Letter: Churchwide Appeal for USA Domestic Disasters

Dear Sisters and Brothers in Faith,

Hurricane Isabel roared into the Atlantic coast the third week of September, causing damage from wind, rain and storm surge. North Carolina, Virginia and Maryland have begun the slow process of digging out. Some experts say a complete recovery could take two years—mopping up, assessing damage, rehabilitating homes and restoring lives. Anyone who has experienced disastrous weather conditions knows the road these people must travel.

What may surprise us, however, is how many people are still on that road from earlier hurricanes and other life-threatening storms. It is a road some have called a quiet disaster, overshadowed by other news. Listen to the roll of disasters that have created this quiet suffering across the country in the past 12 months:

• Isidore and Lili hit within days of each other, devastating parts of Louisiana and destroying crops, houses and public buildings.
• The following spring more than 500 tornadoes ripped through the Midwest and the South, followed in late July by floods in northern Indiana and western Ohio.
• Spring and summer thunderstorms brought flooding and wind damage to many areas of Florida.
• In August, severe storms caused flooding in eastern Ohio and West Virginia.
• Labor Day floods inundated parts of Indiana.

In these places and others unnamed, thousands of people-- many who already live on the edge-- struggle as the storms have heightened their vulnerability.

And in all these places, United Methodists, through UMCOR, assist those most vulnerable through long-term case management and volunteer building and repair teams. Almost $1.5 million has been given to U.S. annual conferences for disaster response since September 2002. Even before Isabel struck, needs were established for another $1.1 million. Quite simply, this has been a year of serious weather-related disasters in the United States.

These disasters have placed heavy demand on UMCOR's resources. Response funds are desperately low. We write with a sense of urgency, asking you please to give generously to the Churchwide Appeal for USA Domestic Disasters, UMCOR Advance #901670. We encourage you to take a special offering for U.S. disaster response Sunday, October 19, or another Sunday in October or early November.

This Advance enables every U.S. annual conference's disaster response in the first days of an emergency. It supports long-term case management recovery efforts as well.

When disasters strike, UMCOR is there. You can assure this healing and hope with every gift of support. Remember: as always, 100 percent of your gift through the Advance will provide relief and recovery from these disasters.

Grace and peace,

Bishop Ruediger R. Minor
President
Council of Bishops

Bishop Alfred L. Norris
President
General Council on Finance and Administration