planning for both immediate and long-term recovery. The Bishop has specifically requested UMCOR's assistance in training pastoral care givers in trauma intervention.

This year's hurricane season has been catastrophic, and your gifts to the Churchwide Appeal for Hurricanes '98, Advance #982515-0 are urgently needed. Your gift will be used where it is most needed, or you may designate it for a specific country or conference.

Work teams have been helping with clean-up in the communities affected by flooding in Texas. The Southwest Texas conference has been particularly hard-hit this year, with flooding from tropical storm Charley earlier this year and the recent floods. You may join in clean-up and recovery efforts by giving to UMCOR's Advance #901315-0, "Texas Floods." To find out how to assemble and ship flood buckets, call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765 or click here.

Volunteers are needed in the Gulf States and in Texas. Please call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100 for more information.

Please remember those who have suffered from these devastating storms in your prayers.

UMCOR Hotline:
Phone: 1-800-841-1235
Web: http://gbgm-umc.org/UMCOR-Hotline/
E-mail: umcor@gbgm-umc.org