US Disaster Response News & Stories

Mertarvik, Alaska, the relocation site for Newtok, a Yu’pik village that lost much of its land to rising sea levels and eroding coastline, receives its first residents in newly built houses, complete with UMCOR-funded PASS sanitation units in each home.

The month of September marks two years since Hurricane Maria brought widespread destruction to Puerto Rico. The recovery has progressed steadily, thanks largely to the Methodist Church of Puerto Rico, and with the help of UMCOR training and funding and more than 200 Volunteer in Mission teams.

Although it didn’t receive much national attention, the spring floods of the Arkansas River wiped out property and devastated some communities. UMCOR and the Arkansas Conference Disaster Response Team have just rolled out a new phase to help with recovery.

Throughout Hurricane Dorian’s movements, UMCOR coordinated with Conference Disaster Response Coordinators from United Methodist conferences along the Southeastern U.S. coast, monitoring their needs and likely responses.

The story of the Smith family demonstrates how the Florida Conference, an UMCOR partner, helps hurricane survivors across the state with a comprehensive program of case management, reconstruction, and Christian presence.

The United Methodist Committee on Relief has answered God’s call to be a neighbor for nearly 80 years.

The work of UMCOR is in focus for the month of March. Executive director Roland Fernandes writes of UMCOR’s reach in alleviating suffering around the world.