UMCOR Prepares Wilma Response

NEW YORK, October 21, 2005— In a few days' time Hurricane Wilma has set many records: most intense Atlantic storm ever recorded, 12th Atlantic hurricane this season, and 21st named storm in this year's hurricane season.

Wilma caused widespread evacuations of tourists in Mexico, and is expected to make landfall in South Florida late Sunday, Oct. 23 or Monday, Oct. 24 after a sideswipe of Cuba. The Florida Annual Conference Disaster Response is preparing its members for this latest hurricane. UMCOR disaster response consultant, Christy Smith, will arrive in Florida on Monday. Tom Hazelwood, UMCOR disaster response executive, is planning to arrive in Florida as soon as possible.

The storm is also affecting the Caribbean and Central America. Mudslides triggered by Wilma's rains killed 10 people in Haiti. More rain damage is expected as predictions are for 25 inches of rain to fall on Cuba's western mountains and 12 inches for parts of already-saturated Mexico, Honduras, and Nicaragua.

UMCOR will continue to monitor the situation in both the US and abroad to provide the swiftest and most effective response.