printer-friendly email a friend

Disaster Response

Help Haiti now! Visit our Haiti Earthquake page for response opportunities. Get the latest updates by signing up for our Disaster News update e-newsletter.

When disaster strikes, United Methodists respond�with prayers, time, labor, financial help and love.

Basic Disaster Response Teams provide assistance and support to those affected by a disaster. Responders do not perform rebuilding or repair work that may jeopardize a victim's eligibility for financial assistance from insurance and government agencies.  Responders must be trained and have received an ID card for access to the disaster to be sent out by the Conference and District Disaster Response Coordinators.

Early Response Teams are self contained teams that respond immediatly to disasters when called upon for help in our state or beyond. ERT's respond when it is safe to supplement the first official responders efforts. Boundry Awareness Training, Basic Disaster Response training and experience in disaster response are needed to receive the UMCOR  ERT identificaton card.

Connecting Neighbors (Local Church Disaster Response Plan)
Creating a local church DR plan is an ongoing process. The "Connecting Neighbors" training encompasses church response to both internal and external disasters. Key church leadership are encouraged to attend and learn how to maintain laibility, protect irreplacable church documents and records, and determine where they can best assist in the community at times of disaster.

If you are intersted in hosting a training in your district, please contact your District Coordinator (see Disaster Response Coordinator page) or Conference Coordinator Sandy Hendrickson at 620-357-8550 or disasterresponse@fairpoint.net.

Basic Disaster Response Training Opportunities 
 

  • September 11, Richfield, KS - Registration begins at 8:30 am. Call Ryan Brunholtz at 620-629-3926 for more information.
  • October 30, Jetmore, KS - Registration begins at 8:30 am. Call JUMC at 620-357-6237 for more information.
  • Please call your District Coordinator to schedule a training in your area 

 

Early Response Team Trainings
 

  • October 23rd beginning at 8:30am in Richfield, KS. Please register with Maria throught the Conference office.

 

  • please call or email Sandy Hendrickson (previously listed) if you are interested in attending or hosting an ERT training event.

Volunteer Opportunities

Visit the Disaster Response Volunteer Opportunities page for complete volunteer information.

Volunteers In Mission team opportunities
Volunteers will be needed for long-term recovery efforts. See the VIM Team Opportunities page for information about upcoming projects.


Disaster Relief Financial Assistance
The Kansas Area Disaster Fund has been established to assist survivors of disasters on a case-by-case basis. Applications for the referral process must be submitted by a United Methodist pastor who has visited with the survivors and ascertained the situation. 

Revised guidelines have been established for the use of disaster response assistance funds. Please read the guidelines before downloading the referral form.

If you have questions please contact the Conference Disaster Response Coordinator or the Coordinator in your district.
 

Kansas Area Disaster Plan
The Kansas Area has a Disaster Response Plan. If your church or community experiences a disaster, please contact your district superintendent or the conference disaster coordinator, see contact information below, so the disaster plan can be initiated. 


Financial Donations
You can respond to disasters in Kansas by donating to the Kansas Area Disaster Fund which helps assist victims of disasters on a case by case basis. For information on the Rebuilding Kansas Churches Fund go to the Disaster Response Rebuilding Funds page.


UMCOR
The United Methodist Committee on Relief (UMCOR) is the humanitarian relief and development agency of the United Methodist Church. UMCOR responds nationally and internationally to natural or human-made disasters that overwhelm a community's ability to recover on its own.

Visit the UMCOR website for information about response to national and international disasters.

UMCOR Relief Kits
Vital relief supplies for flood buckets, health kits or school kits are needed following a disaster. It is important that kits contain only the items requested and nothing more. Please do not include any personal notes, money or additional materials. These things must be removed and will impede the progress of the shipment. All items included in kits must be new. To learn what the current kit needs are check the UMCOR web site, the site listed below or call 800-814-8765.

When collecting supplies for the kits, remember you are responsible for shipping costs as well.

For information on assembling UMCOR kits, go to http://new.gbgmumc.org/umcor/getconnected/supplies. 

ÂÂ