November 20, 1998

See also: Hurricane Mitch News

Four conferences (Rio Grande, Southwest Texas, Central Texas and Texas) have been affected by the most recent flooding in Texas. 14 Interfaith groups have developed to respond to the widespread devastation. Although this is not a natural flood plain, much of the area flooded in 1994 is underwater again. UMCOR staff is meeting with conference staff and interfaith groups next week. To join in relief efforts, give to UMCOR Advance #901315-0, "Texas Floods"

In the past ten days, four shipments of relief goods have been sent to Honduras and Nicaragua as part of UMCOR's response to Hurricane Mitch. An airlift of 38,000 lbs of relief goods (rice, beans, canned meats, oil, protein bars and water containers) to Nicaragua, the "Spirit of Grace" ship is on its way to Honduras with bulk food, water, and some medical items.

Photo caption and credit: Food aid to help Nicaraguans in the aftermath of Hurricane Mitch is loaded on a C-130 Hercules cargo plane at the New Orleans Naval Air Station Joint Reserve Base. The United Methodist Committee on Relief, General Board of Global Ministries, shipped almost 20 tons of food on the flight. A UMNS photo by Joshua Lewis

Interchurch Medical Assistance (IMA) has a shipment of analgesics going to Christian Commission on Development (CCD) and CEPAD, our church partners in Honduras and Nicaragua. Three containers of corn donated by a farmer in Ohio are included in the relief supplies for Honduras.

The Dominican Republic, Haiti, Puerto Rico, St. Kitts, Nevis and Antigua are still in early recovery stages following Hurricane Georges. The damage to these areas, especially the Dominican Republic, are as significant as Honduras and Nicaragua. Counseling assistance is being added as an immediate critical need in these countries.

The most effective way to respond to victims of Hurricane Mitch and Georges is through a financial gift. You may give to UMCOR's Hurricanes '98, Advance #982515-0. Your gift will be used where it is most needed, or you may designate it for a specific country.

Material resources are being accepted at the UMCOR Depot. Call the UMCOR Depot at (800) 814-8765 for a needs list and shipping instructions or click here.

Volunteers are currently needed in the Florida Keys, Alabama, Mississippi, and Texas. Volunteers with specialized skills will be needed in the Caribbean and Central America in coming months. Persons interested in volunteering may call the Volunteer Line at (800) 918-3100.

Please pray for those who have lost loved ones, homes, possessions and who will continue to suffer from the effects of this storm for months and even years to come.

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